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Important information

Target audience

AudienceStatutory refugees, Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, Beneficiaries of temporary protection, Stateless people

Price

Free of charge

Requirements

Be in possession of a residence permit or a receipt

Where is it?

Renew your residence permit

Updated on il y a un mois

What is it?

When the residence permit expires, that is to say that the validity date is approaching ("valid until"), a new card must be requested. This is called a renewal of residence permit.

Whether you are a refugee, beneficiary of subsidiary protection or stateless, you must apply online on the Foreigners in France website between 4 and 2 months before the expiry date of the document.

After 4 years of residence in France with the beneficiary card for subsidiary protection or stateless person status, you can apply directly for a resident card (10 years). In this case, some prefectures may request a letter of motivation, a certificate of the level of French or the latest tax notices.

How to do it?

To apply for a new residence card, you need these documents:

  • Civil status documents sent by OFPRA (birth certificate , marriage certificate if you are married)
  • Letter with the decision of the OFPRA or the CNDA granting you the status of refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection
  • Proof of address issued within the last 6 months (or certificate of address or certificate of accommodation)
Proof of address is required, which does not mean proof of accommodation. If you are without stable accommodation and you only have a postal address to receive mail, the usual domiciliation certificate is accepted. If you are staying with someone (family, friend, volunteer, etc.), you must send: a certificate of accommodation from the person hosting you, a copy of their identity (or residence) card and proof of home in his name (electricity or telephone bill).
  • 3 e-photos
To have an e-photo, you must go to a photo booth or to an official “Online Service” photographer (approved to take official photos for identity documents). To find a photo booth or an approved photographer, you can consult the geolocation map on this link. You must indicate the code written on the photo board.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Making and using an e-photo ”.
  • If you are married: sworn declaration of non-polygamy (the fact of being married to several people) in France if you are a national of a country which authorizes it
  • In certain prefectures, proof of resources or activity is required: tax notice, employment contract, Pôle Emploi certificate, etc.
  • To renew a resident card (10 years), some prefectures may request a sworn certificate confirming that you have not lived outside France for more than 3 consecutive years.
  • Connect to your Foreigners in France account: click on your name at the top right of the home page, and select "Access my account".
  • Or if you've never done it, create your account.

> To read: the Refugees.info sheet “Create an account on Foreigners in France”.

You need this information:
- foreign number (on the current residence permit, above the signature, called personal number, or on the right side vertically)
- start date of validity of the title
- expiry date of the title.

If you are unknown to the administration (family member of a refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection or stateless person), and if you do not have a foreign number or visa number, you must go directly to the prefecture close to your postal address.

Once you are logged into your account on the Foreigners in France website, click on “I request or renew a residence permit”.

You must complete the form and send the documents for step 1.

> To read: the Refugees.info sheet "Scanning a document".

After applying online, you will automatically receive by email a "deposit certificate" which proves that you have sent your file. This document does not grant any rights, it is only a proof.

If your file is complete and sent within the requested time, you will then receive an "certificate of extension of instruction". It is a temporary residence document which proves that you have the right to be in France in a regular situation and that you can work. This certificate replaces the receipt and is valid for a renewable period of 3 months.

When the prefecture has validated your application, you finally receive a "favorable decision certificate" which is valid until your new residence permit is available.

Your residence permit renewal application is studied by the competent prefecture or sub-prefecture close to your postal address. The processing times for applications are different in each prefecture.

To find out how your application is progressing, log into your personal account on the Foreigners in France website , click on your name at the top right of the home page, and select "Access my account".

There are four stages:

  • Submission of the request : your request has been received.
  • Investigation in progress : the prefecture has begun to study your request, its processing is in progress.
  • Decision made : your request has been processed, a decision has been made.
  • Residence permit available : your new card is available. An SMS will tell you how to recover it. If you do not receive any SMS, you must go to the website of your prefecture to find out how to retrieve your residence permit.

The day you pick up your residence permit, you must prove that you have paid €25 in tax stamps (with proof of payment of the stamp duty).

Tax stamps are sold only on the timbres.impots.gouv.fr website and in tobacconists.

> To read: the Refugees.info sheet which explains how to buy a tax stamp.

What happens next?

Remember to send a copy of your new residence permit to the administrative services to update your files:

  • CAF if you receive or have applied for RSA, APL and/or family allowances,
  • the town hall of your town if you have applied for social housing,
  • the CPAM of your department for your health insurance,
  • Pôle emploi if you receive or have applied for unemployment benefits...

If you change your address, you must declare it online on the Étrangers en France (ANEF) website . This Réfugiés.info sheet explains how to do “Declaring a change of situation on Étrangers en France”.

It is not compulsory to issue a new residence permit (subject to a fee) if you change your address (you can choose whether or not to issue a new permit when you register online). To prove your new address, a certificate will be available in your personal account after processing.

If you have a technical problem (blocked page, error message, etc.), you can contact the Citizens Contact Center (CCC):

  • by telephone at 0 806 001 620 (free number),
  • or with the contact form (“Contact” button at the bottom left of the screen). You must clearly explain your problem and send screenshots (site, date and time visible) with the error message if you have one.
If the CCC has not been able to provide you with a solution, you can go to your prefecture to be accompanied by the digital reception point reserved for foreigners present in France. To contact the digital reception point closest to you, you can search on the internet by writing: “digital reception point foreign prefecture” and adding your department.
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