Is your five-year residency card nearing expiration? Here’s what you need to know for a smooth renewal.

Understanding the WARP Renewal Process

As a UK expat holding a five-year Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit (WARP) in France, you're reaching a crucial milestone: renewing your residency card in 2025 or 2026.

Remember, you are renewing the card itself. Having lived in France for at least five years, you are now entitled to a 10-year residence permit. Your permanent residency rights have already been secured under the Withdrawal Agreement.

French Government Updates

The French government is currently outlining procedures for this transition. Upon renewal, you’ll be eligible for a 10-year carte de séjour. It’s advisable to begin the process at least two months before your current card expires.

Although the process has not yet been finalised, and individual prefectures may have different procedures, we hope the renewal will be straightforward.

Required Documentation

It’s worth considering the documents you may need to submit, which vary depending on your circumstances. For example, requirements differ if you are: 

• Employed or self-employed
• Retired/person with sufficient financial resources/inability to work
• Spouse, partner, or cohabitant of a French National

It is anticipated that the required documents needed will be similar to those used in your first application in 2020/21. 

For example, you will need:

• Your current WARP card
• A valid passport, with copies of all stamped pages
• Proof of address dated within the last three months
• Three recent passport-sized photographs
• Evidence of income from the last 5-years.

Minimum income threshold

When WARP applications were made in 2020-2021, the single minimum income threshold was €565 per month, equivalent to the social security benefit at that time (Revenu de Solidarité Active, RSA). It is expected that the updated criteria will follow the same principle.

The Withdrawal Agreement states that in relation to the test of resources, ‘Article 8(4) of Directive 2004/38/EC shall apply.’ This means: 'Member States may not set a fixed minimum income but must consider the applicant’s personal situation. The required amount cannot exceed the threshold at which nationals of the host state qualify for social assistance or the minimum social security pension.

Will French language skills be part of the criteria?

No, language proficiency is not a requirement. While language skills are necessary for some visa applicants, the Withdrawal Agreement (19 October 2019) states that the same criteria from your initial application still apply, without any language requirements.

When do you need to apply for your permanent Residency?

For now, sit tight. As soon as we receive official details from the French government on the process, we’ll update you. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date. Once announced, you won’t have to wait until your current card expires - you’ll be able to apply immediately, and SOS Anglo will be here to guide you through it and make your application for you.

Conclusion

Renewing your carte de séjour is a vital step in maintaining your residency rights in France. At SOS Anglo, we’ll keep you informed so you can navigate this process with confidence, and we’ll be on-hand to do that for you  We hope we’ve eased some of your concerns about renewal. Still have questions? Get in touch via email or DM on our social media platforms.

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