Retrieve the documents sent to OFPRA

Retrieve the documents sent to OFPRA

In short
Last update16 févr. 2023

What is it?

During your asylum application, you must send the OFPRA the originals of your identity, civil status (birth certificate, marriage certificate) and travel (passport) documents from your country of origin, if you have some.

  • If your asylum application is refused, OFPRA will automatically send you your documents by post.
  • If your asylum application is accepted, you have the status of refugee, stateless person or beneficiary of subsidiary protection. The OFPRA then becomes responsible for your protection and it is it that gives you your civil status documents.

Good to know: OFPRA keeps the originals of all your identity, civil status and travel documents from your country of origin for the duration of your protection by France.

You can then ask to recover your original documents in 2 situations:

  • if you obtain French nationality: France becomes responsible for your civil status documents.
  • if you renounce the protection of France and your refugee status: your country of origin becomes responsible for your civil status documents.

> To read also: the Refugees.info sheets " Requesting French nationality " and " Renouncing refugee status ".

Who is it for?

Location

France entière

Location

France entière

What to do?

1

Send request by email

You must send an email to comacces@ofpra.gouv.fr to ask OFPRA to return the documents you gave at the start of your asylum application.

Good to know: You must write your OFPRA file number in your email. It is a 9-digit number of the XX-XX-XXXXX type written at the top left of each letter sent by OFPRA.

Here is a sample text for your email:

Purpose: retrieve [document name] from folder #XX-XX-XXXXX [folder number]

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am asking you to retrieve [the name of the document] from file n°XX-XX-XXXXX [file number] because [reason for your request].
Best regards,

Good to know: It is advisable to keep a copy of the email and send it with an acknowledgment of receipt.

And after?

Contact OFPRA by telephone if necessary

You can contact OFPRA on 01 58 68 10 10 , Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Take your OFPRA file number and all the letters you have received to explain your situation.

Good to know: No information on the progress of a file is communicated by telephone.

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