France changes residence processing, EU Blue Card mobility and intra-company transfer rules
Decree 2026-1001 took effect on 30 October, changing decision deadlines, employer-change restrictions and several work-residence conditions.
France published Decree 2026-1001 on 29 October; it took effect on 30 October. The general written-decision deadline for residence cards is now 90 days after a complete application, with a possible 30-day extension for certain complex cases and statutory exceptions. Expiry can produce an implicit refusal, not automatic approval.[1][2]
The decree reduces certain first-work-permit restrictions on changing employers from 12 to 6 months and adds an exception for serious employer breaches. For EU Blue Card holders moving to France, the relevant prior stay in another member state is 12 months, or 6 months from the second move. ICT employee and trainee categories must meet the reference annual gross salary set by ministerial order.[1]
Official sources
This article provides general information. Individual applications are subject to the applicable rules and the competent authority’s assessment.