Nationals of former French colonies were issued the most residence permits in 2023, with Moroccans leading the list, although issuance rates were down by 7.4 per cent compared to the previous year.
According to the most recent immigration report by the French Interior Ministry, Moroccan nationals were issued 36,340 residence permits in 2023, 2,914 fewer permits than in 2022, when nearly 40,000 were issued.
However, compared to pre-pandemic levels, the number of residence permits issued for Moroccan nationals is up by 3.5 per cent, whereas Algerians, representing the second nationality with the most residence permits obtained, have been increasingly obtaining more permits comparing the period between 2019 and 2023.
While in 2022, 29,271 residence permits were granted to Algerians; this number rose to 32,180 in 2023 – marking a 9.9 per cent increase. Residence permit issuance has been even higher compared to 2019 levels, with French authorities granting 17.2 per cent more permits in 2023.
The same trend of residence permit issuance applies to Tunisian nationals, who were issued 2.5 per cent more permits in 2023 – 22,400 compared to 21,860 issued in 2022 and 19,652 issued in 2019.
These three nationalities accounted for over a quarter of all residence permits issued in 2023, around 28.1 per cent, which represents a total of 90,920 permits.
China Marks a Comeback in 2023 – 31.1% More Residence Permits Issued
The data also show that China has regained its fourth position as the largest country of origin for permit beneficiaries, with the difference in the number of residence permits being 31.1 per cent higher than in 2022 – from 11,388 to 14,930.
The fifth nationality group to have received the most permits in 2023 was Americans, although the numbers did not change much from the previous year – from 12,373 permits in 2022 to 12,670 in 2023. However, compared to 2019, when 9,030 permits were granted to Americans, the issuance of permit levels is significantly higher.
Top Ten Nationalities Represent 52.9% of All Permits Granted in France for 2023
Similarly, 11,740 residence permits were issued to Ivorians in 2023, 1.8 per cent more than in 2022 and 30 per cent more than in 2019.
The list of top ten nationalities that obtained permits the most in France for the year, compromising for 52.9 per cent of all permits issued, further included Afghanistanis (10,840), Senegalese (10,620), Indians (10,080), and Turkish (9,160).
In general, the total number of permits issued in 2023 was 323,260, up by 1.4 per cent, while visas issued for the top ten nationalities increased by 2.1 per cent.
France Issued Over 100,000 Permits for Study Purposes
In 2023, French authorities issued the highest record of residence permits in the last five years – 323,260. Regarding the motives for the type of permits issued, the majority of permits were granted for study purposes (103,520), followed by those for family reasons (91,020) and economic motives (54,630).
While the majority of residence permits categorised in motive groups experienced increases compared to 2022 levels, permits issued for family reasons and for different reasons marked drops.
