{"id":220799,"date":"2025-06-28T07:56:22","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T07:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/220799\/"},"modified":"2025-06-28T07:56:22","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T07:56:22","slug":"renewing-your-brexit-withdrawal-agreement-card-in-france-a-comprehensive-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/220799\/","title":{"rendered":"Renewing Your Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Card in France: A Comprehensive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

An estimated 42,000 Britons currently hold five-year Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) cards in France \u2013 and the first of these will expire this autumn.<\/p>\n

The Connexion has obtained more clarification about the process to swap for a 10-year card and, in particular, that signing France\u2019s new \u2018republican principles contract<\/a>\u2019 will be optional, and not obligatory as for other residency cards.<\/p>\n

In addition, any \u2018WA\u2019 Briton who has lived here more than five years already has the right to request a 10-year card.<\/p>\n

These cards confirm that a person has acquired \u2018permanent residency\u2019 rights, which can usually only be lost after five years or more away from French territory.<\/p>\n

All WA cards are free, whereas most French residency cards cost \u20ac225.<\/p>\n

In January, the Interior Ministry was still finalising its procedures for renewals<\/a>, and – according to reports from the British Embassy – considering a \u201ccentralised online\u00a0 system\u201d, however this was not officially confirmed.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, some prefectures (for example, Calvados<\/a>) have taken the initiative to offer renewals via the D\u00e9marches simplifi\u00e9es portal, which state bodies may use to put certain procedures online.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Calvados has defined any application by a person already holding a WA card as a \u2018renewal\u2019, even if it will mean changing a five-year card for a 10-year one.<\/p>\n

Others are still asking for applications by paper form, in the post.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At least one prefecture is also asking that applicants send in a \u2018contract of commitment to respect the principles of the Republic\u2019 – a new document created by the 2024 immigration law.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 2024 law says that signing this should be standard when a foreign person asks for a residency permit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more: French rules on holding both Brexit and EU residency cards explained<\/a><\/p>\n

Do Britons need to sign ‘Republican values’ contracts?<\/p>\n

This document is not the same as the more complex Contrat \u2019int\u00e9gration r\u00e9publicaine that some foreigners must sign, which involves a visit to the Ofii immigration offices.<\/p>\n

The 2024 law states that \u201cno residency document can be given to a foreigner who refuses to take out a [principles] contract or whose behaviour shows that he or she has not respected its obligations\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not respecting such a contract can also be grounds for not renewing a document, the law adds.<\/p>\n

Enforcing such a rule on WA card applicants or holders would clash with article 13 of the WA international treaty, which says \u201cthe host state may not impose any limitations for obtaining, retaining or losing residence rights\u2026 other than those provided for in this [agreement]\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Interior Ministry has clarified: \u201cSigning the contract is optional [for WA beneficiaries], due to the particular dispositions which govern your residency rights, but it is a testimony to your wish to show that you, personally, wish to show that your own [residency] journey involves an attachment to the Republic\u2019s principles and a respect for them\u201d.<\/p>\n

Therefore, prefectures cannot insist on this contract for issue of a WA card, though submitting one may be taken as a sign of good integration, and a plus point for those later seeking French citizenship.<\/p>\n

Moving towards standardised WA card renewals<\/p>\n

The British Community Committee of France\u2019s representative for south-west France, Claire Godfrey, said she understands a standardised, national, online process should be on the way, though it will probably be after the summer.<\/p>\n

So far, she said, feedback from Britons shows inconsistency in policies at individual prefectures, with different procedures and several reports of applicants being refused due to applying \u2018early\u2019 despite having proof of five years in France.<\/p>\n

She said there is \u201cno need to panic\u201d if your card is not expiring imminently, and it is in her view best to wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the ease of the original online system for the \u2018WARP\u2019 [WA residency permit] cards, it is expected that the transition from five year cards to 10-year cards should be a straightforward and simple online system.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re awaiting confirmation from the French authorities as to how and when it will be available,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole point originally was to avoid people, many of them elderly – and now five years older – having to go to prefectures.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe authorities are keen that the system should be as fluid and easy as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the first cards were issued, people could only apply on a dedicated website, which in the vast majority of cases worked well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It is possible that the ministry\u2019s \u2018Anef\u2019 website, now used for many residency card procedures, will be used. The site for Brexit cards was a precursor to this.<\/p>\n

Legally, under the WA, \u2018permanent residency\u2019 rights are gained once a person has been in France for five years, not when the physical 10-year card is issued to them.<\/p>\n

What documents do you need to renew a WA card?<\/p>\n

The prefecture of Calvados provides the following list supplied by the Interior Ministry:<\/p>\n

All applicants:\u00a0<\/p>\n