Navigating Post-Brexit Residency Card Renewals: What You Need to Know to Stay Legal

At LBS, we’ve been bracing ourselves for the long-awaited Brexit residency card renewals for months. We knew this day would come, and…and, as with all things French bureaucracy, we’re ready for a few twists and turns along the way!

For the past six months, the LBS team has been contacting prefectures across France to find out how they plan to handle the process. Some have been wonderfully organised… and others haven’t quite got round to thinking about it yet (yes, really!). Don’t worry, we’ve been gently nudging them to get ready because the clock is ticking.

Here’s what you need to know to keep your paperwork in order and your residency secure.

Does This Affect You?

If you’re a British citizen living in France (or a family member) before January 1st, 2021, you were granted residency under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Depending on your status at that time, you received either a five-year or ten-year residency card.   

Renewal Process for Five-Year Cards
If you received a five-year card, it’s almost time to renew! These cards will start expiring in 2026, at which point they’ll be replaced with a 10-year residency card 

 ‘Séjour permanent ; Article 50 TUE/Article 18(1) Accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’UE’. 

The renewal window will open 3–4 months before your card’s expiry date, so make sure you check your card and plan ahead. 

What if you have a Ten-Year card?
If you hold a 10-year card, don’t worry, you’re good to go until its expiry. When that time comes, it will be replaced with a permanent residency card.

What will the renewal process look like?

This is where it gets interesting.  Each prefecture is doing things their own way:

• Some want a good old-fashioned paper application
• Others will insist you book an appointment
• And some have embraced the future with online submissions

No matter where you live, or which method your prefecture is using, LBS will guide you step by step. We’ve got the contacts, know-how, and (most importantly) the patience to guide you through it. 

What Documents Will You Need?

Similar to when you applied for your first card, you’ll need to gather some essential paperwork. These include:

• Proof of ID & Valid Residency Card
• Passport
• Contract of Engagement
• Proof of 5 years’ residence in France for 5 Years (such as tax documents, work contracts, rental agreements, utility bills, etc.)

Once you submit your application, the prefecture will either invite you for a final appointment or simply post your new card to you, depending on their process (and how modern they are feeling!).

Red flags to look out for before your renewal

Now is the perfect time to make sure your paperwork is ready for renewal: Common trip ups for other renewals that can slow down or affect your file include:

• Name changes or changes in marital situations not yet declared
• An address change not updated on your card
• Residency cards that were requested but never collected (maybe a duplicate due to loss or theft or change of address)
• Pre-Brexit EU cards that were never exchanged to an Article 50 card

What About British Children turning 18?

If your British child is about to turn 18, they can apply for their own residency card between their 18th and 19^th birthdays.  In the meantime, you can request a Document de circulation pour Etranger Mineur (DCEM) to enable them to travel freely with you.

How LBS can help

Whether it’s submitting documents or navigating the paperwork jungle, LBS is here to make the process easier.  Our team has the expertise to assist you with the renewal, wherever you live in France.

📅 Join our free webinar
We’re hosting a live Q&A on 16 October at 18:00 to answer your most common renewal questions.

Click here to register 

Or, if you’d rather skip straight to one-on-one help, drop us an email at [email protected]   We’ll keep things moving so you can focus on enjoying France — not battling French admin.