A decree published on 29 October (décret n° 2026-1001 of 26 October 2026) changed several rules for non-EU nationals who live and work in France. It came into force on 30 October 2026. It brings French law in line with the EU "single permit" directive and the revised EU Blue Card directive. Here is what it means in practice.
A 90-day limit for most residence permit decisions
Until now, the préfecture had four months to decide on most residence permit applications. It now has 90 days, counted from the day you file a complete application. If your file is particularly complex, the préfecture can add 30 days, but it has to tell you.
Two practical points:
- The clock starts only when your file is complete. If the préfecture asks for a missing document, the 90 days run from when the file is complete. Upload everything on the list the first time, including certified translations where required.
- No answer after 90 days counts as a refusal. In French law this is a décision implicite de rejet. It used to come after four months. An implicit refusal can be challenged, first by asking the préfecture for its reasons and then, if needed, through a lawyer or an association.
A few specific cards keep their own timelines, so the 90-day rule does not cover every single permit. If you are waiting on a renewal, keep your récépissé valid, and see our guide to renewal delays for what to do when things stall.
You can change employer after 6 months instead of 12
After a first work authorisation, there was a 12-month period during which you were tied to the employer it was issued for. That period is now 6 months.
The restriction already did not apply if you lost your job through no fault of your own. The decree adds a second exception: your employer seriously violated the terms of your employment (unpaid wages or illegal working conditions, for example).
Your new employer may still need to go through the work authorisation process, depending on your card. Service Public's page on work authorisations for foreign employees explains who needs one.
Temporary worker card: losing your job no longer costs you your permit
If you hold a carte de séjour travailleur temporaire (the card for a fixed-term contract), your card can no longer be withdrawn just because you became unemployed through no fault of your own, as long as you are out of work for no more than three months in total while the card is valid. That limit is six months for people whose previous job involved trafficking, forced labour or working conditions incompatible with human dignity.
If you find a new employer in that time, you can stay in France while the work authorisation for the new job is examined.
EU Blue Card: six months to find a new job if your employer is at fault
If you are a qualified engineer, IT specialist or researcher, you may be on the EU Blue Card (carte de séjour talent carte bleue européenne), issued to graduates with at least three years of higher education and a qualifying job offer.
From now on, if the préfecture plans to refuse to renew or withdraw your Blue Card because your employer failed in its legal obligations (social contributions, tax or workers' rights, for example), it must give you six months from notification to find a new job. That period is extended if you still have unemployment benefit rights beyond it. During that time you keep a document that lets you stay.
Two more changes for Blue Card holders:
- How long the card lasts. With a contract of two years or more, the card lasts as long as the contract, up to four years. With a shorter contract, it lasts the contract plus three months, up to two years.
- Moving from another EU country is easier. If you already hold a Blue Card from another EU country, such as Germany or the Netherlands, you can now apply for the French one after 12 months there, down from 18 (or 6 months from your second move).
Intra-company transfers (ICT): a salary threshold is coming
Employees sent to France by their company's group on an ICT card (salarié détaché ICT, mobile ICT, and the ICT trainee cards) will need a minimum annual gross salary. The amount will be set by a ministerial order and is not yet known. If you are on, or expecting, an ICT assignment from an Indian IT or consulting company, ask your HR team to keep an eye on it.
What to do now
- Waiting on a decision? Note the date your file became complete. If 90 days pass with no answer, you have an implicit refusal you can challenge.
- Thinking of changing jobs? Check when your first work authorisation was issued. Six months may already have passed.
- On a Blue Card or temporary worker card and worried about your job? Keep your contracts, payslips and any proof of your employer's breaches. They will matter if the préfecture reviews your card.
The full text is on Légifrance, and Service Public's summary is here.