According to Eurostat, total net migration in France was 68 000 in 2016 (including minors and French nationals), compared to 65 000 the year before. Net migration remained positive because of flows of foreign nationals. Indeed, outflows of French nationals were almost twice as high as inflows. In 2016, of 310 000 persons who left the country, 84% were French.
The long-term trend of increasing immigration accelerated in 2016, when about 230 000 first residence permits were issued to non-EU nationals in France (overseas territories not included). This was 6% more than in 2015; preliminary data suggest an increase of 14% in 2017. Algerians and Moroccans each accounted for about 12% of first residence permit holders, followed by Chinese and Tunisians (about 7% each). Sub-Saharan African nationals also accounted for almost one quarter of all residence permit holders. In addition to third-country nationals, an estimated 87 000 EU/EFTA nationals moved to France in 2016, slightly fewer than in 2015 (88 000). The main origins were Italy (16%), Portugal (14%) and Spain (12%).
Labour migration has increased continuously for the last five years. First residence permits for work purposes rose 11% in 2016, reaching 23 000. Preliminary data suggests a further increase in labour migration by non-EU nationals of 20% in 2017. This trend indicates the increasing attractiveness of France, especially with the introduction of the “Talent Passport” in 2016, a new residence permit for highly skilled workers. Additionally, more than 6 000 regularisations of third-country national workers were approved in 2016, an increase of 21%.
Family migration was the largest category of migration flows of non-EU nationals but fell in 2016 for the third subsequent year to 89 000 first residence permits (-1% from 2015). An estimated 2% increase is expected in 2017, reversing the trend. Family members of French citizens comprised more than half of family migration. Admission of non-EU students rose in 2016 by 5%, reaching the highest level ever recorded with almost 74 000 first residence permits. The attractiveness of France for international students continues to strengthen: according to preliminary data, flows in 2017 will rise by 20%.
After a large increase in 2015 (+25.5%), the number of first-time asylum applications (including minors) rose again in 2016, by 5%, to 78 000 applications. In 2017, 92 000 first applications were made, of whom 74 000 were adults, the highest number ever recorded. The top countries of origin in 2016 were Sudan (+16%), Afghanistan (+166%) and Haiti (+62%). With 4 600 new adult applications, Albania (+105%), was the fourth country of origin, but the first if accompanying minors are taken into account.
Humanitarian migration has grown substantially since 2013. Of the 90 000 first instance decisions taken in 2016, 29% were accepted, leading to a record number of recognitions of international protection status in France’s history. New residence permits (including joining adult family members) increased by 41% in 2016 to 23 000, with preliminary data for 2017 showing an estimated 57% rise.
Since 2016, a five year “Republican Integration Pathway” (Parcours d’Intégration Républicaine) has been set up for newcomers, in the form of a “Republican Integration Contract”, under which access to a multi-annual residence permit is available if the third-country national has actively participated in training and acquisition of French values.
A draft proposal for a new law, planned for implementation in 2018, is under discussion. It is based on a governmental plan presented in July 2017 and called: “Ensure a right to asylum and better managed migration flows”. The plan includes five objectives: better managed migration flows through a common European and international effort; improved asylum procedure and reception of asylum seekers; more effective irregular migration control and removals; reshaped integration policy; and greater effort to attract talent and skills.
Among the ideas in the proposal are a four-year residence permit for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, the extension to parents and siblings of family reunification for refugee minors, and streamlining the appeal process. The national dispersal scheme for reception of asylum seekers would become mandatory, and asylum seekers would be able to apply for another status during their asylum application process.
Further, the draft proposal suggests extending the “Talent Passport” to new categories, e.g. all French Tech Visa holders, and creating a residence permit for au-pairs. The labour market test would be reformed by creating a list of trusted employers. Job-search visas would be available to researchers and former graduates in France who have left the country for less than four years. The draft also proposes to strengthen compliance checks for some categories of permits (visitors, parents of children in education, and sick foreigners).
The government also plans to improve integration policy with increasing efforts in providing French language courses and measures to ease integration into the labour market.
