French Senate Votes to Potentially Ease Visa Restrictions for British Second Home & Holiday Home Owners
In a move reflecting a desire to mend ties strained by Brexit, the French Senate has taken a significant step toward relaxing the 90-day visa rule for British second home owners. The amendment, part of the country’s new Immigration Law, aims to grant automatic long-stay visa rights to British citizens who own second homes in France.
Since the UK’s departure from the EU, all British nationals, regardless of property ownership, have been limited to staying in France for 90 days out of every 180 without a visa. To extend their stay, Britons are required to apply for a temporary long-stay visa lasting up to six months.
The proposed amendment, championed by Martine Berthet, a French senator representing the Savoie region in the Alps, addresses concerns raised by British second home owners in her constituency. Ms Berthet argued that the current visa application process is cumbersome and fraught with challenges, leading to dissatisfaction among British citizens.
Ms Berthet emphasized the potential negative impact on local economies, asserting that preventing British second/ holiday home owners from contributing could exacerbate the issue of rising vacant properties in tourist areas. She also pointed to the warming ties between France and the UK, citing the recent royal visit and King Charles’s exclusive address to the French Senate.
Despite the Senate’s approval, the amendment must still undergo debate in the National Assembly before being officially incorporated into the legislation. Ms Berthet remains optimistic, stating that even if the amendment faces resistance in the National Assembly, it marks a crucial initial step in addressing the grievances of British second home owners.
However, President Emmanuel Macron’s government, lacking an absolute majority in parliament, has expressed its opposition to the amendment. The government contends that existing legislation already permits British second home owners to stay beyond the 90-day limit, arguing against the necessity of further changes.
One reason behind the push for the amendment is the significant increase in visa processing times since Brexit. Visa centres in France, unaccustomed to dealing with a large number of Britons before the UK’s departure from the EU, are reportedly overwhelmed.
To facilitate the proposed exemption, one suggestion is for British citizens with second/ holiday homes in France to carry proof of property ownership during travel. This way, the need for repeated documentation submission for long-term visas could be eliminated.
The amendment, submitted by the conservative Les Républicains party, specifically addresses the concerns of British citizens and garnered support from 38 party members. While another amendment proposing similar rights for all foreign second home owners was rejected, the tailored approach for British citizens stands out.
Philippe Bas of Les Républicains emphasized that the issues faced by British second home owners were not directly related to Brexit but were exacerbated by it. He stressed the importance of allowing them to enjoy their second homes in France and contribute to local economies.
