January is just around the corner! While this month is eagerly awaited by many, and dreaded by others, this year it has a number of new features and changes in store for us, affecting employment, ecology, health, transport and automobiles. These changes reflect our ambitions for economic, social and environmental transition. Let's take a look at the upheavals awaiting us in France from January 1, 2025.
Low-emission zones (ZFE) will become stricter in January. Vehicles classified as Crit'Air 3 (diesels registered before 2011 and petrols registered before 2006) will be banned in several major metropolises, including Paris and Lyon, with restrictive time periods varying from city to city. In Strasbourg, a postponement until 2027 is envisaged, thanks to an improvement in air quality. This measure will affect almost 8 million vehicles, or around 21% of the French car fleet.
Attention, this year we're lifting the foot off the gas! From January 1ᵉʳ 2025, a host of changes will impact traffic in Paris and elsewhere in France. Speed, ZFE, interfile, we take stock of what's changing vehicle traffic at the start of this year.
In the Île-de-France region, transport fares will be simplified. A one-way ticket will cost €2.50 for travel on the metro, RER and Transilien networks, whatever the journey. A Navigo day pass will be introduced at €12, while the Pass Liberté+ will see its fare increased to €1.99 per journey for metro and train services. These adjustments are designed to simplify access to transport and harmonize costs for users.
Roadworthiness testing is evolving to meet environmental and technical challenges. The new procedures will include more powerful equipment to detect fraud, particularly tampering with anti-pollution systems such as particle filters. Safety checks, such as those on brakes, suspensions and seatbelts, will also be stepped up. These changes could lead to an increase in the cost of roadworthiness tests, although no official announcement has yet been made.
Several changes are impacting the real estate sector. MaPrimeRénov', the flagship energy renovation aid, will see its budget envelope reduced, targeting only major works. The Pinel tax scheme, which supports rental investment, will come to an end with no planned replacement, which could put the brakes on construction in tense areas. Passed on November 7, 2024 after more than two years of debate, the Le Meur law, nicknamed the "anti-Airbnb law", aims to regulate furnished tourist rentals. Faced with a development deemed uncontrolled for this type of rental, the text intends to meet the needs of French people looking for permanent accommodation and limit the abuses of platforms like Airbnb. Prohibitions on renting thermal flats, greater powers for communes and new obligations for landlords are all on the agenda.
A new health record will be rolled out, with pages dedicated to preventing the use of screens to protect young people's mental health. Compulsory medical examinations for children will evolve: a new examination will be added at age 7, while the one carried out before the end of the first month will be abolished. These changes are aimed at better monitoring children's physical and psychological development, as well as stepping up screening for neurodevelopmental disorders.
From January 1ᵉʳ 2025, the Revenu de Solidarité Active (RSA) will undergo significant changes aimed at strengthening the professional integration of recipients. From now on, recipients will have to devote 15 hours a week to integration activities, such as training, internships or company immersions, in order to encourage their return to employment. This reform, which has been tested in several départements since 2023, will be extended to the whole of France. In addition, all RSA beneficiaries will be automatically registered with France Travail, replacing Pôle Emploi, for personalized and intensive support. Sanctions, up to and including suspension of benefits, will be applied in the event of non-compliance. These measures are aimed at achieving the government's goal of full employment.
Unemployment insurance rules are changing, particularly for cross-border workers and senior citizens. Benefits for unemployed cross-border commuters working in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium or Luxembourg will be recalculated downwards, on a stricter basis. Seniors will benefit from new age limits for extended compensation: 55 years for 22.5 months and 57 years for 27 months. In addition, measures to encourage theemployment of senior citizens include specific contracts and improved access to phased retirement, although the latter will remain subject to the employer's agreement.
Why will the town of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine disappear on January 1, 2025?
On January 1, 2025, the town of Pierrefitte-sur-Seine and its 31,000 inhabitants will officially disappear from the Seine-Saint-Denis region. Of course, it's only the name of the commune that's bidding farewell, to become part of another. Find out why! [Read more]
Speed limits, interchanges, traffic, reserved lanes: what's changing in January 2025
Attention, this year we're lifting the foot off the gas! From January 1ᵉʳ 2025, a host of changes will impact traffic in Paris and elsewhere in France. Speed, ZFE, interfile, we take stock of what's changing vehicle traffic at the start of this year. [Read more]
Paris is tightening its regulations on tourist rentals like Airbnb, what's changing!
The City of Paris is taking another step towards regulating tourist rentals. From January 1, 2025, principal residences will no longer be able to be rented for more than 90 days a year, compared with 120 at present. This stricter regulation will be accompanied by tighter controls and sanctions against fraudulent rentals. [Read more]
Transport in Paris and the Île-de-France region: fares and new features, what's changing in 2025
From January 1ᵉʳ 2025, public transport in the Île-de-France region will be evolving, with new fares and major changes to the network. Between fare simplification, line extensions and major projects like the Grand Paris Express, let's discover together what's in store for us in 2025. [Read more]
Navigo and Imagine R Pass price increases in January 2025: what you need to know
The price of the monthly Navigo Pass has been confirmed, and will increase by 2.8% from January 2025, from €86.40 to €88.80. This increase, confirmed on Wednesday December 11, is part of a financial agreement between Île-de-France Mobilités and the government providing for regular increases until 2031. This is also the case for the Imagine R card, we take stock. [Read more]
All Paris gaming clubs threatened with closure on January 1, 2025
It's an unexpected consequence of the Barnier government's censure: Paris's gaming clubs could all close their doors on January 1, 2025. [Read more]
Métro-Train-RER one-way ticket at €2.50: everything you need to know before the January 1 changeover
From January 1, 2025, a one-way ticket costing €2.50 will replace the current fares for all metro, RER and regional train journeys in Paris and the Île-de-France region, regardless of the number of zones crossed. The new fare simplifies the system by reducing the number of existing combinations, making transport more accessible and easier to understand. Will the old tickets still be usable? How can you pay the lowest fare? We take a look. Airport tickets [Read more]
ZFE: Crit'Air 3 vehicles banned in Paris and the inner suburbs from January 2025
As of January 1, 2025, vehicles with a Crit'Air 3 rating will no longer be allowed on the roads of Paris and its inner suburbs (i.e. 79 communes), due to the introduction of the Greater Paris Low Emission Zone (ZFE); [Read more]
