Why are residence permits so expensive in France?

Disputes relating to the situation of foreigners and the processing of their applications or renewal of residence permits in the prefectures constitute the second source of litigation expenditure for the French Ministry of the Interior.

Court of Auditors data indicates that litigation spending by the French Interior Ministry has increased by 30%, reports The FigaroThe overall expenditure of the department then headed by Gérald Darmanin increased from 101 million euros in 2022 to 132 million euros in 2023. These expenses were made for all the costs incurred in the context of the various disputes: lawyers’ and experts’ fees, convictions, amicable compensation, penalty payments, costs of car accidents, etc., but also for the costs incurred for the resolution of disputes, amicable transactions, and even the costs of the functional protection of agents and civil servants, whether they are victims or defendants, explains the report.