A French MP is pushing to find a solution to bring in easier visiting visas for British second-home owners in the wake of Brexit.
Currently tourists and British expats are able to stay in France and other countries in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
For those staying longer, Brits will need a long-stay visa which has proven to be a time-consuming, complicated and costly process.
But there are those in France that are in favour of easing or scrapping the 90-day-rule for British homeowners.
In November 2023, French senator Martine Berthet of Savoie put forward an amendment to a new French Immigration Bill, suggesting special arrangements should be enacted to support UK nationals who own second homes in France. It would give Brits the freedom to use a 180-day allowance in France – reminiscent of the UK’s rule for Europeans visiting Britain.
“The aim was to come up with a win-win solution: making it easier for British owners of second homes to come here and increasing visitor numbers in the towns concerned by combating the phenomenon of ‘cold beds’, Ms Berthet told the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Another French MP, Philippe Lottiaux (of the right-wing National Rally party), is now calling for renewed action to help the homeowners since the article creating an automatic long-stay visa right was passed by both houses of parliament after winning cross-party support. However, it was later rejected for being unconstitutional and having no direct or indirect link to the immigration bill.
Ms Berthet’s amendment proposed that Brits should be able to pass through the border by showing proof of nationality and home ownership or by obtaining a simple document to show their status, valid for several years or indefinitely.
“My proposal is first and foremost focused on British landlords wishing to visit France more and for longer. It offers them an entry procedure that is more suited to their style of stay than the current rule of 90 days in 180 days or the long-stay visa procedure.”
In a published letter to the French Interior Minister in October last year, Ms Berthetn wrote: “In my department of Savoie, as in many other French departments, these second home owners play an active role in the local economy. The difficulties they are experiencing in occupying their homes since the Brexit are being felt in our regions.”
If this latest French move proves successful, there is every chance that Spain will follow suit, despite its recent threat to hike taxes on foreigners buying properties.
There have been discussions between Madrid and London over ways to make the lives of Brits in Spain easier, but so far nothing concrete has surfaced. In fact, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed imposing a tax of up to 100% on the value of properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK.
As of February last year, an estimated 86,000 British households own holiday homes in France, according to Beaux Villages, who are drawn by its stunning beauty, pleasant climates especially on the Mediterranean coast and slower pace of life.
However, this figure marks a significant decrease from the 93,000 households in 2012, which marked the peak.