90-Day Visa Rule Puts British Second-Home Owners at Wildfire Risk, Senators Warn

French rules that limit British nationals to 90 days in any 180-day period are creating safety concerns for UK owners of second homes in fire-prone regions, local officials and homeowners say. Senator Lauriane Josende, a centre-right representative for the Pyrénées-Orientales — one of the areas hit hardest by this summer’s blazes — has urged Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to adapt post-Brexit visa arrangements so owners can meet legally required wildfire-prevention duties.

Since the end of the Brexit transition, British citizens who own property in France may only remain for 90 days in each 180-day window without a visa. Those who need longer stays must apply for a temporary long-stay visa of up to six months, a process some homeowners describe as slow or impractical for sudden, urgent visits.

Safety And Practical Problems

Senator Josende told The Telegraph the restriction is not merely administrative: it impedes owners from returning regularly — and sometimes at short notice — to carry out mandatory clearance of undergrowth and combustible vegetation, or to repair storm damage and secure properties during emergency situations.

Paula Moore, 59, a British homeowner with three hectares of land backing on to forest at Corneilla-de-Conflent in the Pyrénées-Orientales, southern France

"Following this summer's catastrophic wildfires, it's not just an administrative consequence of Brexit. There really is a safety issue here," Josende said.

The issue was highlighted by Paula Moore, 59, a British homeowner whose three hectares back onto woodland at Corneilla-de-Conflent in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Ms Moore sheltered five evacuees on her land during July’s fires while she was in Britain, and said the 90-day rule left her unable to guarantee that clearance and maintenance were completed within required timeframes.

French law treats compulsory clearance of undergrowth and other combustible material as a key defence against wildfires. Authorities say roughly nine out of ten homes destroyed in forest fires have been located on land that was uncleared or poorly maintained. Property owners within 200 metres of designated woodland are commonly required to maintain a cleared zone — typically 50 metres and, where local rules demand, up to 100 metres — around buildings.

Evacuations And Real-World Effects

Homeowners describe concrete difficulties. George Pace, who owns a property in the Pyrénées-Orientales, was among some 12,000 people evacuated during the Trévillach fire in July. He says property inspections and the time taken to hire tradespeople can stretch over months, and missing a deadline for mandated clearance can result in fines.

A major wildfire burns out of control in the eastern French Pyrenees near Vinca, France - Lorena Sopena Lopez/Anadolu via Getty

Other owners report visa-appointment backlogs, exhausted Schengen allowances and an inability to return during crucial months when storms or fires demand immediate attention. Jez Lee, for example, said he could not return after his Schengen allowance ran out in May while fires approached within roughly 19 miles of his Landes home.

Possible Solutions

Josende warned ministers that current visa procedures are "ill-suited" to owners who must return "regularly or sometimes unpredictably" to maintain and secure property. She said a British-only exemption might raise constitutional issues and is therefore exploring a broader scheme for all non-EU homeowners — options include a dedicated visa category or simpler access to long-stay permits.

Steven Jolly, founder of the campaign group France Visa Free, which seeks to overturn the 90-day restriction, welcomed the senator's intervention. The Interior Ministry has been approached for comment.

Context

With climate change increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfires across southern Europe, local officials argue that administrative and immigration rules should align with the urgent need for property owners to carry out preventative and emergency work. Any policy change would need to balance legal equality, administrative feasibility and public-safety priorities.