What is a receipt for a residence permit?

Verified 17 November 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

When you apply for a residence card at the prefecture or sub-prefecture and your file is complete, you receive a provisional residence document called receipt. This document allows you to stay regularly in France during the examination of your file. Depending on the case, it also allows you to work.

Warning  

If your request is made using the online service of the Anef, you will receive a certificate.

The receipt is a document proving registration of your application for a residence permit to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.

It allows you to stay in France for the duration it specifies.

You are concerned if you are a foreigner and apply for a residence permit (1re application, renewal or duplicate).

The receipt is given to you if your file is complete.

The period of validity of the receipt may be different depending on whether it is a 1re application for a residence permit or renewal.

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1st application for a residence card

You receive a receipt for a period of 4 or 6 months.

This period will allow the prefecture to examine your application and to produce your residence permit.

The receipt can be renewed for an exceptional period of up to 3 months.

Renewal or duplicate residence card

You receive a valid receipt 3 months.

Its validity date starts from the day after the expiry date of your residence card.

The receipt may optionally be renewed.

You can request the renewal of your receipt if it comes to an end.

Ask your prefecture (or sub-prefecture) how to apply for this renewal.

Who shall I contact

Depending on your situation, a receipt may authorize you to work.

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General case

The receipt of a 1re demand residence permit allows you to work when the application concerns one of the following cards:

  • Temporary residence card "employee" or "temporary worker" where it has been lodged in support of a work authorization.
  • Temporary residence card "job search or company creation"
  • Temporary residence card "private and family life" , with exceptions
  • Multi-annual ‘talent passport’ residence cards
  • Multi-annual residence card "ICT posted employee", "ICT mobile employee", "ICT posted employee (family)" or "ICT mobile employee (family)"
  • Temporary residence card ‘seasonal worker’ where it has been lodged in support of a work authorization
  • Residence card "subsidiary protection" or "family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection"
  • Residence card "beneficiary of stateless status" or "family member of a beneficiary of stateless status"
  • Resident card (when the application is filed in the prefecture)

The receipt issued for the renewal of a previous residence permit shall extend the rights attaching to it.

Algerian

The receipt allows you to work in the following cases:

  • Renewal of a 1-year certificate of residence "private and family life"
  • Renewal of a 10-year certificate of residence for Algerian

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