Retrieve the documents sent to OFPRA

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 ".