Provisional residence permit (PSA) of a parent foreigner of a sick child

Verified 01 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you are a foreigner non-European, that you usually reside in France with a child minor Non-European foreigner and that he is seriously ill, you can obtain a temporary residence permit (PSA), subject to conditions. We tell you the steps to follow to do the process.

Step-by-step approach

If you are the father or mother of a child minor ill, or the person having parental authority on the latter, you can obtain a provisional residence permit (APS) to accompany the child if the whole the following conditions are met:

  • Health condition of the child requiring medical care, the absence of which would have serious consequences for him
  • Lack of access by the child to appropriate treatment in the country of origin
  • You usually reside in France with the child and support his maintenance and education
  • You don't represent a threat to public order.

FYI  

You can apply for PSA even if you are irregular stay.

The PSA can be issued to 2 parents.

You must present documents about yourself and the child.

Documents about you

  • Proof of civil status (unless you already have a residence card): full copy of birth certificate with the most recent information
  • Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.)
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old
  • Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and from a country that allows it
  • 3 identity photographs
  • Proofs of your habitual residence in France with the child: visa, receipt for a residence permit or asylum application, documents from a public administration (prefecture, social service, school), documents from a private institution (bank statements showing movements), undeniable personal writings (letters, relatives' certificates)
  • Proof of the contribution to the maintenance and education of the child: habitual and common residence with the child, payment of expenses relating to the child (maintenance, education, care, etc.)
  • Judgment awarding you theparental authority if you are not the child's father or mother.

Documents concerning the child

  • Proof of civil status: full copy of the birth certificate with the most recent information
  • Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.).

You must submit your PSA application to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home. Check the deposit procedure on the website of your prefecture.

Who shall I contact

To what service to transmit it?

Once your file is complete, the prefecture will give you the following documents:

  • Explanatory leaflet
  • Envelope with the address of the doctor of theOfii: titleContent
  • Blank medical certificate to be completed by the doctor following the child
  • Agreement for communication between the doctor of theOfii: titleContent and the one who follows the child.

Once the medical certificate has been filled in by your doctor, you will have to send it to theOfii: titleContent in the envelope provided for this purpose, together with the documents indicated in the explanatory note.

Who shall I contact

Within what time frame should it be transmitted?

The deadline for submitting the medical certificate depends on the situation:

General case

You must transmit to theOfii: titleContent the medical certificate provided by your doctor within the1 month as from its delivery by the prefecture.

Asylum seeker

If you are an asylum seeker, you must forward to theOfii: titleContent the medical certificate provided by your doctor, within the 3 months from the registration of your asylum application.

Report prepared by the Ofii doctor

The doctor of theOfii: titleContent may request, with your consent, additional medical information from the doctor who issued the medical certificate or from any other healthcare professional.

These additional information must reach the Ofii doctor within 15 days from the date of its application.

The Ofii doctor may also summon the child for a medical examination (free of charge) if he deems it necessary and request additional examinations (also free of charge). You will need to present proof of identity for you and the child.

The results of these examinations must be communicated to the Ofii physician within 15 days from the date of its application.

He then writes a report which he forwards to a college of doctors of Ofii.

Delivery of a receipt

A receipt will be given as soon as the prefecture is informed of the transmission of the medical report to the College of Physicians of Ofii.

Warning  

If you have not responded to the Ofii doctor's requests, you will not be able to obtain a receipt.

Medical opinion of the Ofii College of Physicians

The College of Physicians must issue a medical opinion.

It may:

  • Ask the doctor who completed the medical certificate or the doctor who wrote the report or any health professional to provide him with any additional information
  • Getting along with the child
  • Examine the child or request further examinations.

Additional information and examination results must be submitted within 15 days from the request.

The College of Physicians of the Ofii drafts a medical opinion which it transmits to the prefecture.

The opinion of the College of Physicians of theOfii: titleContent is a simple notice. He doesn't bind the prefect.

The prefect shall exercise his discretion to decide whether to grant or refuse provisional residence permits.

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Your request is accepted

If the prefect grants you the issuance of the provisional residence permit, he will inform you.

The provisional residence permit is valid 6 months. It allows you to work.

Your request is denied

The refusal decision may be either in writing or may result from the administration's failure to respond after 4 months.

You can then make a appeal to the administrative judge.

You have to pay €100 by tax stamps.

Proof of payment is requested when the APS is delivered.

If the child's care is not over, you can request a renewal of your PSA.

When to request the renewal of the APS?

You must submit the application for renewal of the APS no later than 2 months before the expiry date.

How to apply for renewal of the APS?

You must submit your application for renewal of the APS to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home. Check the deposit procedure on the website of your prefecture.

Who shall I contact

What documents to present to renew the APS?

You must present documents about yourself and the child.

Documents about you
  • Provisional valid residence permit
  • Proofs of your habitual residence in France with the child: visa, receipt for a residence permit or asylum application, documents from a public administration (prefecture, social service, school), documents from a private institution (bank statements showing movements), undeniable personal writings (letters, relatives' certificates)
  • Proof of the contribution to the maintenance and education of the child: habitual and common residence with the child, payment of expenses relating to the child (maintenance, education, care, etc.)
  • Judgment awarding you theparental authority if you are not the child's father or mother.
Documents concerning the child
  • Proof of civil status: full copy of the birth certificate with the most recent information
  • Proof of nationality: passport (pages concerning civil status, dates of validity, entry stamps and visas), or other documentary evidence with photo (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.).

For how long is the APS renewed?

The PSA is renewed for a period of 6 months. It allows you to work.

What is the cost of PSA?

You have to pay €100 by tax stamps.

Proof of payment is requested when the APS is delivered.

Who can help me?

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