AFNIC (.fr registry) has slightly relaxed the rules for the registration of a .fr domain name. Until now, everyone who wished to register a name under the .fr extension, was required to have an address in France. This rule has now changed slightly. From now on, individuals who live abroad but have the French citizenship don’t need an address in France anymore in order to register a .fr name. They can file an application to register a .fr with an address outside France but they must be able to prove that they are a French citizen. AFNIC will ask for a copy of their passport.
AFNIC also further reported that their intention to further liberalize the .fr domain within 2 years. According to the latest reports, the .fr extension should be available to everyone in 2012 since it would from then on no longer be required to have a French address to register a .fr domain name.