Refusal of entry into France of a foreigner
Verified 28 June 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
A foreigner may be denied entry to France in certain cases. A decision to refuse entry is then taken against him by the administration. During the proceedings, he has rights, including the right to appeal against the refusal of entry before the administrative judge. If he has not lodged such an appeal or if the appeal is dismissed by the court, he shall be forcibly removed from France.
General case
You may be refused admission to France if you are in one of the following situations:
- You don't have a passport and an entry visa (short-stay visa or long-stay)
- You can't introduce the supporting documents concerning your stay in France (proof of accommodation, resources, medical insurance, etc.)
- You come to France to work, but you don't have the necessary documents allowing you to do so
- Your presence in France would represent a threat to public order
- You are registered for the purposes of non-admission in the Schengen Information System or pose a threat to the security, public health or international relations of a country the Schengen area
- You are subject to a prohibition order (judicial prohibition of french territory, expulsion order, return ban, administrative inadmissibility)
Warning
other rules apply if you are a national of European country.
Decision to refuse entry
Any refusal of entry into France shall be the subject of a written decision and reasoned.
This decision must be handed to you personally.
It is taken by the head of the police or customs department responsible for border control or the commander of the gendarmerie unit (or by an agent designated by him).
Rights of the foreigner
The decision to refuse entry is notified and mentions your rights.
You can notify the person you are staying with, your consulate or the lawyer of your choice.
You can also refuse to be repatriated before 1 free day (so the day after your arrival, at midnight).
Language used during the procedure
The decision and notification of your rights must be communicated to you in a language you understand. At the beginning of the procedure, you must indicate the language you understand and whether you can read. If you refuse, the language used is French.
You can deposit a action for annulment against the refusal of entry to the Administrative Court.
At the same time, you can make a interim suspension.
You can also challenge the refusal of entry by a interim freedom (safeguarding a fundamental freedom).
Who shall I contact
The administration may force you back.
You can request to be expatriated only after the expiration of a period of 1 free day.
Pending your repatriation, you can be placed in holding area.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You refused the 1 clear day deadline
You're repatriated as soon as possible.
You are then returned to your country of origin or the country from which you come or any other country where you may be admitted.
You have asked to benefit from the 1 clear day deadline
You are repatriated at the end of this period.
You are then returned to your country of origin or the country from which you come or any other country where you may be admitted.
You filed an appeal and an application for interim measures
Application for interim measures
You can't be repatriated until the judge decides on the appeal.
Application for interim relief
You can't be repatriated until the judge decides. He has to make a decision within 48 hours.
Asylum seeker
You are concerned if you are a foreigner.
If you are a minor, you can also be refused entry.
Warning
this procedure does not concern a foreigner who is a national of European countrynor the members of his family living in France with him.
You can be refused admission to France if you are in one of the following cases:
- Your claim for asylum at the border was rejected because it was manifestly unfounded
- The examination of your asylum application is the responsibility of another State following the Dublin III Regulation
- Your presence in France would represent a threat to public order
- You are registered for the purposes of non-admission in the Schengen Information System or pose a threat to the security, public health or international relations of a country the Schengen area
- You are subject to a prohibition order (judicial prohibition of french territory, expulsion order, return ban, administrative inadmissibility)
Decision to refuse entry
In a 1er time, theOfpra: titleContent auditioning you.
The decision is then taken by the Minister of the Interior, after consultation with theOfpra: titleContent.
Rights of the foreigner
The decision to refuse entry is notified and mentions your rights.
You can notify the person you are staying with, your consulate or the lawyer of your choice.
You can also refuse to be repatriated before 1 free day (so the day after your arrival, at midnight).
You can finally form a suspensive judicial review. The remedies and time limits for appeal shall be specified in the decision refusing entry.
Language used during the procedure
The decision and notification of your rights must be communicated to you in a language you understand. At the beginning of the procedure, you must indicate the language you understand and whether you can read. If you refuse, the language used is French.
You can drop off, within 48 hours, an action for annulment suspensive against the refusal of entry to the Administrative Court.
If the court dismisses the appeal, you can appeal within 15 days before the president of the administrative court of appeal. This appeal is not suspensive.
The administration may force you out of France.
But it has to meet certain deadlines, which vary depending on whether you have filed or not suspensive appeal.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You did not file a suspensive appeal
Your repatriation can only take place 48 hours after you refuse entry.
You filed a suspensive appeal
Your repatriation cannot take place until the judge has made a decision. He has a deadline of 72 hours to take it.
Pending your repatriation, you can be placed in holding area.
You are then returned to your country of origin or the country from which you come or any other country where you may be admitted.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- French Embassy or Consulate Abroad
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Cost: free service
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
Conditions for entry into France
Refusal of entry for asylum
Refusal of entry: execution of the decision
Refusal of entry: procedure and rights of the asylum seeker
All of Europe