France Unveils Radical "Global Plan" to Slash Residence Permit Backlogs

PARIS — In a decisive move to address the administrative paralysis affecting nearly a million foreign residents, the French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, has unveiled a comprehensive emergency strategy to fix the country’s residency renewal system.

Announced this April in an interview with Le Figaro, the plan aims to resolve a staggering backlog of 930,000 pending files. For thousands of migrants, the transition to the Digital Administration for Foreigners in France (ANEF) has resulted in "digital exclusion," leaving many in legal limbo and deprived of basic social and professional rights.

France unveils radical "Global Plan" to slash residence permit backlogs – 930,000 pending files.

Key Goals: Speed and Simplicity

The centerpiece of the reform is a drastic reduction in processing times. Minister Nuñez stated that the government’s objective is to halve the current wait times, bringing the average down to 55 days, compared to the 117-day average recorded last year. In some regions, delays currently exceed four months, a threshold the ministry now deems a priority "fight against rights violations."

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The Multi-Pillar Strategy

To achieve these targets, the Ministry of the Interior is deploying a combination of human resources and legislative simplification:

• Massive Recruitment: 500 temporary workers will be hired—a 20% increase in the national workforce—supported by €2 million in overtime pay for existing staff.

  
  

• Reduced Red Tape: Foreigners will no longer be required to declare every change of address, and the list of required documents is being streamlined.

  
  

• Technological Upgrades: Biometric fingerprint validity will be extended from five to ten years, reducing the need for repetitive in-person appointments.

  
  

• Automation: The plan recommends automating the issuance of certificates (récépissés) to ensure no resident is left without proof of legal status while their file is under review.

  
  

Judicial Pressure and ANEF "Dysfunction"

The announcement comes as the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, recently scrutinized the ANEF platform. Despite the government's push for 100% digitization, associations like Secours Catholique and Emmaüs have argued that computer bugs and a lack of human contact have turned the renewal process into a "nightmare."

The court's public rapporteur emphasized that the stakes are high, particularly for vulnerable individuals with limited French proficiency who risk losing their jobs or healthcare when their permits expire due to technical errors.

Security and Fraud Prevention

While the plan aims to "systematize" long-term titles for those meeting the criteria, Nuñez was clear that security remains paramount. The government will implement a "differentiated degree of control," adapting procedures based on the risk of fraud. "The fight against fraud and the preservation of public order will not tolerate any change," the minister asserted.

With 4.5 million foreigners currently holding valid permits—representing over 8% of the population—this overhaul marks one of the most significant shifts in French administrative policy in recent years.

For more updates on French immigration policies and detailed guides on navigating the renewal process, visit France visa section