Moroccan Worker in France Faces Deportation Over French-Language Skills
A 54-year-old Moroccan man who has lived in France since 2012 and held a permanent employment contract for five years has been denied renewal of his residence permit. The Orne prefecture says he does not have sufficient command of French to obtain a multi-year residence card and has ordered him to leave the country.
Since September 27, 2021, this Moroccan national has held a permanent employment contract in France. He has held a temporary residence permit marked “employee” since July 2022, renewed three times. When he applies for another renewal on July 1, 2026, he encounters an obstacle: French law now limits consecutive renewals of a temporary permit in the same category to three. On August 25, the prefect of Orne rejects his application and issues an OQTF, giving him thirty days to leave the country.
On Bladi.net : Four Years on a Permanent Contract and Dozens of Payslips: This Moroccan Man Remains Under an OQTF
To obtain a multi-year residence card, an employee must demonstrate an A2 level of French. This level includes the ability to understand common expressions and communicate in simple everyday situations.
A French test that is not enough
The Moroccan man has, however, been taking a “basic skills” course since November 2024 to learn to read and write in French. He also takes a language assessment test, but the results are received after the prefectural order was issued and fall short of the required A2 level.
The man challenges his deportation. He points to his fourteen years in France, his stable employment and his family ties, including his brothers, who are French citizens. His salary is his sole source of income, and his residence permit receipt expires on November 30, 2026.
The Caen Administrative Court considers his application for interim relief. In its order of October 8, 2026, the judge finds that the arguments presented do not raise serious doubts about the legality of the refusal of his residence permit. She rejects his requests to suspend the decision, issue a residence permit and reconsider his case.
On Bladi.net : Moroccan Worker Wins Right to Stay in France After Five Years on the Job
The Moroccan man had also filed an appeal on September 21 seeking to overturn the prefectural order. This procedure automatically suspends enforcement of his OQTF until the court rules on the merits. The October 8 decision therefore leaves his removal on hold.
