Automatic visa passed second homes France

France already has and had a long stay visa. This link will provide you with further information:

https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/long-stay-visa#:~:text=For%20any%20stay%20in%20France,three%20months%20and%20one%20year.

However, I think you may be referring to the contents of this link:

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brexit-british-passport-homes-france-b2467174.html

There are no plans in place at the moment, that I know of, for Spain to do likewise.

IF anything comes of it then all I can see it meaning is that they will be permitted to stay for single periods of up to180 days in 360, more than 180 days and they automatically become tax resident.

Not radically different to the 90/180 day rule then and critically no more actual time in country.

Coming and going at will, free movement in other words, simply is not going to happen. 

Have no doubt it wll happen, maybe not right away but quite sure homeowners will be welcome to stay for longer periods.

It IS happening in France. Spain will follow. It does allow for more flexibility without the need to apply for a visa, as it will automatically be issued. 

On another thread of the same subject, Alfapash posted this:

"Posted by Alfapash in Off topic on Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:19am

Today I received the French Connexion paper. Common sense has prevailed.
Automatic visa for easy second-home visits passed by French parliament

 A new immigration law which includes giving UK non-residents who own a second home in France the right to an ‘automatic’ visa to come to France for stays of more than 90 days has been voted through definitively by the French parliament.

Article 1er K will add new wording to France’s main legal code on borders and immigration.

It says: “The long-stay visa is issued automatically to British citizens owning a second home in France. They are therefore exempt from having to make an application for a long-stay visa.

“The conditions for how this will be applied will be clarified by a decree in the Conseil d’Etat.”

The measure will help the tens of thousands of UK second-home owners who have faced restrictions to their shared lives between France and the UK since Brexit.

Lets hope other countries will follow."

What I find interesting is that Alfapash's quote from French Connexion is far less equivocal than the article in the Independent, e.g.

"Brexit pain could be eased for Brits....."

"The plan is automatically to grant long-stay visas....."

"Stephen Jolly, of pressure group France Visa Free, said..... a great achievemennt to see that France is close to lawfully granting long-stay visas....." and "This legislation..... is a credible attempt to address the problems."

Doesn't sound like a 'done deal' to me (in fact, I'm reminded of Brits who had their democratic right to vote in the UK after 15 years of living abroad reinstated in April 2022, yet still await Royal Assent before it can be passed into UK law almost 2 years later!).  Let's hope that the legislation (French and EU) to make these "automatic" long-stay visas operational doesn't take as long to achieve as similar legislation would take in Spain.  I'd suggest, keep your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath.

Kind regards,

Kim

Hi Gary,

   I'd seen it reported that the French immigration bill has been passed, having previously been rejected, but I have not seen any great detail of what is included in the revised bill. Most of the media reporting was focused on the changes to the illegal immigration rules.

Do you have a link to the detail of what has been approved? 

Thks,, 

Aitch.

Hi Aitchc,

Please see kimmys post above. I saw it reported in French Connexion paper too

Reported here, https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/12/21/brits-in-france-win-right-to-stay-longer-than-90-days/?utm_source=auto-newsletter-667&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AutoNewsAlert

But can still be appealed to Supreme court as stated,

 "

Jolly said: “At the moment all we know is that a law has been passed. A note of caution needs to be exercised; the law could be deemed unconstitutional as it favours one group of foreigners over another.”

Does Schengen not favour one group of foreigners over another ?