France’s migration numbers have hit unprecedented levels, with the country granting a staggering 2.86 million visas in 2024—up 16.8% from the previous year, according to Le Figaro.
First-time residence permits also climbed, reaching 336,700—a modest 1.8% increase from 2023, though still building on the prior year’s sharp 4% jump. The biggest driver? Education. It accounted for a third of the permits, totaling 109,300.
Family reunification played a major role as well, securing 90,600 permits, while economic and humanitarian reasons accounted for another 55,000.
But that’s not all—France renewed nearly 880,000 residence permits, excluding 4,969 granted to British nationals, who now appear in a separate category due to Brexit. Most of these renewals stemmed from family-related requests, with 325,780 approvals. Meanwhile, 144,230 students extended their stay, marking a 5.7% increase.
Altogether, France now has over 4.3 million valid residence permits in circulation—an all-time high—including nearly 170,000 issued to British nationals. That’s a net gain of 161,294 permits, reflecting a 4% uptick from 2023.
Algerians Remain the Largest Migrant Group
Despite ongoing tensions between France and the Algerian government, Algerians still make up the largest migrant population, holding 649,991 residence permits—a slight 0.5% rise. Close behind are Moroccans (617,053 permits, up 2.2%), Tunisians (304,297, up 4.9%), and Turks (232,421, up just 0.3%).
Across the board, the top 10 nationalities all saw growth. The sharpest increase? Ivorians, with 119,079 permits renewed—up 9.1%. In total, migrants from North Africa’s Maghreb region make up over 40% of France’s valid residence permits, with family reunification being the primary reason for one-third of them.
Meanwhile, asylum applications dipped slightly, falling from 187,197 to 170,228. Still, Ukrainian applicants skyrocketed—13,353 sought asylum in 2024, a jaw-dropping 300% increase from the year before. Notably, France leads the EU in both asylum applications and approvals for Ukrainian refugees.
Immigration Sparks Political Firestorm
With migration numbers hitting new highs, critics aren’t holding back. Seine-Saint-Denis now hosts nearly 27% of France’s legally residing foreign population, while Paris accounts for 19%. As these numbers rise, Le Figaro noted that the financial burden of increased immigration has yet to be publicly assessed. However, the paper predicted an eventual parliamentary audit, warning that the findings could be “explosive” given France’s current economic struggles.
In response to the figures, right-wing leader Jordan Bardella slammed the government, declaring:
“The doors of our country have never been so open, and immigration has never been so rampant. If the French people want to regain control, they must elect leaders willing to put an end to three decades of excess.”
Cannes mayor and Republican Party member David Lisnard echoed those sentiments:
“The government’s rhetoric says one thing, but the reality is a state that does nothing to curb this relentless influx. First, we had budgetary dishonesty—now, we have migration dishonesty.”
What’s Next? Tighter Residency Rules on the Horizon
While naturalizations rose 8.3%, with 66,745 people gaining French citizenship, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau pointed to a 10% drop in Republican Integration Contracts—a key step toward long-term residency. The government now plans to tighten residency criteria and introduce a new directive aimed at reducing illegal immigration.
As France grapples with soaring migration numbers, one thing is clear: the debate over immigration isn’t cooling down anytime soon.
