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News & guides

What changes in French rules and what it means in practice — for foreigners living in France.

October 27, 2026official source
worksalarytransportfuelmoney
Until 31 December, employers can pay up to €1,000 towards fuel free of social contributions. How commuting costs are covered in France: what is mandatory, what is optional, and what to check on the fiche de paie
A decree of 20 October 2026 temporarily raises to €1,000 the cap on contribution-free prime carburant and forfait mobilités durables. We explain the three ways a French employer contributes to commuting costs, and how they differ from the State's €100 'grands rouleurs' aid, which opened to new applicants on 27 October.
October 27, 2026official source
lawsprotestsCAFbenefitsforeign residentsSenate
The Senate starts debating the 'casseurs-payeurs' bill today: liability up to €10,000, deductions from CAF benefits and an entry ban for foreigners. What the text says, and why nothing has changed yet
On 27 and 28 October the French Senate debates a bill on paying for damage caused during unrest. What the committee text provides, who it affects, and how a bill becomes law in France.
October 27, 2026
studentsgrantsCROUSeducationParcoursup
The government promises to index student grants and add 15,000 university places. Which foreign students can actually get a bourse sur critères sociaux
On 26 October the education and higher-education ministers set out measures in response to the lycée and student protests. For now this is an announcement, not a rule in force. What is known, and the conditions France sets for a foreign student to receive a CROUS grant.
October 26, 2026
strikeworktransportschoolemployee rights
Strike on 5 November: unions call out both private- and public-sector workers. What rights a salarié has, and what happens at school
Five union confederations have set Thursday 5 November as a day of strikes and demonstrations, and SNCF unions have joined in. What the rules say about the right to strike in the private sector, and how children are looked after in primary school on a strike day.
October 26, 2026
educationParcoursupstudentsuniversity admissionprotests
Parcoursup: the president acknowledges the platform needs a deep overhaul, and lycée pupils go to Matignon on Monday. What is known, and which route into university applies to a foreign family
No Parcoursup decisions yet, and the 2027 calendar stands. Who among foreign residents applies through Parcoursup, who files a DAP by mid-December, and the most common mistake.
October 25, 2026official source
transportdrivingwinterrules
From 1 November, winter tyres or chains are required again in France's mountains: where the rule applies, what counts as a winter tyre, and the most common mistake
From 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, in listed communes of 34 mountain departments, vehicles must have 3PMSF winter tyres or carry chains. Based on the Service-Public note: how to tell whether your route is affected.
October 25, 2026official source
workaccident du travailSécurité socialeCPAMbenefits
From 1 November, the health fund pays less after a workplace accident: the cap on the benefit base falls almost fourfold. Who is affected and what to check
Decree no. 2026-909: for workplace accidents and occupational diseases occurring from 1 November 2026, the base for indemnités journalières is capped at 0.226% of the PASS instead of 0.834%. How accident du travail benefits work, and why your length of service matters.
October 25, 2026
banksmortgageLivret AMoody'sinterest rates
Moody's keeps France at Aa3: what such decisions do and don't change for a mortgage and savings
On 23 October Moody's held off on downgrading France. No rules changed as a result. Here is what a mortgage contract fixes, what limits the law sets on a new loan, and how the Livret A rate is set.
October 25, 2026
protestsgarde à vuerightspoliceforeign residents
Protests on 24 October: fewer marchers, nearly a thousand arrests. How garde à vue differs from an arrest, and the rights a foreign national has
Saturday's protest figures from the Interior Ministry, calls for new action on 31 October and 5 November, and how police custody (garde à vue) works in France: time limits, lawyer, interpreter, consulate.
October 24, 2026official source
daily lifeclock changepractical
France switches to winter time tonight: 3 a.m. becomes 2 a.m. How the clock change works and what to check
In the night of Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 October 2026, clocks in France go back one hour. Where the clock change comes from, why it was never scrapped, and what newcomers should check.
October 24, 2026official source
fueldieselpricesconsumerheating-oilmoney
Decree published: France sells part of its strategic diesel stocks, and the saving must be passed on to buyers. What it means at the pump and how to check
Décret n° 2026-981 of 23 October appeared in the Journal officiel on 24 October. What it says, where France's strategic stocks come from, the dates that apply, and how a buyer can check the discount actually reaches them.
October 24, 2026
ParistransportmetroRATPprotests
Paris, Saturday 24 October: close to thirty metro stations shut from 9 a.m. Who decides the closures, and how to get around on a protest day
On the protest day, the RATP is closing stations from the Champs-Élysées to the Latin Quarter at the police prefecture's request, and cutting sections of lines 2, 6 and 12. What is known, why the list can change during the day, and how to plan a trip.
October 24, 2026official source
safetyterrorismvictims' rightsÎle-de-FranceFGTI
Terror attack in Trappes and La Verrière: what is known, and the rights French rules give victims and their families, whatever their nationality
On 23 October a gunman fired at people in the Yvelines, and prosecutors are treating it as terrorism with a racist motive. Who to call, who pays for treatment, how the FGTI compensation fund works, and how to report incitement to hatred.
October 23, 2026
telecomsOrangeconsumer rightsemergency numbers112
Orange's mobile network outage on 21 October: what compensation subscribers get, how to reach emergency services with no signal, and where to turn if it isn't resolved
On Wednesday 21 October, the Orange and Sosh mobile network was down across France for nearly ten hours. The compensation is double mobile data for one month. What that means, how to call 112 or 15 when the network fails, and how a dispute with an operator works in France.
October 23, 2026
marseilletransportprefecturecurfewprotests
Marseille, Saturday 24 October: public transport will run after all. What still applies, and how to plan a day when the rules change overnight
The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture has dropped its plan to halt Marseille's metro, tram and buses on Saturday. The department-wide protest ban and the adult curfew in parts of the city centre remain.
October 23, 2026official source
weatherelectricityEnedisinsurancehousing
Storm Austen cuts power to more than 160,000 homes in the north-west. Who to call, how to stay safe, and when Enedis pays compensation
On the morning of 23 October at least 161,000 customers were without electricity, most of them in Brittany. What to do in a power cut, who pays for what, and why your supplier is not the number to call.
October 23, 2026
proteststransportcurfewMarseillePariswork
Saturday 24 October: Marseille halts metro, tram and buses, and the curfew now covers adults too. What the rules say about work when there is no transport
The Bouches-du-Rhône prefect has banned all protests on 24 October, shut down public transport across the Marseille area for a day and extended the curfew to adults. In Paris, the curfew around Les Halles and République runs until Monday morning. What to do if you cannot get to work.
October 22, 2026
protestsprefecturesafetyLyonRouenChambéry
Saturday 24 October: protests banned in Lyon, Rouen, Le Havre and Chambéry. How these bans work and what a participant risks
Prefects in several departments have banned marches and gatherings for Saturday 24 October. What the ban rests on, where to find your city's order, and the fine for taking part in a banned protest.
October 22, 2026
housingrentingencadrement des loyerslawParisLyonLille
French Senate votes to extend rent control by two years: what it means for tenants and how to check your rent
On 21 October the Senate backed extending the rent cap in Paris, Lyon, Lille and other cities. The law is not final yet, and the current scheme runs until 24 November 2026. How the cap works, what your lease must state, and where to turn if your rent is above the ceiling.
October 22, 2026
transportSNCFweatherNormandypassenger rights
Storm Austen: no trains in Normandy on Friday 23 October. What happens to your ticket, and what to do in high winds
SNCF has called off all rail traffic in Normandy ahead of the storm, along with some lines in Hauts-de-France and Brittany. Here is what the rules guarantee when a train is cancelled because of weather, and what Météo-France advises in a windstorm.
October 21, 2026official source
prefectureresidence permitANEFimpots.gouvcybersecurityoutage
Prefecture sites and impots.gouv taken down for maintenance over a PHP flaw: what to do when your residence permit renewal is due
On 21 October the French state took some of its websites offline because of a critical PHP vulnerability. What still works, what doesn't, and why a residence permit renewal is best not left to the last day.
October 21, 2026
transportSNCFToulousepassenger rightsOccitanie
Rail equipment set on fire in Toulouse, trains halted: what EU rules guarantee passengers after sabotage — and what they don't
Overnight on 21 October a fire near Empalot stopped trains around Toulouse-Matabiau. How sabotage differs from a strike for passengers: refunds and rerouting still apply, delay compensation may not.
October 21, 2026
workmoneyconsumer rightsredressement judiciaireAGS
GiFi asks the court for redressement judiciaire: what the procedure means for staff and customers
The GiFi chain (more than 500 shops and about 6,000 staff in France) has announced it will ask a court to open a redressement judiciaire. How the procedure works, what the rules say about wages and dismissals, and what holders of a gift card or an undelivered order can do.
October 21, 2026official source
curfewprotestsParisLyonToulousesafety
Curfews: expired in Paris and Lyon, starting in Toulouse on 22 October — and a new protest day on the 24th
The overnight bans in Paris and Lyon expired at 6am on 21 October with no renewal announced yet; Toulouse brings one in from 22 to 25 October, and the Prime Minister has promised 'massive' security for Saturday. What a couvre-feu means, what the exemptions are, and how to check whether one applies tonight.
October 20, 2026
banksRevolutdeposit guaranteeFGDRmoney
Revolut outage on 20 October: how a technical failure differs from a bank collapse, and how money in a French account is protected
On the morning of 20 October, Revolut customers in several European countries, France included, could not pay by card or log in. What the law guarantees if a bank really cannot repay deposits, and how to check which fund protects your account.
October 20, 2026
fueldieseltransportpricesnews
Élysée announces extra diesel from the Gulf: how to find a station with fuel and how to read the government shortage map
On 20 October the Élysée said the UAE and Bahrain will supply 200,000 tonnes of diesel a month. What is known, what has been promised for 1 November, and how to check fuel availability on prix-carburants.gouv.fr.
October 20, 2026official source
weathervigilanceépisode méditerranéenMarseilleinsurancesouth of France
Mediterranean episode: orange alert in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Vaucluse. Why it keeps happening every autumn, and what to do
On 20 October Météo-France keeps seven south-eastern departments on orange alert. What an épisode méditerranéen is, what Météo-France asks you to do, how car insurance works and where to follow the alert.
October 19, 2026
workchômage partielprotestscurfewnews
After the 17 October looting: short-time work for damaged shops and local curfews. How activité partielle works
On 19 October Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced measures after a weekend of looting. What was announced, what is not yet set out, and what the activité partielle rules mean for shop staff.
October 19, 2026official source
transportParismetroRATPworks
Metro line 2 closed between Barbès and Père Lachaise until 25 October: what it means and how to keep track of Paris works
From 19 to 25 October, no line 2 trains run between Barbès-Rochechouart and Père Lachaise; a replacement bus covers the gap. Other closures planned this autumn, and where to check them.
October 19, 2026
safetychildrenGuadeloupeprefecturetown hall
Curfew for minors in Guadeloupe: what this measure is and where its limits lie in France
For the night of 18 to 19 October, the prefect of Guadeloupe barred unaccompanied minors from the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes. Who in France may impose such a curfew, when courts strike it down, and how it differs from child-protection measures.
October 18, 2026official source
manifestationspréfecturesécuritécarburantcommerçantspolitique
Macron's address on 18 October: what was announced, what is not yet a rule, and how protests get banned in France
After the violence of 17 October, the President addressed the nation: a crisis unit for affected shopkeepers, prefects' decisions up to banning gatherings, fuel. What already applies, what doesn't yet, and how a protest ban works.
October 18, 2026official source
vigilancemétéotravailGardHérault
Orange alert in the Gard and Hérault on 19 October: what the rules say about work when bad weather keeps you from getting there
Météo-France has issued an orange alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday. What it advises, whether missed hours are paid, and what options an employer has — based on the service-public guidance.
October 18, 2026official source
safetyinsuranceprotestsplaintehousingcars
Car, window or shop damaged on 17 October: police report, insurance and when the State pays
After the unrest on the 17 October day of protests: how to file a complaint in France, when to notify your insurer, what compulsory insurance does and does not cover, and when the State is liable for the damage.
October 17, 2026official source
housingrentingleaseJournal officiel
A new 'tenant's guide' attached to French leases: what newcomers should know from it
On 17 October the Journal officiel published an order replacing the notice d'information, the document attached to residential leases. Here is what it sets out: deposit, notice periods, foreign guarantors, insurance, pests.
October 17, 2026official source
protestsdocumentstitre de séjourpolicetransport
Protests across France on 17 October: what foreign residents should know about papers, police checks and banned marches
On Saturday, protests against the cost of living took place across France: motorways blocked, petrol stations occupied, hundreds of arrests. What documents a foreign resident is expected to carry, how identity checks work, and the difference between an undeclared and a banned demonstration.
October 17, 2026official source
transportbenefitstaximpots.gouv
Fuel aid for people who drive to work: €100 from October, applications open on 27 October
The indemnité carburant for workers who commute by car has been extended to October–December 2026 and doubled. Who qualifies, how to apply on impots.gouv.fr, and where recent arrivals get caught out.
October 16, 2026official source
housingrentIRLtenants
Rent index IRL up 1.57%: how rent reviews work in France, and when a landlord cannot raise the rent
On 15 October Insee published the IRL for the third quarter of 2026: 148.06. What the index is, how the new rent is calculated, why an increase cannot be backdated, and when a review is not allowed at all.
October 16, 2026official source
workhealthemployee rightsmédecin du travailprud'hommesdocuments
Avis d'inaptitude after sick leave: 15 days to contest it, and the month after which your salary must be paid again
What the rules provide when the médecin du travail rules an employee unfit for their post: who may contest the opinion and within what deadline, what the employer must do, and from when salary payment resumes.
October 15, 2026
transportParisairporttaxi
Paris taxi drivers protest against ride-hailing at the airports — until Saturday
Since 15 October, Paris taxi drivers have been protesting against ride-hailing platforms at the airports. What they demand and what travellers flying from Charles de Gaulle can expect.
October 15, 2026official source
pensionAgirc-Arrcoretraite complémentaireworkmoney
Agirc-Arrco pensions rise 1.4% from 1 November: how the 'second half' of a French pension works
Agirc-Arrco is raising private-sector supplementary pensions by 1.4% from 1 November 2026. How points are earned, when payments arrive, and what retirees living abroad need to do.
October 15, 2026official source
familyworkbenefitscongé de paternitéCPAMemployee rights
Paternity leave in France: 3 + 4 days are compulsory, 21 are yours to place, and a new paid month opened on 1 July
Congé de naissance, congé de paternité and the new congé supplémentaire de naissance are three separate leaves that run back to back. The deadlines, the splitting rules, and the condition that can leave a recent arrival with the leave but no payment.
October 14, 2026official source
taxesauto-entrepreneurespace professionnelbusiness
impots.gouv professional account: a new home page by the end of 2026
The tax administration is redesigning the espace professionnel home page during the last quarter of 2026: tiles instead of a list, “Déclarer” and “Payer” together, SIREN search whatever the number of files. Access rights do not change.
October 14, 2026official source
scamsbankingsafetybank card
A 'bank courier' is coming for your card: how the scam works and what to do in the first hour
A new wave of 'fake courier' bank card fraud has been reported around Béziers. Here's how the fake bank adviser scam works, which numbers to call, and what the rules say about getting your money back.
October 14, 2026official source
housingmortgagecredittaux d'usureBanque de FranceService-Public
Taux d'usure from 1 October: the mortgage ceiling is 5.4% over 20 years
The Banque de France has refreshed the legal maximum mortgage rates from 1 October 2026. What goes into the TAEG, why borrower's insurance can push a file into the ceiling, and when the thresholds change again.
October 13, 2026official source
gasenergyhousingpricesCRE
Gas up 6.6% from 1 November: who is affected and how to check your contract
France's energy regulator CRE has raised the gas prix repère from 1 November 2026. What the prix repère is, indexed versus fixed-price contracts, and how to switch supplier for free.
October 13, 2026official source
workplatformsself-employeddelivery
Platform couriers are now guaranteed €19 per hour of activity — checked weekly
The minimum income guarantee for independent delivery couriers has risen from €11.75 to €19 per hour of activity, and the reference period has shrunk from a month to a calendar week. What counts as an "hour of activity" — and why it is not an hour with the app open.
October 12, 2026official source
legallawyerParisforeignersaide juridictionnelle
Free lawyers week in Paris, 12–18 October: how to get free legal advice in France
The Paris Bar and the City of Paris are running 'L'Avocat dans la Cité': free legal consultations, including on immigration law. Plus where to get a free legal consultation in any other town, any week of the year.
October 12, 2026official source
healthvaccinationAssurance maladiepharmacycarte VitaleService-Public
Flu and Covid jabs: campaign opens 13 October, and both can be given the same day
France's joint autumn flu and Covid-19 vaccination campaign starts on 13 October. Who is covered, what the bon de prise en charge is, who may give the injection, and why waiting for a letter from your health fund is a mistake.
October 11, 2026official source
cafonline-securitydata-breachphishingscams
Vacaf (CAF) data breach: how to spot a fake 'official' message and where to report it
A hack of the CAF holiday-aid platform came to light on 9 October; the hacker claims around 1.2 million accounts were affected. The main risk now is convincing scam emails and texts. Here is what cybermalveillance.gouv.fr and service-public recommend.
October 10, 2026official source
transportdriving licenceprefecturefines
Phone in hand at the wheel: prefects across France told to suspend licences, no judge needed
On 29 September the Interior Ministry asked every prefect to use administrative licence suspension against drivers holding a phone. How the procedure works, how it differs from the fine, and what happens afterwards.
October 9, 2026
transportstrikeSNCFpassenger rightsNormandy
Paris–Normandy rail strike on 9–10 October: what the law guarantees when your train is cancelled
Service on some trains on five lines between Paris and Normandy is disrupted on Friday and Saturday. How much notice the operator must give, when you get your money back, and why a strike does not cancel delay compensation.
October 9, 2026official source
logementbaillocationdroits-locatairescolocation
New standard lease forms from 1 October: what has changed in them
Decree 2026-596 has rewritten France's standard residential lease forms. What was added, which leases it applies to, why a French lease is a regulated form rather than free text, and what that gives a tenant.
October 8, 2026official source
strikechildrenschoolcrechefamily
Strikes at crèches and school canteens: what the rules guarantee parents — and what they don't
On 8 October municipal crèche staff are on strike, and in some towns school canteens and before/after-school care are shut too. How childcare works on strike days in France: the 25% rule for schools, five days' notice, and why the canteen can close while the school stays open.
October 8, 2026official source
housingAPLCAFbenefitsstudents
APL up 1.15% from 1 October — and a new rule for students
APL, ALF and ALS housing benefits rose by 1.15% on 1 October 2026. The recalculation is automatic, but the increase is easy to miss. Why APL is never backdated, and the rule for non-EU students that has applied since 1 July 2026.
October 7, 2026official source
weatherfloodinginsurancehousingsouth of France
Floods in the Hérault: why rivers stay dangerous after the rain, and how flood insurance claims work
How a river flood alert differs from a rain alert, where to follow river levels, and what the catastrophe naturelle procedure provides if your home is damaged.
October 7, 2026official source
housingrentingtrêve hivernaleenergydeadlines
Trêve hivernale 2026–2027: no evictions from 1 November — and no power cut-offs either
From 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 a landlord cannot evict a tenant even with a court decision, and suppliers cannot cut electricity or gas for non-payment. The exceptions, the power-throttling caveat, and why the debt still stands.
October 6, 2026official source
benefitspensionforeign residentsAVFSMSA
AVFS: up to €735.80 a month for older foreign residents who want to live back home without losing support
A benefit for foreign retirees aged 65+ living alone in a migrant workers' hostel or résidence sociale: who qualifies, the amounts updated on 1 October 2026, what you give up in exchange, and where to apply.
October 6, 2026official source
taxe d'habitationpropertysecond home
Taxe d'habitation still exists — on second homes
The tax was abolished on main homes, not on second ones. Notices arrive in the last quarter of the year. It is owed by whoever has a furnished home at their disposal, tenants included — and failing to declare a property carries a €150 fine per property.
October 6, 2026official source
météovigilancesécuritéGardHéraultinondations
Orange alert in the Gard and Hérault: what France's warning colours mean and what to do in a downpour
Météo-France has placed the Gard and Hérault on orange alert for rain-flooding and thunderstorms on 6 and 7 October. What the four vigilance colours mean, why you should not collect children from school, and where to check.
October 5, 2026official source
educationschoollife in France
Lycée blockades: what the attendance rules say
Lycée blockades have been running in France since late September. What the rules provide about missed classes, and where students can have their say until 23 October.
October 5, 2026official source
citizenshipresidence permit
French naturalisation now requires B2, resident card B1
Since 1 January 2026, French citizenship requires B2 French, spoken and written; a first resident card requires B1.
October 5, 2026official source
prélèvement à la sourcesalarytax rate
Your prélèvement à la source rate changed in September — check it
The new withholding rate is calculated from the return you filed in spring and applies from September. If your income has changed since — a new job, or arriving mid-year — you can have the rate recalculated yourself.
October 5, 2026official source
taxe foncièrepropertydeadlines
Taxe foncière 2026: pay by 15 October, or by the 20th online
French property tax is owed by whoever owned the property on 1 January. Payment by cheque, transfer or cash (if the amount is €300 or less) is due 15 October, online payment 20 October at midnight. Who it concerns, and what to do if you cannot find the notice.