Paris, France – November 6, 2025 — Amnesty International has condemned France’s short-term residency permit system as a systemic violation of migrant workers’ human rights, citing widespread exploitation, poverty, and administrative dysfunction. The findings, published in a report spanning research from April 2024 to September 2025, reveal how the current framework traps thousands of racialized migrant workers in precarious legal and economic conditions.
A System Built on Instability
France’s short-term residence permits—typically valid for up to one year—require frequent renewals, leaving workers in constant uncertainty. Amnesty’s investigation, which included interviews with 27 migrant workers from 16 nationalities and 39 experts across law, sociology, and humanitarian sectors, found that delays in processing and digital platform failures often result in suspended wages, lost benefits, and forced irregularity.
“This system is not just inefficient—it’s discriminatory,” Amnesty stated, highlighting how women and racialized workers are disproportionately affected.
Administrative Failures and Exploitation
The report points to the ANEF digital platform, used for residency applications, as a major source of dysfunction. Frequent glitches and lack of human support have left applicants in legal limbo, unable to access healthcare, housing, or employment protections.
Workers in sectors such as construction, domestic work, and cleaning are particularly vulnerable, often facing wage theft, unsafe conditions, and homelessness due to their unstable legal status.
Amnesty’s Recommendations
Amnesty International is urging the French government to:
- Introduce a single, stable work permit valid for multiple years
- Streamline administrative procedures and reduce renewal frequency
- Provide human assistance in navigating the residency system
- Implement safeguards against forced irregularity and poverty
The organization emphasized that these reforms are essential to uphold France’s obligations under international human rights law and to ensure equal treatment for all workers, regardless of origin.
Broader Implications
The criticism comes amid growing scrutiny of Europe’s migration policies, with France facing pressure to align its domestic systems with EU standards on labor rights and anti-discrimination. Legal scholars, including Sarisha Harikrishna of Queen’s University Belfast, argue that the current system perpetuates structural racism and economic exclusion, undermining the principles of justice and equality.
In short: France’s short-term residency system is under intense scrutiny for violating the rights of migrant workers, with Amnesty International calling for urgent reforms to end exploitation and administrative chaos. The report paints a stark picture of systemic failure, demanding accountability and structural change.
Sources:
Jurist – Rights Group Denounces France Residency System JURIST
Amnesty International – France Residency System Violations Amnesty International
VisaVerge – France Residency Rules Criticized visaverge.com
