France issued 13,122 first residence permits to U.S. citizens in 2024, with 7,182 classified under education, representing 54.7% of the American first-permit mix and up from 38.3% in 2015. The shift has reoriented France from a broad lifestyle and work destination into one where universities and academic programs are the dominant entry point for arriving Americans.
Fresh Eurostat figures show where Americans, Brits, Indians and other non‑EU nationals are securing first residence permits – and how Spain, Germany and the Netherlands have become the main gateways to Europe. Europe’s 3.57 million new residents In 2024, European countries issued about 3.57 million first residence permits to non‑EU citizens, covering moves for work, […]
