British second homeowners are on course to be able to remain in France for six months without a visa after the French parliament approved a change to existing rules.
Many argued that the post-Brexit system was unfair and non-reciprocal because French citizens were still allowed to stay in the UK for up to six months without a visa, whether they owned a property or not.
The only way second-home owners can currently visit France for more than 90 days is to apply for a long-stay visa, which they have criticised as a lengthy, complicated and expensive process that has to be undertaken anew each year.
The rule change was set out in an amendment to an immigration bill that parliament voted down last week. However, a new version was finally approved on Tuesday night.
Martine Berthet, the French senator for the southeastern Haute Savoie region who tabled the amendment said that France’s constitutional council still needed to rubber-stamp the change.
But Ms Berthet added that she now had “high hopes” it would be enacted soon via decree.
“I don’t think there is a risk,” she told The Telegraph.
“I will contact the interior ministry of Gérald Darmanin to ensure that it can get done as soon as possible,” she added.
“It’s an issue that has been raised in various regions around France, not just the Alps but the coast and the Dordogne.”