France unveils new immigration rules for foreign workers who lose their jobs

France now lets eligible foreign workers who lose their jobs stay for up to six months to find new work, and it has cut residence permit processing time to 90 days.

France has introduced new immigration rules that allow eligible foreign workers who lose their jobs to remain in the country for up to six months while they search for new employment, Nairametrics reports.

Under the rules, holders of Temporary Worker residence permits who become unemployed now have three months to find another job without losing their residence status. Those who secure a new employer within that window must obtain fresh work authorisation.

EU Blue Card holders get a longer six-month grace period and will not need new work authorisation if they find another job.

The reforms also cut the standard processing time for complete residence permit applications from four months to 90 days, though complex cases may be extended by 30 days.

In addition, Blue Card holders from other EU states can now move to France after 12 months, down from 18.

The changes implement revised EU Blue Card and Single Permit Directives to boost non-EU workers’ mobility.