France Cuts Legal Residence Permits By 42% As Government Moves To Curb Immigration

France has sharply reduced the number of legal residence permits it issues, part of a deliberate government effort to curb immigration and blunt growing support for far‑right parties.

Official figures show a 42% decline in permits during the first nine months of the year — a dramatic drop that coincides with similar moves by several Western governments tightening controls on both legal and undocumented migration.

Political Context

Authorities say the measures are intended in part to address public concerns about migration as mainstream political parties in countries such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom face increased pressure from anti‑migration, nationalist blocs that have surged in opinion polls.

International Comparison

Across the Atlantic, the political debate has taken different forms but comparable intensity. The Trump administration pushed proposals to end birthright citizenship and has significantly curtailed other legal pathways into the United States, highlighting how migration policy has become a central political issue in several democracies.

Key figure: 42% fewer legal residence permits issued in France during the first nine months of the year.

The decline in permits raises questions about the immediate humanitarian and economic effects, including impacts on labor markets, family reunification and France’s international obligations. Observers say the policy shift is likely to shape migration debates ahead of upcoming elections and could influence similar tactics in other countries.