Report on our targeted Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit
(WA RP) Surveys
June 2021
Targeted Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit (WA RP) Surveys
In June 2021, and in partnership with the British Embassy in Paris, RIFT conducted two targeted surveys aimed at UK nationals and their families living in France who need to apply for their Withdrawal Agreement Residency Permit (WA RP) by 30 JUNE 2021
We conducted and published the results of our two previous surveys in January 2021 and April 2021.
Our two most recent surveys sought to obtain data from two different groups.
SURVEY A - Those who have applied, have received the automatic acknowledgement email but have not been contacted further by their local préfecture.
SURVEY B - Those who have not yet applied.
About RIFT
Remain in France Together (RIFT) is a small group of volunteers providing information and support to UK passport holders and their families living in France. Our information relates to the rights of UK passport holders and their families who are afforded the protection of the Withdrawal Agreement.
The group, which receives no funding, was set up following the referendum in 2016. It provides information and guidance on citizens’ rights post Brexit via a popular Facebook group (in excess of 22,000 members), website and regional Facebook groups.
The Surveys
In contrast to our previous surveys, we will not be providing a full breakdown of the data.
With less than two weeks remaining to apply – the application portal closes 30 JUNE 2021 - we felt that addressing some of the concerns raised would be more beneficial to those who either haven’t applied or are still waiting for contact from their préfecture.
Below is a list of common concerns raised in the surveys and our recommendations regarding them.
You will find a brief summary of the survey results at the bottom of the page.
Common themes and recommendations
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Who must apply for a Withdrawal Agreement Residency Permit (WA RP)?
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I’m confused as I already hold a carte de séjour – what’s a WA RP?!
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I need to apply but I’m not sure how to or I need help applying
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My family are joining me, a WA RP holder, after 31 December 2020
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I’ve submitted my application but I’ve heard nothing since receiving the acknowledgement email
1. Who must apply for a Withdrawal Agreement Residency Permit (WA RP)?
All UK nationals* (and their qualifying family members) living in France by 31 December 2020 MUST apply for a WA RP before the application portal closes on 30 June 2021.
Those who do not apply risk losing their rights.
Even if you currently hold a carte de séjour, if it is not a WA RP, you MUST exchange it for a WA RP before 30 June 2021.
*Exceptions are those who hold dual nationalities - UK & EU member state and those who hold a Titre de séjour spécial
2. I’m confused as I already hold a carte de séjour – what’s a WA RP?!
The Withdrawal Agreement Residence Permit (WA RP) is the name used for the carte de séjour/titre de séjour issued to UK passport holders (and their qualifying non UK/ non EU family members) living in France following the UK's exit from the EU.
Even if you already hold a carte de séjour (CdS) obtained as an EU citizen, either permanent or temporary, valid or expired, you must exchange it for the new WA RP card.
Here is a picture of a WA RP card - France began issuing them in autumn 2020 so if you got your CdS around that time or at any time before, please check that it is a WA RP.
The WA RP includes the words 'Article 50 TUE'. It also has the terms 'Titre de Séjour' and 'Carte de Séjour' written on it. If yours does not, it’s not a WA RP and you need to exchange it. You MUST apply to exchange it by 30 June 2021.
Exchanging your non WA RP CdS is very simple if it is a permanent one, and a little more complicated if it is a temporary one.
Use the link to the application portal above or below to apply.
When you begin completing the online form, you need to select Première demande/first request even if you already hold a CdS as this is your first application on the WA RP application portal
What about my family?
3. Third Country National (TCN) spouses or family members
If you have a spouse/partner or qualifying family member who is a (non UK) third country national (so holds a passport from a non EU country) they must also apply for their WA RP by 30 June 2021.
Even if they hold a CdS obtained on the basis of your former EU citizenship, they MUST exchange it.
Please note whilst UK passport holders are not given a receipt (récépissé) by the préfecture when they attend to provide their photograph and finger prints, TCN applicants are given a receipt so it’s advisable for TCN applicants to take 2 photographs to their rendez-vous.
4. Children living in France
The French government FAQ states
Minor children (between 0 and 18 years old) are not required to hold a residence permit.
A national identity document (passport) is sufficient. It is not necessary to apply for a residence permit.
With regard to young adults (18 years of age), the application for a residence permit must be submitted in their 18th year and no later than their 19th birthday.
Therefore, UK young nationals who will reach the age of 18 years before 1 October 2021 are advised to apply online for the residence permit.
It may be advisable to apply for a Document de circulation pour étranger mineur (DCEM) for children under 18 years of age.
5. I have dual nationality, must I apply?
Those who hold dual nationality – UK passport and EU member state passport (except France) do not need to apply but may apply if they choose to.
Those who hold dual nationality – UK passport and French passport – cannot apply.
Those who hold dual nationality – UK passport and non-EU country passport – must apply using their UK passport.
6. How long do I have to have lived in France?
UK nationals (and their qualifying TCN family) living in France by 31 December 2020 are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and MUST apply for their WA RP
There is no qualifying period of residence before 31 December 2020 so as long as you arrived and began living as a resident by that date, you can (and must) apply.
7. I need to apply but I’m not sure how to or I need help applying
The UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF), set up by the UK government, has provided funds to a number of organisations to provide help and support to applicants. Visit our ‘We Recommend’ page for links to them.
Alternatively, read our guide on applying or join our Facebook page, where you will find a wealth of first-hand experience from our 22,000 members, many of whom have already received their WA RP.
When you submit your application on the online application portal, you will receive an acknowledgement email.
It usually arrives very soon after you apply (within 24 hours). It is your proof that you’ve applied and contains the following attestation.
ATTESTATION D’ENREGISTREMENT DE DEMANDE DE TITRE DE SEJOUR EN LIGNE : XX-XXXXX
Le présent document atteste que, conformément à la règlementation applicable, Mme / M. XXXX XXXXXX a déposé une demande de titre de séjour dans le cadre de l’accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne.
Mme / M. XXXX XXXXXX conserve l’ensemble de ses droits prévus par l’accord de retrait jusqu’à ce que sa demande de titre de séjour soit instruite par la préfecture.
8. My family are joining me, a WA RP holder, after 31 December 2020
The Withdrawal Agreement affords protection to qualifying family members of UK nationals who established residence in France by 31 December 2020. This means your partner/spouse, dependant child/ren or parent/s can join you in France at anytime in the future (where the relationship existed before 31 December 2020 for partner/spouse).
Those moving to France after 31 December 2020 will apply for their WA RP via the local préfecture.
We will publish more details about this in the coming months.
9. I own a second home in France, can I apply?
Those who own a 2nd home in France but are resident in the UK or other country, cannot apply for a WA RP.
10. I’ve submitted my application but I’ve heard nothing since receiving the acknowledgement email
When you submit your application on the online application portal, you will receive an acknowledgement email. It usually arrives very soon after you apply (within 24 hours).
It is your proof that you have applied.
At a later date you will be contacted by your local préfecture who will (generally) either invite you to a rendez-vous, invite you to use their online system to book a rendez-vous or will ask you to upload further documents.
The overriding concern of those completing Survey A, and indeed for many on our Facebook group, is the lack of further contact from their préfecture following receipt of the initial acknowledgement email.
Please remember, whilst UK nationals have until 30 June 2021 to make their applications, the préfectures have until 1 October 2021 to issue the cards.
Here are our suggestions:-
> Double check your spam, junk inbox etc for an email from your local préfecture. The sender’s email address will vary but in general contains your department name or préfecture name so use those words to search your email inbox
> If your search is fruitless (and in any event until you receive your physical card) ensure you safeguard your acknowledgement email as it is the proof that you applied and includes the following attestation confirming your application and that you retain your rights (you may want to consider keeping a paper copy as well as your electronic copy.)
ATTESTATION D’ENREGISTREMENT DE DEMANDE DE TITRE DE SEJOUR EN LIGNE : XX-XXXXX
Le présent document atteste que, conformément à la règlementation applicable, Mme / M. XXXX XXXXXX a déposé une demande de titre de séjour dans le cadre de l’accord de retrait du Royaume-Uni de l’Union européenne.
Mme / M. XXXX XXXXXX conserve l’ensemble de ses droits prévus par l’accord de retrait jusqu’à ce que sa demande de titre de séjour soit instruite par la préfecture.
> If you have mislaid your acknowledgement email, do a thorough search on your email inbox – in spam, junk etc – the emails came from no-reply@interieur.gouv.fr – cut and paste that address into your email search box to search.
> If you experience difficulties, say with an employer or the pôle emploi, and need more proof that you retain your rights, here are two useful documents from the UK and French governments, both in French, which confirm you retain your rights and are not required to have a residency card until 1 October 2021
Whilst we have said your acknowledgement email is sufficient proof of applying, we understand that some people will be worrying about not having been contacted.
It isn’t necessary for you to chase your préfecture, but we know doing so will provide comfort to some.
If you do choose to contact them, then you should ensure you include a copy of the acknowledgement email or as a minimum, the reference number and the date you applied.
You may wish to contact them via email – each préfecture's email address is different, so have a look at their website – or you may wish to send a letter recommandée with an avis de reception.
Ensure you keep copies of all correspondence.
Please note that from our survey we found that generally those who received a reply from their préfecture, received a standard response saying that due to the volume of applications, further contact would take some time but that all was ‘in hand’.
Please remember préfectures are processing thousand of WA RP applications during a global pandemic and are working as hard as possible.
The UK Nationals Support Fund (UKNSF), set up by the UK government, has provided funds to a number of organisations to provide help and support to applicants. Visit our ‘We Recommend’ page for links to them.
Alternatively, read our guide on applying or join our Facebook page, where you will find a wealth of first-hand experience from our 22,000 members, many of whom have already received their WA RP.
Here is a short summary of the surveys
Survey A - Those who have applied, have received the automatic acknowledgement email but have not been contacted further by their local préfecture.
1291 respondents
1.6% Non UK Family members
98.4% UK passport holders
54% have lived in France less than 5 years
46% have lived in France for more than 5 years
63.77% have never held a carte de séjour
86.2% of those who responded to the survey replied NO to the following key question
‘Following receipt of the automatic email from when you first applied to the WA RP online system, have you been contacted by your local prefecture? (e.g. an appointment or invitation to book an appointment, a request to upload additional documents etc)’
It should be noted that a number of those who replied NO to the question above then used the free text box provided to give details of the date of their forthcoming appointment, the details of their trip to provide fingerprints etc or other information which indicated they had in fact been contacted by their préfecture.
Of the 86.2% who replied NO, 289 said they had contacted their préfecture for an update.
Generally those who received a reply from their préfecture, received a standard response saying that due to the volume of applications, further contact would take some time but that all was ‘in hand’.
Survey B – Those who have not yet applied.
132 respondents
2.3%Non UK Family members
97.7% UK passport holders
28.8% have lived in France less than 5 years
71.2% have lived in France for more than 5 years
Where a reason for not applying was given
9 were nervous that they wouldn’t be granted residency
4 didn’t know how to apply or needed help to apply
20 didn’t know if they needed to apply
34 intend to apply before 30 June 2021
54 have dual nationality (UK/EU member state)