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Refugee: residence permit, travel document and accompanying document

Verified 13 April 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If theOfpra: titleContent grant you refugee status, you receive a residence permit valid for 10 years. If you wish to leave France to travel, a travel document can be issued. In addition, you also receive assistance for access to rights.

Nature of title

As a refugee, you are entitled to a resident card allowing you to move freely in France.

How do I get it?

Upon receipt of the mail recognizing you as a refugee, you must submit your card application online.

Apply online for a residence permit, a change of situation, a travel document, an application for naturalization.

The prefecture has 3 months from the decision granting you refugee status to issue you and your family members with your residence card:

  • Your spouse, common-law partner or civil union partner, who is already authorized to reside in France for family reunification
  • Your spouse or civil union partner, who is at least 18 years of age, provided that the marriage or civil union was entered into before the date on which your asylum application was made.
  • Your partner, who is at least 18 years old, with whom you had a sufficiently stable and continuous common life before the date of lodging your asylum application
  • Your children within one year of age 18 or aged 16 to 18 who say they want to work
  • Your parents (direct ascendants at 1er degree) if you are a recognized refugee child and you are still a minor and unmarried

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

Documents to be provided

You
  • Civil status certificate (transmitted by theOfpra: titleContent to the prefecture)
  • 3 photos. If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Decision of Ofpra or the NDA: titleContent granting you refugee status
  • Declaration on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
  • Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be submitted at the time of issue of the license)
Member of your family
  • Full copy of birth certificate (unless he already has a residence card) with the most recent entries
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas). Otherwise, other supporting documents (e.g. consular certificate, identity card, consular card).
  • 3 photos. If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
  • Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be submitted at the time of issue of the license)
  • Decision of theOfpra: titleContent or the NDA: titleContent granting him refugee status
  • Proof of family connection with the refugee:
    • Proof of marriage (full copy of the marriage certificate or family record book)
    • Proof of civil union (copy of civil union contract)
    • Proof of parentage for children or for  ascendants (full copy of the birth certificate or family record book, declaration of natural child or adoption decision)
  • If he arrived in France on the basis of family reunification: medical certificate issued by theOfii: titleContent(at the latest at the time of submission of the residence permit)

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

Cost

You need to pay €25 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.

Tax stamps are sold only in dematerialized form (the paper stamp can only be used overseas).

For a renewal of your title, you will have to pay €225 (tax and stamp duty).

Card Delivery

The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture where you submitted your application.

Period of validity

The residence card is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.

The certificate bearing the entry recognized refugee and the resident card allow you to work in France.

If you wish to leave France for a trip, you can request a Refugee Travel Document (RTV).

This travel document is biometric and valid for 5 years.

The request can be made on the following website:

Apply online for a residence permit, a change of situation, a travel document, an application for naturalization.

Documents to be provided

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The travel document is for a major

  • Valid Resident Card: original and photocopy
  • Proof of residence in your name (water bills, electricity bills, rent receipt) or a proof of accommodation and copy of the host's identity document
  • Proof that you are under protection of theOfpra: titleContent (example: decision to grant refugee status)
  • For a renewal application: old travel document (original and photocopy)

The travel document concerns a minor

In particular, the following documents shall be submitted:

  • Photograph code and valid digital signature. Enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board)
  • Full copy of the birth certificate with filiation or family record drawn up by theOfpra: titleContent
  • Proof of parental authority:
    • Marriage certificate extract
    • Divorce judgment
    • Court ruling on parental authority
    • Separation Order
    • Copy of the court decision delegating parental authority
  • Proof of residence of less than 6 months in the name of the minor if the address is different from that of the applicant

Cost

The issue of the title is subject to a fee.

You must buy a tax stamp by an amount of €45

Territorial limits of the travel document

The travel document issued to you indicates the country or countries that are prohibited.

In general, it is only your country of origin, but in some cases, fears of persecution may have been established against other countries.

In support of your application for a residence permit, you must present documents proving your civil status and nationality.

If you are unable to submit such documents, Ofpra must prepare them.

Once Ofpra has sent you your civil status documents, you must present them to the prefecture or sub-prefecture so that it can issue you your residence permit.

When you have obtained your residence permit and signed the Republican Integration Contract (CIR), you can be supported in your efforts to find a job and a place to live.

This support takes into account your degree of vulnerability and the specific needs that arise from it.