France's New Law Makes Digital Nomads Pay More—Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know
- The French government has quietly updated its visa requirements for remote workers, effectively increasing the minimum income threshold by 30% to €3,900 per month, aiming to curb housing shortages and inflation in popular cities like Paris and Lyon.
- Digital nomads must now provide proof of a French residency address or a co-working space contract before being allowed into the country, a move designed to prevent "work-from-tourist" loopholes that previously let people stay on tourist visas for up to 90 days.
- The new rule requires foreign freelancers to register with the French social security system within the first month of arrival, paying a one-time fee of €250—this is the first time France has imposed a direct cost on digital nomads.
- France now actively cross-checks income data with the tax authorities in the nomad's home country, using an automated system launched in January 2025, making it harder to underreport earnings.
- If you're already in France as a digital nomad, you have until March 1, 2026, to update your visa status or face deportation and a 5-year ban from the Schengen Area—experts warn this could spark a legal battle with EU free movement advocates.