Refugee: residence permit, travel document and accompanying

Verified 01 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

If theOfpra: titleContent you are granted refugee status, you receive a residence permit valid for 10 years. If you wish to leave France to make a trip, a travel document can be issued to you. In addition, you also benefit from assistance for access to rights. We're taking stock of the regulations.

Nature of the residence permit

As a refugee, you are entitled to a resident card.

It allows you to stay and work in France. Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

Documents to be provided

The documents vary depending on whether you are applying for the resident card for yourself or for your family:

For you

You must provide the following:

  • Certificate of civil status (transmitted by theOfpra: titleContent to the prefecture)
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old (or declaration of domicile)
  • Decision of the Ofpra or CNDA: 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 the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
For members of your family

You must provide the following:

  • Full copy of the birth certificate (unless he already has a residence card) containing the most recent information
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • Or consular certificate with photo
    • Or photo ID card
    • Or consular card with photo
    • Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old (or declaration of domicile)
  • Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
  • Decision of theOfpra: titleContent or CNDA: titleContent granting refugee status to a spouse, partner, common-law partner or child
  • Proof of family relationship 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 ascendants (full copy of birth certificate or family record book, declaration of natural child or adoption decision)
    • Proof of 1 year of living together if you have not entered France for family reunification.
  • If he arrived in France for family reunification: medical certificate issued by theOfii: titleContent (at the latest when the residence permit is handed over).

Submission of the application

Upon receipt of the letter 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 - ANEF

The prefecture has a 3 months delay from the date of the decision granting you refugee status to issue you your residence card.

She also issues one to the following family members:

  • Your spouse, cohabiting partner or civil union partner, who is already authorized to stay in France for family reunification
  • Your spouse, or civil union partner, who is at least 18 years old, if the marriage or civil union is after the date on which your application for asylum was made. The marriage must have been celebrated, or the civil union concluded, for at least 1 year, with a effective community of life
  • Your children within one year of their 18th birthday or between the ages of 16 and 18 who declare that they want to work
  • Your parents (direct ascendants at 1er degree) if you are a child recognized as a refugee and are still a minor and unmarried.

When you submit your application for a residence permit on the internet, you will immediately receive a dematerialized certificate of deposit.

Cost of residence permit

For you, beneficiary of refugee status, the issue of the residence permit shall be free of charge.

For the members of your family, it will have to be settled €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps for the 1re issue of a residence permit.

Proof of payment of the stamp duty will be requested when the card is handed over.

You can buy the tax stamp on the internet or at a tobacco shop.

On the internet

You can purchase your tax stamp using the following online service:

Purchase on the internet of the tax stamp - Title for foreigner

Payment is possible with the following credit cards:

  • Credit card (CB) and e-credit card
  • Visa
  • Mastercard.

However, payment by Paypal or American Express card is not accepted.

The electronic stamp can be issued on two supports:

  • PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
  • SMS containing the 16-digit identifier of the stamp that will be accepted by the agent responsible for processing your file.

If you do not use the stamp or have purchased the wrong type of stamp, you can request a refund.

Request a refund of a tax stamp

In a tobacco shop

You can buy a tax stamp from a tobacco office, if the business is equipped to be able to edit them.

Warning  

Do not buy a fine stamp by mistake.

Surrender of the residence permit

You are contacted by email or text message when your residence permit is ready. It is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your department of residence.

Period of validity of the residence permit

The residence permit issued to you is a residence card. It is valid 10 years.

The certificate bearing the mention recognized refugee and the resident card allow you to work in France. Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

If you wish to travel abroad, you can request a travel document called Refugee Travel Document (RTD). It allows you to leave France and then return.

This travel document is biometric and valid for 5 years.

Submission of the application for a travel document

The request is made on the following website:

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

Documents to be provided

The documents to be provided are different if the travel document concerns an adult or a minor:

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The travel document concerns a major

In particular, the following documents must be submitted:

  • 2 ID photos conform to standards
  • Valid resident card: original and photocopy
  • Proof of address in your name (water, electricity bills, rent receipt) or a proof of accommodation and copy of the host's identity document
  • Proof that you are under the protection ofOfpra: titleContent (e.g. decision on admission to refugee status)
  • For renewal: old travel document (original and photocopy).

The travel document concerns a minor

In particular, the following documents must be submitted:

  • Full copy of the birth certificate with filiation or family record book established by theOfpra: titleContent
  • Proof of parental authority:
    • Extract of marriage certificate
    • Divorce judgment
    • Decision of the court ruling on parental authority
    • Separation order
    • Copy of the court decision delegating parental authority
  • Proof of domicile of less than 6 months in the name of the minor if the address is different from that of the applicant.

Cost of a travel document

Issuance of the title is subject to payment.

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

Territorial limits of the travel document

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

In general, it is only a question of your country of origin but in some cases, the fear of persecution may have been established in relation to other countries.

When you have obtained your residence permit and signed the Republican Integration Contract (CIR), you may be accompanied by theOfii: titleContent in your efforts to find a job and a place to live.

Who shall I contact

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