France’s Senate, or upper house of parliament, passed an immigration bill on Tuesday.
The bill, which aims to control immigration by tightening language and measures and making it easier for authorities to expel foreigners who commit crimes, was passed by 210 votes in favour and 115 against.
It would introduce an annual quota for the number of migrants entering the country, to be set by parliament.
The Senate began debating the bill on Monday.
Among other things, it aims to tighten up the family reunification process, remove state medical assistance and make French language skills a condition for residence permits.
Article 3 of the draft law was the most controversial and concerns the granting of a one-year residence permit, under certain conditions, to undocumented foreign workers working in “sectors under pressure” and suffering from labour shortages.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin recently said that the legislation was “about being firm” on immigration.
Its passage is far from guaranteed in the National Assembly, where no side has a majority.
