Every month Service Public, the French government's official information service, lists the rules that change. Here are the November 2026 changes that matter most if you live, study or work in France.
1 November: a new fee on parcels from outside the EU
From 1 November, every parcel entering the European Union from a seller based outside the EU carries an EU handling fee of 2 euros per category of item in the parcel. A parcel with two toys, one coat and two bottles of perfume counts three categories, so the fee is 6 euros. Three T-shirts and a pair of shoes count two categories, so 4 euros.
This comes on top of the 3 euro customs duty per item category that has applied since July 2026 to small parcels worth 150 euros or less. If you order from non-EU marketplaces, or have family send you things from home, expect the total to rise. The fee will be reviewed every two years.
1 November: gas reference price up 6.6 percent
The Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE) sets a monthly reference price for gas. In November it rises to 194.90 euros including tax per megawatt hour, up from 182.88 euros in October. That adds about 12 euros to the average bill. It only affects contracts indexed on the reference price. If you have a fixed price gas offer, nothing changes. Check your contract or your supplier's app if you are not sure.
1 November: the winter eviction ban begins
The trĂŞve hivernale runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. During this period a landlord cannot evict a tenant, even with a court decision, whatever the reason, including unpaid rent. It does not cancel rent arrears, which still have to be paid, and it does not protect squatters or a few other specific cases.
November onwards: new off-peak electricity hours
If your electricity contract has the heures pleines / heures creuses option, your cheaper hours are being moved. The old morning (7am to 11am) and evening (5pm to 11pm) slots are being phased out by the end of 2027. The new off-peak hours include at least 5 consecutive hours between 11pm and 7am, plus up to 3 hours between 11am and 5pm. From November to March they sit mostly at night. You do not need to do anything, but it is worth checking your new slots before running the washing machine or charging a car.
1 November: winter tyres or chains in the mountains
Until 31 March 2027, vehicles with four wheels or more must have winter tyres, or carry chains or snow socks, in designated mountain communes of 34 départements in the Alps, Corsica, Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees and Vosges. Road signs mark where the rule starts and ends. This matters if you rent a car for a ski trip.
20 November: tighter checks on small overdrafts
Today your bank must check your ability to repay (an analyse de solvabilité) for overdrafts of 200 euros or more, or lasting more than a month. From 20 November, that check also applies to smaller and shorter overdrafts. It comes from an EU consumer credit directive, and new consumer credit rules take effect the same day. In practice, a bank may ask more questions before agreeing an overdraft facility, so if you rely on one, talk to your adviser before the end of the month.
2 November: health students can apply for 1,200 euros a month
Students in medicine, dentistry, midwifery and pharmacy can apply from 2 November for a public service contract that pays 1,200 euros gross a month in exchange for working in an under-served area after graduating. Read our full explainer for who qualifies and how to apply.