More than 60,000 French immigrants could lose their residency rights

(CLO) More than 300,000 foreigners in France could be affected by new language requirements, of which about 60,000 people risk losing their residence permits if they do not meet this condition.

New regulations require immigrants to reach a certain level of French in order to continue living legally in the country.

The regulations were announced in January 2024 but have yet to be implemented. Once they come into effect, those who fail the language test will not be eligible to renew or extend their residence permit.

This measure includes a written test and assessment of the required language skills, with varying levels of requirements depending on the validity of the license. Specifically, applicants for a license with a validity of 2-4 years must have a minimum language level equivalent to junior high school.

For those seeking French citizenship, the requirements are even stricter. They must have a university-level language proficiency and be able to understand and express complex concepts in specialized terminology. This is a major barrier for many immigrants, especially those from non-French speaking countries.

Illustration photo: Pexel

The French Interior Ministry estimates that around 20,000 migrants could lose their residence permits, while another 40,000 could be denied long-term residency, bringing the total number affected to 60,000.

The new regulations have sparked controversy and strong opposition from France’s immigrant community. On January 31, hundreds of undocumented migrants gathered in Paris to protest, denouncing the measure as “unfair” and endangering their future.

Many migrant workers, especially those in informal jobs such as domestic work, construction and services, fear that they will lose their livelihood if they do not meet language requirements. Some shared that they have lived and worked in France for many years but due to the closed working environment, they have had few opportunities to learn French systematically.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who proposed the measures, said that a foreigner's inability to speak French after years of living in the country was a sign of "not trying hard enough".

Ngoc Anh (according to Schengen, Info Migrants)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/yeu-cau-ngon-ngu-cuc-kho-khien-hon-60000-nguoi-nhap-cu-phap-co-the-mat-quyen-cu-tru-post334622.html