For those British Citizens who were resident in France on 31st December 2020 but who had not been resident for 5 years at that date, a five year withdrawal ageement residency permit (WARP) was issued. These are now starting to reach their expiry dates, meaning renewal is necessary. Key points to note are:
- Although there has been talk of a centralised, online renewal system being developed, there is not yet any clarity on when this might be ready. So, for the moment, it is necessary to contact your local Préfecture to confirm what that procedure is. Some Préfectures (e.g. Bouches du Rhône, Cantal, Dordogne, Loiret, Manche, Meurthe et Moselle, Paris, Vienne) are using an online renewal system. Others (e.g. Charente Maritime, Finistère, Hauts de Seine, Lot et Garonne, Nord) require an appointment at the Préfecture or request that the renewal file is posted to them.
- Each Préfecture seems to have differences in the way they are handling WARP renewals, which makes it difficult for us to provide and easy to understand summary.
- However, there should be a standard set of documents to provide, which can be found here. Basically, you need a valid UK passport, a recent (less than three months) proof of address (e.g. utilities bill), three passport photographs and the card that is about to expire. You should not need anything else, although we are aware of some Préfectures asking for more (e.g. Côtes d'Armor also ask for a birth certificate and proof of residency in France for each of the last five years).
- You will also be asked to provide proof of any changes to your circumstances such as marriage or divorce.
- There is no test of any kind linked to the WARP renewal process - neither civic or language.
- There is no charge for the renewal of a WARP card, one of the negotiated benefits in the Withdrawal Agreement. This is confirmed on the Service Public website https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F35032 (click on the section "Vous avez un titre de séjour portant la mention 'Article 50 TUE/article 18(1) accord de retrait' de 5 ans bientôt en fin de validité" and towards the bottom of the page it confirms the card renewal is "gratuite")
- The Ministère de l'Intérieur has issued all the Préfectures with a list of which WARP cards are to be renewed and when, stating that applications should only be accepted TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CARD EXPIRY DATE. The Préfectures have based their workflow and staffing on this basis and earlier applications may not be dealt with until that date is reached. There is no need for anxiety, because your card is valid up to three months AFTER its expiry date, in line with the other 140 different types of 'titres de séjour' and the 'carte d'identité française'.
- Additionally, if you have a “recipissé” from the Préfecture to confirm you have applied for renewal, that renders the expired card valid until the new card is issued. So if you are travelling during the period between application and getting the new card, then please state this at the appointment when you are giving your fingerprints (again, the new system put in place is to synchronise with the EES and the ETIAS systems, a fact that wasn't in place 5 years ago) and ask for a 'récépissé, which will cover you when travelling.
- As it is almost certain that the 5-Year WARP card holder has now been in France for more than five years, the new card will be a 10-year card confirming a permanent right of residence.
- You will of course be asked to surrender your 5-year card in order to pick up the 10-year card, but only when the new card is ready. In any event, cards will not be issued until AFTER the expiry date marked on them, because the system, which has been altered to allow EES and ETIAS identification, will not allow someone to hold two cards.
- You can retain the right to hold a WARP card even if you have had periods outside France in the last five years. Once you have the permanent 10-year card, you can retain the right to hold it unless you are out of France for a period of five consecutive years (Article 15 (3) of the Withdrawal Agreement which states "Once acquired, the right of permanent residence shall be lost only through absence from the host State for a period exceeding 5 consecutive years.").
- ALWAYS travel with your WARP card (and a récépissé if appropriate), since you can be fined for not presenting this vital piece of identification.
Information from the Embassy on 27 November 2025
For minors turning 18:
If you arrived before 31 December 2020 while a minor, you will need to apply for a residence permit "UK withdrawal agreement from the EU" within one year of your 18th birthday. You must consult the website of your prefecture (if you are in Paris, on the website of the prefecture de police).
For WARP Renewals:
The Ministry of Interior has asked all prefectures to ensure their websites have information on renewing WARP cards that were issued for 5 years or less and for minors turning 18 who were resident in France before 21/12/2020. Most of the cards will need renewing in 2026. Applicants are being asked to submit their request 2 months before the cards expiry date - we suggest that you check your card's validity now to know when you need to apply.
Whilst there is no centralised system, the Prefectures have been given the option to accept WARP renewal applications online via the French administrative system Demarches Simplifees. In this case, the prefecture's website will have a link to a site where applicants will be asked to upload electronically their documents. For Prefectures using this system, applicants will then need a first in-person rdv to take biometrics and show the original documents. At this meeting you should be given a receipt "recipisse" and will keep your original resident card. The recipisse will prove that you have deposited your application even if your card expires in the meantime. A second rdv will be given when the new card is ready to be picked up. You will need to take your old card with you to exchange it. Most prefectures will communicate via email - do check this on your first visit to the prefecture to understand how they will call you in for your second rdv to pick up your new card. Please check your emails regularly for updates from the prefecturei ncluding spam boxes.
Where the prefectures are not using the Demarches Simplifees they should have information on their websites including how to make an appointment to deposit applications (by phone or email for example).
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