To apply for a residence permit, you need these documents:

• Contract of commitment to respect the principles of the French Republic
  
  You must read, print, complete, date and sign the written engagement contract in French. This document sets out the principles of the French Republic: personal freedom, freedom of expression and conscience, equality between women and men, dignity of the human person, motto and symbols of the Republic, territorial integrity of France, secularism. When you sign this document, you agree to respect these values while you live in France.
  
  Please note that this contract is different from the OFII's Republican Integration Contract (CIR). Everything is explained here .

• Proof of address less than 6 months old (certificate of residence or proof of accommodation)

• e-photos
  > Also read: the Réfugiés.info fact sheet "Taking and using an e-photo".
• If you are married and a national of a country that allows polygamy: sworn statement of non-polygamy (the fact of not being married to several people in France)

If you are a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, you must apply for a residence permit online on this site: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/

• Log in to your Foreigners in France (ANEF) account, then click on your name at the top right of the home page, and select "Access my account".
• Or if you've never done so, create your account.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info sheet “Create a personal account on Foreigners in France (ANEF)”.

Stateless persons cannot yet apply on this website. If you have been recognized as stateless, you must go directly to the prefecture in your area to submit your residence permit application. The required documents are the same as for online applications (you must include the letter with the OFPRA or CNDA decision granting you stateless status).

Once you are logged into your account on the Foreigners in France (ANEF) website, click on “I am requesting or renewing a residence permit” to apply for a residence permit.

You must complete a form and send the documents.

> Also read: the Réfugiés.info “Scan a document” sheet.

After submitting your application online, you'll automatically receive an email inviting you to log in to your personal space to download a "confirmation of submission." This document proves that you have successfully submitted your application. It doesn't confer any rights; it's simply a supporting document.

If your application is complete and submitted within the requested timeframe, you will receive a "certificate of extension of instruction" (API). This is a temporary residence document that proves that you have the legal right to be in France and that you can work. The API also allows you to access your social security benefits, but does not allow you to travel. This certificate replaces the receipt and is valid for 6 months. The certificate is renewable until the prefecture makes its decision.

Once the prefecture has approved your application, you will receive a "certificate of favorable decision," which is valid until your residence permit is available. This certificate proves that you can work and authorizes you to cross the borders of the Schengen Area.

> If you would like to know more about the different types of certificates you can receive during your application, you can read this document.

Your residence permit application is reviewed by the relevant prefecture or sub-prefecture, depending on your address. Processing times vary depending on the prefecture.

To find out the progress of your application, log in to your personal account on the Foreigners in France website, click on your name in the top right corner of the home page, and select " Access my account".

There are four steps:

• Application submitted : your application has been received.
• Processing in progress: the prefecture has begun to examine your request and it is being processed.
• Decision made: your request has been processed, a decision has been made.
• Residence permit available: your card is ready.

The message tells you what you need to do to get your residence permit: log on to your prefecture's website , show up there on a certain day, etc.

Example: for the Paris Police Prefecture

The day you pick up your residence permit, you will have to 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).

See the Réfugiés.info sheet on the purchase of a tax stamp .

Your residence permit is valid:

• 10 years if you have refugee status, it is the “resident” card,
• 4 years if you have subsidiary protection or stateless person status, this is the “multi-year” card.

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

• by phone at 0 806 001 620 (freephone 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 you do not have any response from the prefecture or if it is a negative one to your residence permit application, even though you have sent all the documents within the deadline, you can challenge this decision (say you don't agree).

To challenge the decision:

• You must contact the Administrative Court of your place of residence. To have contact details for the Administrative Court in your department, click here.
• Seek help from a lawyer . If you don't have a lot of money, you can request legal aid to cover all or part of your legal costs.
  To read: the Réfugiés.info sheet on legal aid .
• You can get help from an association helping foreign people.
• You can contact the Defender of Rights, an administration which helps people in difficulty to access their rights.

You must declare online on the Foreigners in France (ANEF) website :

• if you move,
• if you lose your residence permit or if your card is damaged,
• if your residence permit has been stolen.

This Réfugiés.info fact sheet explains how to do it > “Declare a change of situation on Foreigners in France (ANEF) ”.

If you have refugee, stateless person or subsidiary protection status, some members of your family may have a residence permit like you:

• The person with whom you are married, in a civil partnership or your partner, if they have been authorized to stay in France with family reunification,
• The person with whom you are married, in a civil partnership or your partner, even if the union took place after your asylum application, if:
  - the person is over 18 years old,
  - you have been together for at least a year,
  - you still live together.
• Your children under 19 years old.
• Your parents if you are still a minor and unmarried.

> Read: the Réfugiés.info fact sheet “Applying for family reunification” .

The residence permit issued to your family members authorizes them to work in France.

To travel, a foreign child (minor) can have one of these two documents:

• the DCEM (Circulation Document for Minor Foreigners)
• or a TIV (Identity and Travel Document).

> Read: the Réfugiés.info factsheets “Request a DCEM” / “Request a travel document” .

The application must be made between 4 months (120 days) and 2 months (60 days) before the expiry date of the residence permit:

• online on the Étrangers en France (ANEF) website if you are a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection (log in and click on the same button "I am applying for or renewing a residence permit" and follow the steps),
• to the prefecture if you have stateless status.

> Also read: the Réfugiés.info fact sheet “Renewing a residence permit” .

If your residence permit has expired, but you have not yet received the new one, a " certificate of extension of processing of a request for renewal of residence permit" allows you to maintain your rights in France.

When you receive your birth certificate, if there is a difference with the information on your residence permit, Ofpra will send you a certificate of concordance.

You can then make a “ change of situation ” on the Étrangers en France website and request a new residence permit.

In this situation, the request is free.