France
Residence permit fees increase
The government has announced increases in the cost of the tax that a foreign national must pay for the issuance of a residence permit, effective 1 May 2026.
To obtain a temporary residence card, a multi-year residence card or a resident card, a foreign national wishing to reside in France must buy a tax stamp. This payment must be made once the application has been accepted, for the issuance of the document.
From 1 May 2026, the amount of this tax stamp is EUR 350 for the first-time issuance of one of these residence permits (compared to EUR 225 previously).
A reduced rate applies to residence permits issued for certain reasons, for example:
- seasonal worker;
- student;
- job search or business creation;
- family reunification;
- au pair.
From May 1st, this reduced tax stamp rate will be EUR 150 (compared to EUR 75 previously).
The cost for the renewal of a residence permit has also increased to EUR 250 (compared to EUR 225 previously).
The reduced rate for renewals, which applies in the same situations as for a first-time issuance, is now set at EUR 100 (compared to EUR 75 previously).
The cost of the tax stamp for obtaining a duplicate residence permit is now the same as for the first-time issuance of the document: EUR 350 for the normal rate, and EUR 150 for the reduced rate.
A new tax for provisional residence permits
A new fee has been established for the issuance and renewal of a provisional residence permit, which is issued to foreign nationals carrying out a volunteer mission in France, or who are parents of a seriously ill minor child). This now costs EUR 100.
Two categories of people are exempt from paying this tax:
- people coming out of prostitution engaged in a social and professional integration process;
- beneficiaries of temporary protection.
Other changes to immigration fees
Several other tariff provisions concerning foreign nationals came into force on 1 May 2026.
The tax stamp for applications for naturalizationand reintegration into French nationality, and for declarations of acquisition of nationality, has increased to EUR 255, up from EUR 55 previously. In Guyana, the amount of this tax stamp is halved in accordance with the provisions of the General Tax Code; it is therefore set at EUR 127.50, compared to EUR 27.50 previously.
The regularization visa feeis now EUR 300, including EUR 100 non-refundable deposit which is due at the submission of the regularization application (compared to EUR 200, including EUR 50 non-refundable deposit previously). The right to a regularization visa is applicable to foreigners who entered France irregularly, or who do not have a residence permit within the regulatory deadlines.
The amount of the tax for a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit or exempt from a residence permithas been set at EUR 300 as of 1 May 2026, compared to EUR 200 previously. A reduced rate is applied for certain statuses (seasonal worker, student, family reunification, job search or business creation, etc.). This reduced rate is now EUR 100, compared to EUR 50 previously.
The Finance Act for 2026 provides for these tax increases.
Updated short-term mobility and experience rules for EU Blue Card
Decree No. 2026-308 of 24 April 2026 has finally transposed the short-term intra-EU mobility provisions of the EU Blue card Directive (2021/1883). This complements the changes introduced in May 2025.
The decree adds to article R5221-2 of the French Labour Code the following new categories of individual who are exempt from the requirement to obtain a French work permit:
- A holder of an EU long-term residence card marked “former holder of an EU Blue Card;
- A holder of an EU Blue Card.
These categories of highly-qualified non-EU national are now permitted to carry out paid work in France without a French work permit for up to 90 days in any period of 180 days, thus simplifying their short-term assignments in France.
Qualification by experience
The new decree also introduces a new article of the Labour Code (Article R421-21 C) stating that ministers will publish a list of occupations in which an applicant with at least three years of experience in the previous seven years can qualify for an EU Blue Card.
This ministerial order establishing the list of occupations has not yet been published. In other occupations, five years of professional experience is required, or a three-year higher education decree.
Italy
Further allocation of quotas for seasonal dependent work in the agricultural and tourism sectors
On 6 May 2026, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies announced the assignment of additional quotas for seasonal dependent work for the requests submitted by the most representative Employers’ Organizations at the national level: 5,389 quotas for the agricultural sector and 3,476 quotas for the tourism sector.
The Decree of 2 October 2025 “Programming of legal entry flows into Italy of foreign workers for the three-year period 2026-2028” allocated 88,000 quotas for subordinate seasonal work in agriculture, hospitality and tourism, reserved for certain nationalities.
Sweden
New rules for Swedish citizenship from 6 June 2026
The migration agency (Migrationsverket) has announced that the Swedish Parliament has decided on new rules for obtaining Swedish citizenship.
The requirements for habitual residence in Sweden and for leading an orderly life will become stricter. In addition, applicants will be required to be self-sufficient and to have a good knowledge of the Swedish language and Swedish society.
The rules will come into force on 6 June 2026. The rules will be introduced without transitional arrangements. This means that the Swedish Migration Agency will assess all cases that have not been decided before 6 June 2026 according to the new rules.
Habitual residence and orderly life
The main rule for how long a person must have been resident in Sweden will increase from five to eight years. Different time limits apply to certain groups. There will be stricter requirements regarding living an orderly life. This means, among other things, that a person who has committed a crime will have to wait longer before they can be granted Swedish citizenship.
Self sufficiency
To meet the new maintenance requirement, which does not apply to children, the applicant must
- have an annual income of at least three income base amounts (approximately SEK 20,000 per month before tax);
- have a long-term income from employment or self-employment;
- not have received income support (försörjningsstöd) for more than a total of six months over the past three years.
Some people may be exempt, for example those receiving an old-age pension or those with permanent disabilities. Exemptions may also apply to people studying at a certain level with satisfactory results, for example full-time studies at a Swedish university or university college leading to a degree.
Knowledge of language and society
Knowledge of the Swedish language and Swedish society will become mandatory for applicants aged 16 to 66. Knowledge can be demonstrated, for example, through school grades, Swedish for Immigrants (SFI course D), municipal adult education or a folk high school. If it is not possible to provide evidence of knowledge, the applicant will be offered the opportunity to take a citizenship test.
Citizenship tests will be introduced gradually. The first part will be introduced in August 2026 and will cover knowledge of Swedish society. Tests in the Swedish language will be introduced at a later stage.
The Swedish Migration Agency is responsible for assessing applications and for instructing applicants to register for the test, while the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) is responsible for developing, administering and marking the test.
Further changes
- Children will no longer be included in a parent’s application. This means that children must submit their own application, which must be signed by their parent/legal guardian.
- Only adult Nordic citizens, stateless children and young adults born in Sweden, and fathers of children born outside marriage and outside Sweden before 1 April 2015, will be able to submit a notification of Swedish citizenship. All others must apply for citizenship.
- Certain people who previously lost their Swedish citizenship will be able to apply to regain it. This change applies to people who lost their Swedish citizenship at the age of 22 because they were born abroad and have never lived in Sweden – nor have they been in Sweden under circumstances that suggest a connection with the country
New residence rules for researchers, doctoral candidates and students
The Swedish parliament (Riksdag) has approved the government’s proposed new residence rules for researchers, doctoral candidates and students. The Riksdag also approved special provisions on granting residence permits for so-called mass refugees from Ukraine. The new rules will come into force on 11 June 2026.
The decision involves changes to the type of residence permit that can be granted, the possibility of applying for a new permit from within Sweden, and the requirements that apply in different situations.
The Swedish Migration Board is now starting to prepare its operations for the legislative changes.
Changes for researchers and doctoral students
For researchers and doctoral students, the new rules mean, among other things, greater opportunities to apply for and receive a permit without first leaving Sweden. In some cases, it will also be possible to receive a permanent residence permit after just three years.
Under current regulations, doctoral students can apply for a residence permit for higher education studies. Under the new regulations, they can in some cases be granted a residence permit for research. This applies to doctoral students who have a hosting agreement with an approved research principal.
Those who have completed research or postgraduate education may also be given more time to look for work or investigate the possibilities of starting a business, for up to 18 months.
Changes for students
For people with a residence permit for studies, the possibility of working alongside their studies is being limited. The requirements to demonstrate acceptable progress in their studies are also becoming clearer.
It will also be more difficult to switch from a residence permit for studies to another residence permit from within Sweden. To be able to do so, as a general rule, the student must have completed studies corresponding to at least two semesters of higher education.
The rules for family members of students are also changing. In certain situations, their residence permit may be revoked if the conditions for the permit are no longer met.
Persons protected under the Mass Displacement Directive
For Ukrainian nationals who have protection under the Mass Displacement Directive, the new rules mean that in certain cases they can apply for a residence permit on another basis from within Sweden, for example for work or business activitie
