Migrants in France Paying Hundreds of Euros Just to Book Residency Appointments
Foreigners in France are facing increasing hurdles in securing residence and citizenship permits due to a broken appointment system, leading many to turn to costly intermediaries. Several organisations supporting migrants have sounded the alarm over the growing exploitation of applicants who are desperate to regularise their status.
According to these organisations, it has become almost impossible for migrants to book appointments through official channels, forcing them to rely on intermediaries who charge exorbitant fees for access to services that are, in principle, free. Some are reportedly paying up to €800 just to book a residence permit appointment, a figure that advocacy groups describe as “scandalous” and “exploitative.”
“It’s a scam,” one migrant rights group stated, adding that intermediaries take advantage of a failed public service, preying on vulnerable applicants who have no alternative.
The issue is not limited to residence permits. Foreigners seeking French citizenship are also being affected, with some reportedly paying up to €1,200 for help submitting their naturalisation applications. Despite the high fees, there is no guarantee of success — one applicant shared that her citizenship request was rejected, and the intermediary refused to refund her money.
Activists have criticized these intermediaries for offering services without proper qualifications. “They know nothing, and yet they charge a fortune,” said the head of a migrant aid organisation. Another activist expressed frustration, accusing these companies of “profiting off desperation.”
The French Ministry of the Interior has urged anyone who has fallen victim to these scams to come forward and report their experiences. Officials also emphasized that only legally registered services in major cities are authorized to assist with immigration paperwork under French law.
In addition to these challenges, France is preparing to introduce a new language requirement for residence permit applicants. This move could impact over 300,000 migrants, with an estimated 60,000 at risk of losing their legal right to stay due to inadequate language skills. The upcoming changes will include a written test, with stricter requirements for long-term residence permits.
Although no implementation date has been announced, the measure is expected to intensify scrutiny of applicants and add another layer of complexity to an already fraught immigration process.
Source: Schengen.News
