Requesting a document authorising you to reside in France, known as a “<span dir="ltr" lang="fr">titre de séjour</span>” or residence permit

In France, whatever your nationality or situation, residency rights are subject to two conditions:

• You cannot be in a polygamous situation, i.e. married to more than one person or married to someone who is married to several people and living together.
• You must not be engaging in behaviour that could pose a threat to public order.

You may have to pay a fee to get your “titre de séjour”.

• The cost will depend on the type of “titre de séjour” you request.
• Costs may rise to several hundred euros.
• You will have to pay when you collect your “titre de séjour” at the “préfecture”.
• In certain cases, there will be no fees to pay. For example, if you obtain a “titre de séjour” because you have experienced abuse. Think about clarifying that at the “préfecture” when you go to pick up your permit.

If you apply for a “titre de séjour” when you do not have valid residency rights, you will also have to pay for a “visa de régularisation” or regularisation visa. This applies to you if:

• You have entered France without a document authorising your arrival in France known as a “visa”.
• You are living in France without a “titre de séjour” or residence permit.
• The “visa” document authorising you to enter France that you arrived with does not correspond to the “titre de séjour” you have applied for.
• Your “visa” has expired and you have not requested a “titre de séjour” in time.
• Your “titre de séjour” has expired and you have not requested its renewal in time.
• Your “titre de séjour” has expired and its renewal has already been rejected.

This “visa de régularisation” or regularisation visa costs 200 euros.

Unfortunately, the French administrative system faces inefficiencies at the moment.

• It is imperative that you take all necessary measures to protect your rights.
• Many cases, even the simplest, end up in the administrative courts to ensure the administration respects the law.
• If your case is taken to the administrative court, you must prove that you have respected the deadlines and done your utmost to follow the procedure to the letter.

Essential advice:

• Keep tangible proof of all your actions, clearly marked with the date:
  • scans or photocopies of letters and documents
  • screenshots of your online requests
• If you have any difficulty during the online process, when trying to book an appointment for example, send a letter to the “préfecture” to inform them of the difficulties you have encountered stating the precise dates.
  • Send your letter by registered post with recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”. This is the only way to prove your letter has been received. Keep the receipt as proof of postage too.
  • You can do this online at the French post office website
• When you receive a letter from the administration, make sure you keep the envelope as proof of receipt.
  • It is important to have proof of the date a letter or a decision is received.
  • Decisions made by the “préfecture” must be executed or can be contested from the date you receive the letter.
• You will sometimes receive incorrect information from employees of the “préfecture” or other people advising you during the process. Even if someone speaks with assurance, make sure you verify each piece of information you are given with several professionals.

Applying for a document authorising you to stay in France, known as a “titre de séjour”, can be difficult. The documents required are not always clear and the French administrative system may not function smoothly, right from the moment you try to make an appointment.

We recommend that you contact an organisation offering free services known as an “association”or a lawyer specialised in the rights of foreign nationals to help you in this procedure.

Although the “titre de séjour” application process is slowly improving in some parts of France, many issues remain to be resolved unfortunately, including unclear and inconsistent procedures.

The principal problems are:

• The online system for procedures does not function properly. The type of “titres de séjour” that you can request online is limited. You will find details on these issues below.
• The system for making an appointment in the “préfecture” does not function properly. Often, there are no slots available.
• The waiting times to get an appointment or receive your “titre de séjour” are abnormally long, from several months to over a year.
• You will sometimes receive incorrect information from employees at the “préfecture” or from other people advising you during the procedure.
• While many employees of the French administration are respectful and professional, sometimes they talk aggressively or patronise foreign nationals who don't understand, even if their confusion is due to missing or contradictory information. This especially occurs if you do not speak French very well.

We know the process can be very traumatic, but please don’t be discouraged – there are lots of professionals out there to help you rise to the challenge.

In France, a “visa” is a document allowing entry into the country. It does not authorise you to settle and work in France.

There are different types of visas:

• Short-stay visas usually called tourist visas or “visas touristiques”. They allow you stay in France for up to three months. They don’t allow you to settle in France long-term. Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa for a short stay.
• Long-stay visas are required to settle in France long-term, unless you are a national of a European Union member state.

There is a specific “visa” known as the “visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS)” which allows you to enter France and then settle in the country, on condition that it is validated by the organisation responsible for immigration and integration or the “Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration (OFII)”.

It is valid for up to one year. Once approved, it remains valid until the date indicated on the visa. In certain cases, this visa allows the holder to work.

All foreign nationals except Algerian and European citizens can apply for this visa.

You have the right to apply for this visa in various different situations, for example:

• If you are married to someone French.
• If you are married to a foreign national who has a valid “titre de séjour” and you come to France through the family reconciliation procedure or “regroupement familial”.
• If you have been recruited to work for a company located in France for at least one year.
• If you have been sent by your company to work in France for at least three months.
• If you have enrolled to study in France.

To apply, you must complete the application form on this website.

After your arrival in France, you will have a period of three months to validate the “visa de long valant titre de séjour” online. Your “visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour” will be considered as equivalent to a “titre de séjour”.

A “récépissé” or receipt is a document that the “préfecture” gives you when you submit an initial application for a “titre de séjour”. You will only receive one if you make your application in your local “préfecture”, in person, not online.

It allows you to stay in France while waiting for a response to your application.

Its period of validity is specified above. Generally, it can be valid for one to six months.

In certain cases, this “récépissé” or receipt may allow you to work. The “récépissé” that you were given during the examination of your application to renew your “titre de séjour” authorises you to work if your “titre de séjour” does too.

• This should be indicated on your “récépissé” or receipt, but sometimes it’s missing.
• If you are not sure, ask the “préfecture” when they give you the “récépissé”.

The ’“attestation” or certificate is a document that you will receive after having requested a "titre de séjour" online on the ’“Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France (ANEF)” website.

There are several different types of “attestations”: 

• You will automatically access a "confirmation de dépôt" or a certificate of deposit after making your request online. This document is just proof that your application has been submitted. It does not allow you stay in France.
• You will access an "attestation de prolongation d'instruction" certifying the extension of the examination of your situation if you submitted a completed application for a "titre de séjour" within the period provided for by law. If you have applied for a renewal, this document allows you to stay in France temporarily and to work if your “titre de séjour” allows you to.
• You will access an "attestation de décision favorable" certifying a positive decision if your application is accepted. This document allows you to stay in France temporarily, and to work if your “titre de séjour” allows you to.

An “autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS)” or provisional residence permit is a document that permits temporary residence in France.

It is generally valid for a maximum of six months.

You will receive an “autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS)” if you are in one of the following situations:

• You want to volunteer with a non-profit “association” or foundation in France.
• You are ill but do not meet the one-year residence condition for obtaining a “titre de séjour” on this basis.
• You have a child who is ill and receiving treatment in France
• You are in the process of leaving a situation involving prostitution. In this case, the “autorisation provisoire de séjour” will be valid for at least six months.

In certain situations, the “autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS)” allows the holder to work. If this is not the case, you can apply for a work permit if you find employment in France.

• This application will be made through your employer
• You can get support from an organisation offering free services called an “association” specialised in law for foreign nationals.

The “carte de séjour temporaire” or temporary residence permit is a “titre de séjour” or residence permit that allows you to settle in France on a temporary basis.

It is valid for up to one year and can be renewed.

It allows you to work, unless it is a “carte de séjour temporaire visiteur” or a “carte de séjour retraité” for retirees.

The multiannual residence permit or “carte de séjour pluriannuelle” is a “titre de séjour” that allows you to settle in France on a temporary basis.

It is valid for a maximum of two to four years and can be renewed.

It allows the holder to work.

The “carte de résident de dix ans” is a “titre de séjour” that allows you to settle in France for a long period of time.

It is valid for ten years and can be renewed, except in certain cases (e.g. if you leave France for more than three consecutive years).

It allows the holder to work.

There are three situations in which to make your first application, depending on your current administrative status:

• If you entered France with a “visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour” or long-stay visa as a residence permit, you must have it validated so that it becomes a “titre de séjour”. This procedure is carried out exclusively online on this website.
• If you entered France with a classic “visa de long séjour” or long-stay visa, you should generally submit a request to apply for a “titre de séjour” within two months of your arrival in France.
• In other cases, you can submit an application for a “titre de séjour” as soon as you meet the conditions for obtaining one.

Remember: requests to renew “titres de séjour” must be submitted within very strict deadlines.

You need to start planning months ahead of these deadlines.

The date to submit your request depends on the way you will be applying:

• Online requests on the “Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France (ANEF)” website: you must submit your request strictly between four months (125 days) and 2 months or 60 days before your “titre de séjour” expires.
• Requests in person at the “préfecture”: you must submit your request from 2 months or 60 days before your “titre de séjour” expires.
• Applicable law: Article R431-5 of CESEDA

This concerns you if your “titre de séjour” is based on the condition of living together or “vie commune”.

If your “titre de séjour” is going to expire in four months or less:

• You are within the period possible to make a request for renewal.
• Be careful: it is not possible to report a change in situation and apply for a renewal at the same time. It is therefore strongly recommended to apply for a renewal only.
• When applying for your renewal, indicate your new situation in your personal information.
• Upload evidence of the violence in the requested documents.
• You can also apply for a different “titre de séjour” than the one you have.
• As a complement, we recommend you inform the “préfecture” by sending registered letter by recorded delivery or a “letter recommandée avec accusé de réception”. You can do this online on the French post office website.

If you benefit from an “ordonnance de protection” or protection order, you can apply for a 10-year residence permit or “carte de séjour de dix ans”, regardless of your current situation (and without official documentation)

• You can apply as soon as you get the “ordonnance de protection” or protection order.
• To find out how to apply for an “ordonnance de protection”, click here.
• To learn more about this residence permit, click here.

If your personal situation has changed and could have an impact on your residency rights, but you still meet the conditions for obtaining another “titre de séjour”, you can apply for a “titre de séjour” for another reason or “fondement”.

For example, if you had a “titre de séjour” stating “salarié” or employee, and you lost your job because you resigned, but you are also the parent of a French child, you can request a change of status.

You need to apply for the new “titre de séjour” at the same time you renew your “titre de séjour”. This rule does not apply to asylum seekers.

It is essential to try and get an appointment well before the application deadline.

It is strongly recommended that you start looking for a time slot four months before your “titre de séjour” expires.

Each “préfecture” has a different procedure:

• To start, you can check if your “préfecture” offers an online booking system on its website.
• If you cannot find the information, it is recommended to contact the “préfecture” by phone or e-mail to ask what procedure to follow.
• You will find all the “préfectures” and “sous-préfectures” in these directories.

Good to know before you call:

• If you are not fluent in French, you can ask a relative or close friend to do it for you or get help from an organization offering free services called “association”.
• On the phone, you may unfortunately be redirected to other services and given important information in French, such as email addresses, websites or other numbers. These steps can take a long time: don’t be discouraged.

In some parts of France, booking appointments has become increasingly difficult, if not impossible.

You need to be proactive and actively take several of the actions listed below:

• Don’t just take one action and wait for the answer.
• If you do receive an answer, check the information with different professionals, because it is often incorrect.

If you don’t manage to get an appointment with the “préfecture”:

• Try to make an appointment several times a day by refreshing the page.
• Always take screenshots and make sure that the date is visible to show that you have attempted to book an appointment, but no time slots are available.
• Contact the “préfecture” to inform them that you cannot make an appointment. You can find their contact details in this directory. You can contact them by email if you have their email address and/or by post. Send the letter by registered post with recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”. This is the only way to prove your letter has been received. Keep the receipt as proof of postage, as well as a copy of the letter.
• You can get support from an organisation offering free services called an “association” specialised in law for foreign nationals. They can help you ask a judge to oblige the “préfecture” to respect your rights and give you an appointment.
• You can also contact the organisation responsible for enforcing the rights of public service users known as the “Défenseur des droits” and ask them to intervene to ensure the “préfecture” gives you an appointment.

In certain “prefectures”, such as in Paris, you can request a “récépissé” or receipt. This document authorises you to remain in France until the date of your appointment.

Contact your prefecture to ask them how to proceed. You will find its contact details in this directory.

If you are unsure of the reasons that enable you to apply for a “titre au séjour”, you can complete this anonymous questionnaire. You can also get help from an “association” or a lawyer specialising in the rights of foreign nationals.

When you apply for a “titre de séjour”, you must specify the main reason why you want to remain in France, sometimes referred to as the “fondement” or foundation of your application. Examples include family ties, work and health.

If you have different reasons or “fondements” for requesting residency rights:

• Choose one main reason that gives you the most advantageous residency rights and/or that's most likely to be accepted, for example, you meet all the conditions required.
• List other your reasons. The “préfecture” has an obligation to examine all the reasons you put forward in your application.

Even if it is not compulsory, it is strongly recommended to include a letter with your application. It could increase your chances of success and give you more opportunities to appeal if your application is rejected.

You can download and complete this cover letter template.

The letter must contain two elements:

• An explanation of your situation in France detailing all the reasons or “fondements” that you have determined, such as your family ties, your work or even your state of health, among others.
• The document that you would like to receive in preference, for example a 10-year residence permit or “carte de résident de 10 ans” or a multiannual residence permit or “carte de séjour pluriannuelle”. However, you can add that in the event of your application being rejected, you would accept another type of “titre de séjour”.
• The list of documents attached with your application.

A document listing all the documents to include with your application will be provided:

• when you make your request online on the ANEF website
• or when you make an appointment at the “préfecture”.

Sometimes these lists are unclear or incomplete. This is a frequent malfunctioning issue within the French administration. It is therefore recommended that you include as many documents as possible as evidence of your personal situation.

We have listed them all below so that you can check whether you have them.

General documents for any application called “documents communs”

In general, to apply for a “titre de séjour”, you will always need to provide:

• A document proving your identity and nationality: your passport, or if you do not have one, your identity card or your consular certificate or your expired passport with a certificate of renewal delivered by your embassy or consulate.
• A document dating from within the last three months proving your place of residence, called a “justificatif de domicile”, for example an electricity or gas bill or an accommodation certificate (template) with proof of residence from the host and a copy of both sides of their identity document, or a hotel accommodation certificate
• A copy of your birth certificate dated within the last three years.
• For online requests: a digital photo called a “photo signature” or “E-photo”. You can look for a licensed photographer near you on this website.
• For request in person: four recent identity photos that meet requested standards. Photo booths and photographers usually know the standards and will guide you.
• Translations of all your official documents that are not in French.
• In the event of renewal only, the contract you signed with the “OFII” on your arrival, called the“contrat d’intégration républicaine” as well as proof of completion of civic and language training (if you are not exempt).
• In case of renewal: your health insurance certificate and your last income tax notice.

Additional documents specific to the “titre de séjour” you are applying for, known as “documents spécifiques au titre sollicité”

These are documents that can prove that you have a right to a specific “titre de séjour”, for example the judge’s decision if you are the beneficiary of a protective measure called an “ordonnance de protection” or protection order.

You can consult our records by type of residency right to discover the documents required depending on the reason why you are requesting a “titre de séjour”.

You will also find the French government’s official list of documents to be provided on this website.

Other useful documents to increase your chances of obtaining a “titre de séjour”

In addition to the requested documents, it is recommended that you include any document that may enable the “préfecture” to assess your whole situation in your file, such as documents relating to your work, your children’s school education or the abuse you have experienced.

Any element related to your integration in France will also be beneficial, such as a certificate of volunteering, proficiency in French or personal activity in France.

All the documents you include in your file must be written in French or accompanied by a translation.

The translation must be carried out by an expert translator, called a sworn translator or “traducteur assermenté”. This type of translation costs between 30 and 80 euros per page on average.

It can take up to two weeks, so be sure to do it well in advance.

You can search online or ask the embassy of your country in France for a list of “traducteurs assermentés”.

If you are a refugee in France, you must not take any steps with the authorities in your country of origin. Contact an organization offering free services called an association specializing in refugee law.

Before you go to your appointment at the “préfecture”, be sure to check that your file is complete. If it is incomplete, the “préfecture” may not register your request.

• You must bring your letter of “convocation” and your identity document.
• Your file must include at least all the documents requested by the "préfecture" and provided for by law (see documents listed in Step 2).
• Bring two versions of all the documents: the original and a photocopy, except for any identity documents that are not yours (for example the ID of the person hosting you) for which a photocopy is sufficient.
• Note: you must only give copies to the person at the counter. The originals may be requested for verification, but you must get them back at the end of the appointment.

 If you submit your request in person at the “préfecture”, the application form to be completed will be given to you when you are there.

A few tips:

• When you arrive, ask the “préfecture” agent if there is a specific form for the type of “titre de séjour” you want to apply for, a “carte de resident de 10 ans” or 10-year residence permit for example, or a “carte de séjour pluriannuelle” or multiannual residence.
• At the top of the form, next to “titre de séjour demandé”, write down the main reason why you are applying for that one, such as family ties, work or a person who is ill.
• If you are unsure of the main reason or “fondement” for your request, please re-read the section on how to prepare your application above. Also, be sure to specify all the other “titres de séjour” that you might be able to obtain if your first choice is rejected (already listed in your cover letter).

If you make a request in person, you will have to pay 50 euros in fees when you submit your application if it is:

• a first request for a “titre de séjour” which is not free
• a request for a “titre de séjour” when you have no valid right to stay.

The 50 euros will not be reimbursed, even if your request is rejected.

If it is your first request for a “titre de séjour”:

• The “préfecture” has an obligation to provide you with a provisional document known as a “récépissé” or receipt. This document authorises you to remain in France while waiting for the response to your application.
• If you are not automatically given this document, make sure you ask for it.
• In reality unfortunately, many “préfectures” don’t issue a “récépissé” on the first application for a “titre de séjour”.
• If the “préfecture” refuses to give you a receipt or “récépissé”:
  • Keep your letter of “convocation” to prove that you have taken the steps to obtain a “titre de séjour”.
  • You can get support from an organisation offering free services called an “association” specialised in law for foreign nationals to discover the solutions you may have while waiting for a response to your application.

If it is a renewal request for a “titre de séjour”:

• The “préfecture” has an obligation to provide you with a provisional document called a “récépissé” or receipt.
• This document authorises you to remain in France and protects your rights, including the right to work, for three to six months.
• Before you leave the counter, be sure to check that your "récépissé” authorises you to work if your “titre de séjour” does too.

If the “préfecture” refuses to accept some of the documents included in your application, such as the cover letter, you can send them by post after submitting your application.

Make sure you:

• make a copy of the documents before sending them
• send the letter by registered post with recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”. This is the only way to prove your letter has been received
• keep the receipt as proof of postage.

The “préfecture” does not have the right to refuse to register a “titre de séjour” application unless there is a legitimate reason, such as your inability to provide one of the documents requested.

If the agent at the “préfecture” refuses to register your application or asks you for documents that you think they are not authorised to request, you can get support from an “association” specialised in law for foreign nationals.

Note: many “préfectures” do not respond to letters or emails. However, it is important to continue sending your documents as they will serve as evidence if you have to go to the administrative court.

• You will then have to complete a form and provide the required supporting documents by uploading your documents in PDF format.
• If you are unsure of the main reason, re-read the Prepare Your Application section.
• If your application concerns a “titre de séjour” as a person married to a Frenchman and a victim of domestic abuse or as a spouse of a beneficiary of “regroupement familial” or family reunification and a victim of domestic abuse, you must fill in the form corresponding to the “titre de séjour” required. When you upload proof of cohabitation, upload the PDF document in which you have merged the documents confirming the violence.
• At the last step of the online application, you can add a comment in the “observations” section. This step is crucial.
  • This is when you can copy/paste the text of your cover letter. You can detail the conditions you meet for your requested "titre de séjour". You can also list the different reasons why you could obtain a "titre de séjour".
  • Remember to take a screenshot of your comments or “observations” before validating your request.
  • Be careful, the website will not record proof of your comments or “observations”. Take several screenshots by scrolling through the text and/ or make a video to be sure you have recorded everything, with the date visible.

If you don’t know where to upload certain documents, especially the cover letter you have prepared, you can send them by mail to the “préfecture” of your department. Send your documents by registered post with recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception” after submitting your application. You can do this online on the French post office website.

When you make a request online, you will have no fees to pay at the time of submission. Payment will be made when you collect your “titre de séjour” on site at the “préfecture”.

Once you have submitted your online application, you will automatically receive a provisional document confirming your submission called a “confirmation de dépôt” to download.

• This document will be immediately available in your personal space, section “mon compte”.
• It is just proof of submission. It does not authorise you to stay in France.

After that, you will receive a second provisional document certifying the extension of the examination of your case, called an “attestation de prolongation instruction”.

• This document allows you to stay in France temporarily. It is equivalent to the paper “récépissé” or receipt you receive when you submit your application at the “préfecture”.
• Your “attestation de prolongation instruction” will be available as soon as the administration has confirmed that your application is complete.
• You will receive your “attestation de prolongation instruction” from 10 days to several months after submitting your application.
• For a renewal, you must receive your "attestation de prolongation instruction” before the expiry of your “titre de séjour”. If this is not the case, you must act quickly by contacting a specialized association or a lawyer
• When this document is available, you should receive an email notification. However, sometimes this is not the case. It is therefore recommended to log in to your account regularly to check if you have received your "attestation de prolongation instruction.”
• You can download this document from the website where you made the request and print it.

Unfortunately, some jurisdictions do not yet consider these documents as proof of residency rights:

• This is a major disfunction in the system.
• This dysfunction has been reported to France Travail, the national support service for unemployed people and the “Caisse d'allocations familiales (Caf)”, the organism that distributes financial aid, in some departments, as well as several social housing management organizations called “bailleurs sociaux” and some employers.
• This dysfunction may cause you to lose your rights while waiting for your new “titre de séjour”.
• If this concerns you or if you have not received your “attestation de prolongation instruction”, it is strongly recommended that you seek help from an “association” or a lawyer specializing in law for foreign nationals.

If you are having difficulty submitting your request for a “titre de séjour” online, you can ask to be accompanied:

• by filling in this contact form. You should receive a response with 5 working days.
• by calling this dedicated toll-free number: 0 806 001 620, Monday to Friday from 7:45 am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm. Over the phone, someone will help you make your request by identifying the problems you are experiencing.
• in person at the “préfecture” if the previous steps did not enable you to submit your application online. Contact your “préfecture” for information. You will find their contact details in this directory.
• As in all your French immigration procedures, keep proof of all the steps you take (scans, photocopies, screenshots), with the date visible. If the difficulties continue, you should seek help from an “association” or lawyer specialized in law for foreign nationals who will need this evidence to defend your case.

If you submitted your application to the “préfecture”:

• The “préfecture” sometimes requests additional information by e-mail or mail.
• This particularly happens when the “préfecture” takes a very long time to process your application and now needs more recent documents to make its decision.

If you submitted your application on the “ANEF” website:

• Requests for additional information are very common.
• When you receive an add-on request notification on your personal space, you normally receive an email. You may not receive these emails. It is therefore advisable to log in to your personal space on the “ANEF” website every week to check if you have received new documents.
• You then have 15 or 30 days to respond to the request.
• If you cannot obtain the requested documents within the time limit imposed by the “préfecture”, it is strongly recommended that you upload a letter explaining the situation instead.
• If you do not respond within the deadline, your request will be “classée sans suite”, meaning that the “préfecture” will stop processing it (see below).

Confirmation of acceptance

If you submitted your application at the “préfecture”:

• You will receive an SMS, email or letter to inform you that your request has been accepted.

If you submitted your application online:

• You will first receive a document called an “attestation de décision favorable” by email. This document will also be available in your personal space on the website “Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France (ANEF)”. It is simply to inform you that you will receive an SMS confirming the manufacture of your “titre de séjour”.
• Next, you will receive a document by e-mail entitled “titre de séjour disponible” indicating that your residence permit is ready. This document will invite you to come and collect your “titre de séjour” at the “préfecture”.
• You may not receive these emails. It is therefore advisable to log in to your “ANEF” personal space every week to check if you have received new documents.

Make an appointment to collect your “titre de séjour”

• Once you have received confirmation of acceptance, you must make an appointment called a “remise de titre de séjour” to collect your residence permit.
• You can make an appointment on the website of your “préfecture” on the “remise de titre” platform. You should do it as soon as possible because you will sometimes have to wait several weeks before the appointment.
• Some “préfectures” offer an insufficient number of appointments. You may need to log in regularly for several days before finding a slot. Don’t be discouraged.
• If you are unable to book an appointment despite many attempts, take screenshots of the automatic message saying “no appointment available” and contact a lawyer to find a solution.

Pay the fees

If you have fees to pay for your application for a “titre de séjour”, you will make the payment when you collect it at the “préfecture”:

• Payment of these fees is made by buying specific stamps called “timbres fiscaux” for the amount requested.
• The fees will normally be indicated with the notification inviting you to come and collect your “titre de séjour”.
• You can buy these “timbres fiscaux” in a shop selling cigarettes called a “bureau de tabac” or online on this website
• It is recommended to pay by bank card in case you should need to ask for a reimbursement.

If you buy them online, they will be “timbres dématérialisés” (not physical stamps). They can be sent to you in two different ways:

• In a PDF, which can be scanned by the agent responsible for processing your application at the “préfecture”. You do not have to print the document as it can be scanned straight from your phone or tablet.
• By SMS with a 16-digit number. You can give this number to the agent responsible for processing your case.

If you have purchased more “timbres fiscaux” than necessary and you have paid by bank card, you can ask for a reimbursement. Requests for reimbursement must be sent to the tax department.

You need to act quickly. Even if it’s stressful, you must find the courage to act in order to stay in France.

If your application is rejected, you will receive a letter sent by recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec avis de réception”.

If it’s rejected, you may be ordered to leave France by an “Obligation de quitter le territoire français (OQTF)”.

You can challenge the decision of the “préfecture” by making an appeal to the administrative judge within 30 days from the date you received the letter of rejection. You cannot be taken out of the country during this period, but this does not mean you have residency rights.

It is strongly recommended that you get support from an “association” or a lawyer specialised in law for foreign nationals for this procedure.

You need to act quickly. Even if it’s stressful, you must find the courage to act in order to stay in France.

Sometimes, the “préfecture” decides to stop processing your request without making a decision, if you haven’t sent a requested document, for example. You will receive a letter informing you that your request has been dismissed or “classée sans suite”.

In this situation, it is strongly recommended that you get support from an “association” or a lawyer specialised in law for foreign nationals.

This is a disfunction of the French administration system.

You need to act quickly. Even if it’s stressful, you must find the courage to act in order to stay in France.

If you have not received a response after four months for an initial application, or two months for a renewal, it means the French administration is malfunctioning.

• It could signal that your request has been rejected.
• However, some “préfectures” are very behind, especially in Ile-de-France where delays in processing run up to several months, if not over a year. Therefore, it could just be because your request has not been processed yet.

If you are still without a response after this delay, you can send a letter to the “préfecture” to ask whether your request has been rejected and if yes, why. The “préfecture” has an obligation to justify a decision to reject an application for a “titre de séjour”.

To ask the “préfecture” to give reasons for its decision:

• You can download this template letter to be completed in French
• Take a photo or photocopy of your letter
• Send the letter by registered post with recorded delivery or “lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception”. You can do this online on the website of the French post office.
• Make sure you keep the receipt as proof of postage.

If you do not receive a response one month after sending your letter to the “préfecture”, you may consider making an appeal to a special court called a “tribunal administratif” or administrative court.

It is strongly recommended that you get support in this process from an “association” or a lawyer specialised in law for foreign nationals.