US Tightens Travel Authorisation Rules for French Visitors: News Digest

America plans to increase requirements for tourists from visa-waiver countries to include social media account information. Nearly all departments across France have restored higher speeds on appropriate roads, while three departments toughen their penalties for drivers caught on their phones at the wheel. France’s interior minister will review the citizenship rules for foreign retirees. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.

The French Budget 2026 was pushed through last week. Read here about how it will affect you, from our French Tax Expert and Relocation Advisor, Debby Nye.

US Tightens Travel Authorisation Rules for French Visitors

Travellers from France and other visa-waiver countries, such as the UK, hoping to travel to the United States will soon be required to provide more detailed personal information when applying for an ESTA travel authorisation. Under the updated rules, which are part of broader changes to the US Visa Waiver Programme aimed at strengthening border security, applicants must disclose social media account identifiers, telephone numbers from the past five years and email addresses used over the past decade. 

A previously optional section on social media history will become mandatory, increasing data collection and potentially increasing application times. The changes are expected to take effect imminently and follow a recent increase in the ESTA application fee. Critics warn that the new requirements could deter tourists and complicate travel planning to America.

Nearly All Départements Scrap 80km/h Speed Limit on Secondary Roads

France’s long-debated 80 km/h speed limit on two-way secondary roads is being widely reversed, with the department of Eure becoming the 52nd to restore higher speeds where conditions allow. Under a 2019 law, local authorities can raise limits back to 90km/h on eligible rural roads after safety studies are completed. 80 km/h remains the national default where no change has been applied.

Read about driving in France here.

South-West France Cracks Down on Drivers Using Phones at the Wheel

Authorities in parts of south-west France are increasing penalties for motorists caught using mobile phones while driving, allowing police to suspend licences on the spot in a bid to improve road safety. The tougher enforcement applies specifically in the Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Charente-Maritime departments, which is a step beyond the national rule that previously required another simultaneous offence for such action. Under standard French traffic law, drivers found holding a phone face a €135 fine and a three-point licence penalty, and can already lose their licence if caught during another violation, such as speeding.

French Minister to Review Citizenship Rules for Retirees

France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, has pledged to closely examine how current citizenship rules are applied to foreign retirees, amid claims that regulations introduced by his predecessor and how prefectures interpret them are making naturalisation unduly difficult. The review follows renewed calls from Charente senator Nicole Bonnefoy for more flexible rules for retirees whose income comes from abroad, with supporters saying many long-term residents are being rejected on ‘foreign income’ grounds despite being well integrated. The minister said he would scrutinise the issue in detail and ensure that guidelines are not applied too rigidly at the local level.