Streamlined Residence Permit Process, New Labor Shortages Tool Forthcoming

At a Glance

• The French government has announced that it will introduce several changes to better align the immigration system with France's labor market needs.
• Key planned changes include a new statistical tool to map regional labor shortages, expedited work authorization processing for companies recognized by the French government as having regular needs for international mobility due to their sector of activity and internal organization, and making the residence permit filing process electronic, among other changes.
• The proposal is part of a package of measures rolled out over several years. Some of the measures require parliamentary approval before they can take effect, which is expected in 2020.