Weekly Immigration Update: April 7–13, 2023

France, April 7, 2023
Online Filing System Expanded

• The national online filing portal, ANEF, has expanded to allow the filing of several additional family-based residence permit application types, as the digitalization of French immigration progresses.
• The applications of the following applicants, among others, must now be filed on the ANEF portal: Family members of EU/European Economic Area(EEA)/Swiss citizens (third country nationals); spouses of French citizens; and parents of minor French citizens.
• The ANEF online filing portal is expected to harmonize and simplify the filing process and documents required for many immigration processes while avoiding long appointment waiting times.

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Mainland China, April 7, 2023
Accession to Hague’s Apostille Convention

• On November 7, 2023, Mainland China will join the Convention Abolishing the Requirements of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, commonly referred to as the “Apostille Convention” or the “Hague Convention”.
• Mainland China’s accession to the Apostille convention will allow documents originating in Mainland China, such as education certificates and birth certificates, and those legalized according to the requirements of the treaty, to be accepted in the other Hague member countries. It is likely that it will also allow documents similarly processed and originating from other Hague member countries to be accepted in Mainland China; this will be confirmed closer to November.
• The new process streamlines recruitment and immigration processing for employers and foreign nationals in Mainland China by reducing processing times and avoiding complicated legalization steps at consulates. It also streamlines immigration processes for Mainland Chinese nationals in the other Hague member countries. However, individuals should expect temporary delays as the new process is implemented across consulates.

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