The French National Assembly adopted a draft law at first reading on 11 December 2025 aiming for the better protection of unaccompanied minors and for their better access to temporary emergency accommodation and education.
The proposed law provides for the inclusion in law of a presumption of minority for unaccompanied foreign minors on French territory. Appeals against decisions refusing minority status will have suspensive effect. Temporary emergency accommodation for minors will be maintained throughout the proceedings, pending a final court decision.
Members of the National Assembly tabled amendments to the for the guaranteed access to education for unaccompanied minors, even if the minority status is still under the appeal procedure.
Another amendment passed explicitly prohibits the use of bone, dental or pubertal development X-rays to assess the age of an individual claiming to be a minor.
The adopted draft law is now with the French Senate for first reading.
According to a recent barometer study published by UNICEF France, the amount of children without adequate accommodation increased up to 30% since 2022.