Proposed Healthcare Contributions for Visitor-Visa Holders: News Digest

French MPs have overwhelmingly voted to introduce a minimum fee for non-EU nationals accessing France’s healthcare system, the Loi Montagne (Mountain Law) has come into effect in the country’s mountainous regions, the deadline to amend 2025 income tax returns is drawing near, paperless tolls are being rolled out on motorways, and France commemorates Armistice Day. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.  

Proposed Healthcare Contributions for Visitor-Visa Holders

On 8 November, French MPs voted in favour of a new change to the proposed 2026 social security budget that would require non-EU nationals with “Visitor” visas to pay a minimum charge to access French public healthcare. If passed, it would mean that American and other non-EU retirees (the main sub-group who benefit from the “Visitor” visa) would be required to pay a minimum contribution towards French social security.

It’s important to note that this amendment has not yet been passed into law, so as with many proposed changes, it remains to be seen if – and how – it will affect Americans and other non-EU citizens. In order to pass into law, the bill still needs to pass through the Senate, and the 2026 Budget itself needs to pass, which, given the deeply divided French parliament, is not guaranteed. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.  

Watch French Entrée’s Masterclass on French Healthcare. 

Loi Montage Winter Driving Law 

On 1 November, the Loi Montagne came into effect in 34 departments of the mountainous massifs in France. To ensure the safety of users and improve traffic flow during icier months, it is mandatory for vehicles with four or more wheels to either use carry snow chains or switch to winter tyrestires (which must be rated 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake or Alpin) until 31 March 2026. The law equally applies to drivers passing through any of these departments, regardless of the weather. 

Read more about winter driving in France here.

Approaching Deadline to Amend Income Tax Returns 

The deadline to amend your 2025 income tax return in France is 3 December 2025. If you filed your return online, it can be amended on the impot.gouv.fr website in your personal Espace Particulier. If you submitted your original tax form through the post, you will need to submit a formal claim online or mail it to your local tax office with a form of ID, tax number, signature, the selected tax return and the reason why it should be amended with supporting documents.  

Some details cannot be corrected for 2025, such as changes in marital status or address – if you have made a mistake or forgotten to declare a change, you’ll need to contact your local tax office.

Read more about amending your tax return here. 

Eastern France’s Future Paperless Tolls  

Early next year, parts of France will replace physical paper ‘toll tickets’ given when entering a motorway with an automatic scanning system. Toll costs will be calculated using newly-installed cameras that track when vehicles join the motorway. Drivers will still have to pass through barriers and pay the total cost when they leave.  

This new system will impact 253km of motorways managed by AREA (see the full list here), s, including stretches of the A41, A43, A48 and A49 roads in eastern France. This is in addition to the free-flow toll roads (péage en flux libre) that were rolled out last year, the main difference being that the AREA-operated toll roads still involve passing through a barrier.. 

Read more about Driving in French Motorways now. 

Armistice Day Ceremonies 

Today marks the 107^th anniversary of Armistice Day, a jour férié (public holiday) in France to commemorate the day the end of World War I on the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918. Like most countries that honour this day, a one-minute silence in remembrance of the fallen was held at 11am, then President Emmanuel Macron attended a ceremony in front of the statue of Georges Clemenceau at the Champs-Élysées, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and rekindling the eternal flame. Shops, offices, banks and post offices will resume normal opening hours tomorrow morning. 

Read more about Armistice Day in France here. 

Lead photo credit : Shutterstock Healthcare News Digest