In France, new requirements for a number of procedures related to multi-year residence permits, 10-year resident cards, and citizenship have come into force on January 1, 2026: language thresholds have been raised and a mandatory citizenship exam has been introduced.
According to explanations from French government resources, the first multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) now requires proof of French language proficiency at a level of at least A2, and for the first 10-year residence card – no lower than B1 (in particular, for applicants under 65 years of age in categories covered by the rule).
For procedures for accessing French citizenship, from January 1, 2026, language requirements will be raised to level B2, according to information from the French Ministry of the Interior.
In addition, from January 1, 2026, passing the citizenship exam will become mandatory for naturalization, as well as for the first application for a long-term residence permit or resident card for citizens of non-EU countries. The exam lasts up to 45 minutes, includes 40 multiple-choice questions, and is considered passed with a score of at least 80% (at least 32 correct answers).
Service-Public specifies that the exam is not required when renewing a long-term card or residence card, and does not apply, in particular, to beneficiaries of international protection.
The number of foreigners with valid residence permits in Turkey as of December 31, 2025, was 1,151,969, according to statistics from the Presidency of Migration Management of the Turkish Ministry of Interior.
Compared to the end of 2024, the figure increased by 95,337, or approximately 9%.
The structure of residence permits by type in 2025 includes 426,926 short-term permits, 220,434 student permits, 168,455 family permits, and 336,154 permits of other categories.
According to data on distribution by province, more than half of all foreigners with residence permits live in Istanbul – 579,932. Next are Antalya (109,571) and Ankara (73,263).
In terms of citizenship, Ukraine is in the top 10 for short-term residence permits (21,257) and in the top 10 for family residence permits (6,505).
The Migration Directorate reminds that foreigners planning to stay in the country longer than the visa or visa-free regime period, i.e., more than 90 days, must apply for the appropriate residence permit through the electronic system, and reference information can be obtained through the YIMER center (157 within Turkey).
Ukrainians are not among the ten largest groups of foreigners with valid residence permits (RP) in Turkey as of December 25, 2025, according to the latest statistics from the country’s migration service.
According to the agency’s data, as of that date, there were a total of 1,137,023 foreigners residing in Turkey on the basis of a residence permit.
Citizens of Turkmenistan (166,292) and Azerbaijan (90,942) lead the way, followed by citizens of Syria (77,709) and Iran (73,534). Russians rank fifth in this rating (72,548 thousand), which means they have lost their leading position amid the growth of other countries’ share.
In terms of types of residence permits, the migration service indicates that as of December 25, 2025, short-term residence permits amounted to 419,759 thousand, student permits – 216,564 thousand, family permits – 166,539 thousand, and other categories – 333,969 thousand.
The primary source of this data is the current statistics section of the Turkish Migration Service (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) with an update date of 12/25/2025.
According to data from the Permanent Immigration Monitoring Center (OPI) under the Spanish Ministry of Social Policy and Migration, as of September 30, 2025, 7,426,481 foreign citizens had valid residence permits in the country. This is 4.5% more than a year earlier.
Of this number, 54% (about 4 million people) are citizens of EU, EFTA, and UK countries who have an EU citizen registration certificate or a TIE foreigner card under the UK’s withdrawal agreement from the EU. The most numerous nationalities in this group are Romanians, Italians, and British: they account for 51% of all European residents.
The Ukrainian community stands out as a separate block in the statistics. According to data based on official statistics from the Spanish Ministry of Social Policy and Migration, as of September 2025, more than 326,000 Ukrainian citizens have a valid residence permit in the country. A significant portion of this number are people who received protection under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, introduced after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022.
The growth of the Ukrainian diaspora was particularly sharp in 2022–2023, but slowed significantly in 2024–2025: while the annual increase at the height of the war was measured in triple digits, by the fall of 2025 it had fallen to single digits.
After Brexit, the British remain one of the three largest European communities in Spain, alongside the Romanians and Italians. The official OPI report does not provide the exact number of British citizens in its public summary, but emphasizes that these three nationalities account for more than half of all residents from the EU/EFTA and the UK.
A characteristic detail is the age profile of the British diaspora. The average age of British residents is significantly higher than the average among foreigners and is around 57, reflecting Spain’s popularity as a country for retirees and a “second home” for British citizens.
Thus, by the end of 2025, Spain will remain one of the key EU countries in terms of the number of permanent foreign residents, and the structure of migration will gradually shift: European communities will continue to dominate, but citizens of Ukraine and Latin American countries will play an increasingly important role.
http://relocation.com.ua/more-than-326000-ukrainian-citizens-have-a-valid-residence-permit-in-spain/
As reported by the Serbian Economist, the Government of Montenegro at a meeting of the Council of National Security approved a package of measures to tighten migration policy, including a proposal to fix in the Law on Foreigners the minimum value of real estate € 200 thousand as a basis for granting temporary residence. This is stated in the official message of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Among other decisions of the Council is the instruction to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare amendments to the decree on visa regime, which will reduce the period of visa-free stay for citizens of countries not aligned with the EU visa policy from 90 to 30 days. The Council also ordered that data on dormant and inactive foreign-owned companies be handed over to the police for verification and possible revocation of previously issued residence permits.
The government notes that the “company for the sake of a residence permit” ground is planned to be replaced by the requirement of full employment with a registered employer or an established company. At the same time, local media specify that the Parliament has introduced amendments, according to which the extension of residence permit for the founder of the company will be possible if there are at least three full-time employees, of which at least one Montenegrin citizen, and the extension of residence permit for real estate will depend on its value and size. These norms are to be detailed in bylaws.
Podgorica emphasizes that the measures are aimed at aligning the rules with EU approaches and strengthening control over migration flows. The final changes will require the adoption of amendments to the law and bylaws.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1698
According to Serbian Economist, following a meeting of the National Security Council, the Montenegrin government announced that it was preparing amendments to the Law on Foreigners, which would abolish the requirement to obtain a residence permit on the basis of ownership of a “dormant” or formal company and linking the right to reside to full-time employment with a registered employer or a newly established company with contributions and salaries above the minimum. This is stated in a government announcement.
According to the government, interagency checks on the migration and economic activity of foreigners are being tightened; owners of inactive companies in foreign ownership will have their right to reside terminated.
At the same time, the authorities are preparing to restrict visa-free short-term stays for citizens of countries that are not in line with EU visa policy from 90 to 30 days. The authorities have been instructed to prepare subordinate legislation based on the new criteria.
In Montenegro, it has long been possible to open a company and, on this basis, obtain and extend a residence permit; the authorities say it is necessary to close down “schemes” of fictitious employment and bring the rules into line with European standards. In public discussions, it is noted that the “1 euro company” regime should not apply to foreigners.
The greatest risks are faced by foreigners who have obtained a residence permit through their own companies without real activity or without full-time employees and payment of contributions.
In terms of business structure and residents, company owners from Turkey, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine are in the lead; they will be the first to feel the requirements for real employment and tax payments.
According to open estimates, Turkish citizens own about 9,800 companies, Russians about 7,200, and Serbs more than 3,200; in total, there are more than 31,000 foreign companies in the country.
The geography and main risk groups are as follows:
1) Turkey – the largest group of company owners; in addition, according to police data, more than 13,000 Turkish citizens have a residence permit or a residence permit + work permit. There is a risk of losing status in the absence of real employment and contributions.
2) Russia – second in terms of the number of companies and one of the largest groups of residents; “paper” companies are at increased risk of having their residence permits revoked.
3) Serbia – a significant group in terms of residence permits and companies; formal structures without employees will also be subject to checks.
4) Ukraine – a noticeable share of company owners; formal companies without turnover and employees are under special scrutiny.
The exact parameters will be determined by amendments to the law and subordinate acts.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/1694
