https://easyfrancenow.com/updatesRule changes that affect Americans in France. Each one comes from an official page, with the date it takes effect and the day we read it.en-usWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#driving-licence-exchange-stamphttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#driving-licence-exchange-stampWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTExchanging a licence from outside the EU and the EEA for a French one now carries a stamp duty. Some European licences must be exchanged too. You pay online. The planned start of 4 May was pushed back to 12 May. Before: The exchange was free. The notice says it "devient payant", which means it becomes payable. Now: 40 euros from 12 May 2026 (20 euros in Guyane). You can drive on a non-EU licence for one year after you establish normal residence in France, meaning at least 185 days in a calendar year. After that you must exchange it, if France has a reciprocity agreement with the issuing country. Source: Service-Public, A18887: Exchanging a European or foreign driving licence for a French one becomes payable (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18887). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#long-stay-visa-validation-taxhttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#long-stay-visa-validation-taxWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis is the tax on a long-stay visa that works as a residence permit (VLS-TS), or that exempts you from one. A reduced rate applies to some statuses, among them seasonal worker, student, family reunification, and job search or business creation. Before: 200 euros, or 50 euros at the reduced rate. Now: 300 euros, or 100 euros at the reduced rate, since 1 May 2026. Source: Service-Public, A18881: Residence permits, increase in the taxes charged to foreigners from 1 May (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18881). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#naturalization-stamphttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#naturalization-stampWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis is the tax stamp for a naturalization or reinstatement application and for a declaration of nationality, for example by marriage. Before: 55 euros (27.50 euros in Guyane). Now: 255 euros (127.50 euros in Guyane) since 1 May 2026. Source: Service-Public, A18881: Residence permits, increase in the taxes charged to foreigners from 1 May (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18881). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#residence-permit-first-issue-stamphttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#residence-permit-first-issue-stampWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis is the tax stamp you buy when a first temporary card, multi-year card or resident card is issued. A duplicate costs the same. A reduced rate covers some statuses, for example seasonal worker, student, job search or business creation, family reunification and au pair. Before: 225 euros, or 75 euros at the reduced rate. Now: 350 euros, or 150 euros at the reduced rate, since 1 May 2026. The visitor card page (F302) and the 10-year resident card page (F2208), both read on 28 October 2026, also show 350 euros for a first issue. Source: Service-Public, A18881: Residence permits, increase in the taxes charged to foreigners from 1 May (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18881). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#residence-permit-renewal-stamphttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#residence-permit-renewal-stampWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis is the tax stamp for renewing a residence permit. Before: 225 euros, or 75 euros at the reduced rate. Now: 250 euros, or 100 euros at the reduced rate, since 1 May 2026. The visitor card page (F302), read on 28 October 2026, also shows 250 euros for a renewal. Source: Service-Public, A18881: Residence permits, increase in the taxes charged to foreigners from 1 May (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18881). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#ees-fully-operationalhttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#ees-fully-operationalWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe EES registers non-EU travellers electronically at the external borders of the 29 European countries that use it. It was rolled out gradually over six months. Before: Until 9 April 2026, passport stamping and electronic registration ran side by side. Now: From 10 April 2026 the EES is fully operational at every external border crossing of the countries that use it. Manual passport stamping is abolished. Source: EU Travel to Europe, EES FAQ (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees/faq). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#civic-exam-requiredhttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#civic-exam-requiredWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom 1 January 2026 you must pass the civic exam to get naturalization, or a multi-year card or a resident card if you come from a non-EU country. It is a 45-minute digital multiple-choice test with 40 questions (28 on general knowledge and 12 on situations). You need 32 right answers, which is 80 percent. You take it before you apply. Renewing a multi-year card or a resident card does not require it. The certificate does not expire. Before: For a multi-year permit, the civic training came after the permit was issued, under the republican integration contract. Now: From 1 January 2026 the training comes first. It lasts 24 hours over 4 days and ends with the exam. Source: Service-Public, A18713: A new civic exam for foreigners who want to settle in France (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/actualites/A18713). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#foreign-earned-income-exclusion-2026https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#foreign-earned-income-exclusion-2026Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThis is the most foreign earned income a qualifying person can exclude from US federal income tax on Form 2555. The IRS set the 2026 figure in its yearly inflation adjustments. It applies to the return you file in 2027, not the one you file in 2026. Before: $130,000 for tax year 2025. Now: $132,900 for tax year 2026. The IRS page on the exclusion still listed amounts only up to 2023 when we read it, so the figure comes from the IRS announcement of 9 October 2025. Source: IRS, IR-2025-103: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2026-including-amendments-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#french-level-b2-nationalityhttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#french-level-b2-nationalityWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTDecree 2025-648 of 15 July 2025 changed decree 93-1362. Someone who applies for naturalization or reinstatement, or who declares French nationality by marriage, must now show spoken and written French at B2 of the European framework (CEFR). Article 11 of the decree sets the start: declarations by marriage made from 1 January 2026, and naturalization or reinstatement applications filed from that date. A test certificate must be less than two years old (Service-Public F11926). Before: Level B1, for both procedures. This is the version of decree 93-1362 in force on 17 July 2025. Now: Level B2, in force from 18 July 2025 and applied from 1 January 2026. Service-Public F11926, read the same day, states B2 for both procedures. Source: Légifrance, decree 93-1362 of 30 December 1993, version in force on 18 July 2025 (articles 14 and 37) (https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/LEGIARTI000051906771/2025-07-18). We read it on 2026-10-28. https://easyfrancenow.com/updates#puma-contribution-pendinghttps://easyfrancenow.com/updates#puma-contribution-pendingWed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe social security financing law of 30 December 2025 creates a financial contribution for some people covered by PUMa, the universal health coverage. It applies to people who live in France on a stable and regular basis, have no professional activity, and do not pay CSG, CRDS and the health insurance contribution because of an international convention. Before: No such contribution existed. Now: The contribution is enacted. A decree is expected to set its amount. When we read the page it had not been published, and Service-Public says its current information stays valid until then. Source: Service-Public, F34308: What is the protection universelle maladie (Puma)? (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34308). We read it on 2026-10-28.