With the next French presidential election approaching in the spring, the political landscape in France is shifting rapidly as Marine Le Pen and her far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) party maintain a commanding lead in the opinion polls. While political campaigns are notoriously unpredictable and a long, bruising race lies ahead, the prospect of a Le Pen victory has transitioned from a distant hypothetical to a highly plausible scenario. For the millions of foreign nationals currently residing in France, as well as those hoping to move to the country in the future, such a political shift raises critical questions about how their daily lives, legal status, and rights might be transformed under a far-right administration.
Although Rassemblement National has not yet officially released its manifesto for the 2027 presidential election—a document French political parties typically publish only a couple of months before voters head to the polls—the party's long-term policy trajectory, previous election platforms, and recent public addresses offer a clear blueprint of their intentions. Specifically, Le Pen’s recent speech in her constituency of Hénin-Beaumont, where she declared that "French nationals must come first," reinforces the core ideological pillars that would guide her presidency. However, analysts also note that Le Pen has historically demonstrated a willingness to shift her stance on key issues, most notably her policies regarding the European Union, suggesting that her final governing agenda could still undergo adjustments.
For non-European Union citizens living in or planning to move to France, the visa and residency permit (carte de séjour) systems are the primary legal mechanisms governing their stay. Because national governments hold direct authority over the terms, conditions, and volume of these documents, a Le Pen administration would have immediate levers to implement its anti-immigration agenda. Throughout its history, Rassemblement National—formerly known as the Front National—has operated as a fundamentally anti-immigration party, messaging to voters that immigration negatively impacts French society and must be drastically curtailed or halted entirely, with active encouragement for immigrants to return to their countries of origin.
Despite this clear ideological stance, the party has often remained vague about the precise administrative changes it would introduce to the legal immigration system. By frequently conflating legal and illegal migration in its public rhetoric, the party has sometimes left legally resident foreigners with the false impression that an RN government would not affect them. In reality, the legal frameworks governing visas and residency permits would be among the first targets of a far-right administration.
To restrict non-EU immigration, a Le Pen government could drastically reduce the number of visas issued. This could be achieved by establishing an overall visa quota or by eliminating specific visa categories altogether. Alternatively, the administration could raise the financial thresholds required to secure a visa, making it much more difficult for middle- and lower-income applicants to qualify. While French law prohibits direct discrimination against specific countries or nationalities, making it difficult for the government to target particular groups openly, a sweeping reduction across all visa types would serve as a legally viable alternative to achieve the same restrictive goals. In her 2022 presidential campaign, Le Pen proposed a complete end to all "non-economic migration," which would mean restricting entry exclusively to those moving for pre-arranged employment, while completely abolishing family reunification and spouse visas.
Beyond initial entry visas, the process of obtaining and renewing a carte de séjour would likely become significantly more difficult. Under current French law, the government possesses the authority to impose much stricter conditions on residency permits than those currently in place. For instance, while France has recently introduced basic language requirements for certain residency cards, a Le Pen administration could mandate a high B2 level of French proficiency for all types of residency permits. Additionally, the government could phase out long-term or multi-year residency permits entirely, forcing all foreign residents to undergo the arduous process of renewing one-year cards annually.
Such administrative hurdles would align with Le Pen's broader policy of ending non-economic immigration. In her 2022 platform, she also proposed stripping residency permits from foreign nationals who have been unemployed for more than a year, as well as those convicted of any criminal offense, regardless of the severity. Even without formal legislative changes, the administrative friction caused by stricter rules would inevitably exacerbate the already severe delays at France's overstretched local prefectures, where foreign residents currently face prolonged waiting times to secure appointments and receive their documents.
The path to French citizenship would also face severe restrictions under a Rassemblement National government. Party leadership has consistently argued that naturalization should be reserved exclusively for those who have "earned it and integrated" into French society. To enforce this, the government could extend the minimum residency period required to apply for citizenship, which currently stands at five years. It could also implement much higher standards for French language proficiency and impose more stringent financial and employment requirements on applicants. As demonstrated by the implementation of Bruno Retailleau's 2025 ministerial memo (circulaire), administrative policy changes introduced through executive directives can be applied retrospectively, meaning new, tougher rules could immediately affect individuals whose applications are already in progress.
Furthermore, the party has set its sights on ending birthright citizenship, known in France as droit du sol. Currently, children born in France to foreign parents can apply for French citizenship once they reach the age of 13 under certain conditions. Rassemblement National has repeatedly pledged to abolish this right entirely. Additionally, the party has expressed deep skepticism toward dual nationality. In her 2017 manifesto, Le Pen proposed banning dual citizenship altogether, which would force anyone naturalizing as a French citizen to renounce their original nationality. By her 2022 campaign, this policy was adjusted to propose a ban on dual nationals holding certain types of public sector employment.
At the heart of Le Pen's political philosophy is the concept of "French preference" (priorité nationale). During her speech in Hénin-Beaumont, Le Pen reiterated this long-standing party doctrine, promising that French citizens would "have priority in their own country" regardless of their skin color, religion, or origin, describing it as a natural and fair right. This principle aims to restrict access to employment, housing, and social services for non-French nationals.
Currently, legal foreign residents in France have access to various social benefits, such as healthcare, though some restrictions apply, such as requiring a history of employment in France to claim unemployment benefits. Under a Le Pen presidency, these rights would be severely curtailed. In her Hénin-Beaumont address, Le Pen specifically targeted social housing (habitation à loyer modéré or HLM), proposing that access to these subsidized homes be restricted for non-French citizens. This proposal reflects a broader, long-standing party ambition to completely exclude foreigners—including citizens of other EU member states—from accessing social benefits, family allowances, and unemployment assistance, as outlined in both her 2017 and 2022 manifestos.
This "French preference" policy would place a Le Pen-led France in direct conflict with the European Union. While the party has moved away from advocating for a "Frexit" (France leaving the EU), its current strategy involves remaining within the bloc while refusing to comply with key EU regulations, such as freedom of movement, the right to claim asylum, and family reunification. Implementing policies that favor French citizens over other EU nationals in employment and social benefits would directly violate EU non-discrimination laws.
Such a conflict could also have profound implications for British citizens living in France under the protection of the post-Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Brits who moved to France before 2021 are legally protected by treaty rights that guarantee their right to remain and work in the country. However, if a Le Pen administration chooses to ignore or bypass EU treaties, the security of these rights would depend heavily on how the European Commission chooses to respond. Observers note that in Sweden, where the expulsion of hundreds of British citizens and apparent breaches of the Withdrawal Agreement have occurred, the European Commission's response has been highly muted, raising concerns about the level of protection the EU would enforce.
Beyond legal and administrative changes, a Le Pen presidency would likely alter the social climate in France. The party’s history of hostile rhetoric toward Muslims, LGBTQ individuals, and its record of controversial statements on race suggest that minority groups would face an increasingly challenging environment. While many broader economic, defense, health, and education policies would impact French citizens and foreign residents alike, the targeted measures regarding immigration, citizenship, and social benefits represent the most direct and immediate changes facing the foreign population in France under a far-right government.
