France Ultimately Rejects Long-Stay Visas for UK Second-Home Owners

France’s Constitutional Council has struck down an amendment to the immigration bill that would have granted automatic long-stay visas to British expatriates owning a second home in France.

Under the new ruling, UK nationals can now only stay in France for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, regardless of property ownership. The amendment had been proposed by French Senator Martine Berthet in response to complaints from British owners of second homes in France.

Why the long-stay visa amendment was rejected

The Constitutional Council justified its rejection by citing Article 45 of the French Constitution, which requires amendments to relate directly to the bill’s original objectives. Judges ruled the proposal strayed too far from the government’s original 2023 legislative text.

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Senator Berthet vows to pursue alternatives

Despite the defeat, Senator Martine Berthet has vowed to continue advocating for the cause and will reportedly reintroduce the proposal as part of a new legislative push. She plans to meet with officials from the Ministry of the Interior to discuss potential measures—including a simpler ministerial decree—that could ease visa requirements for British second-home owners in France.

Economic and bilateral impacts loom

The decision has raised concerns over potential economic and social consequences of Brexit, particularly within France’s real estate sector, which has long attracted British buyers. It may also strain Franco-British relations, as Senator Berthet highlighted, given the two countries’ close ties recently underscored by King Charles’s state visit.

Steven Jolly, founder of the Facebook group “France Visa Free”, which campaigns for visa-free stays for UK nationals spending part of the year in France, expressed disappointment but confirmed the campaign will press on due to continued support and valid arguments.

Other immigration bill provisions rejected by the Council

In a broader sweep, the Constitutional Council struck down several other articles in the immigration law, including measures on family reunification for foreign residents. Rejected proposals included raising the residency requirement from 18 to 24 months before relatives could join, and setting a minimum age of 21 for partners.