What should a foreigner do in case of theft of his residence card?
Verified 10 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are a foreigner and your residence card has been stolen, you must take different steps depending on the location of the flight (in France or abroad). In any case, you must request a duplicate of your residence card, the cost of which varies according to the type and mention. Here is the information you need to know.
What applies to you ?
Flight in France
You must first perform a flight report at police station where to the gendarmerie. A receipt will be given to you.
Then you have to make a duplicate request of your residence card on the internet :
An application for a duplicate will result in the invalidity of the original residence card. This procedure is final. If you find your residence card after the duplicate request, it will be necessary to come and collect your new residence card.
FYI
The duplicate bears the same validity dates that of the stolen residence permit.
You must provide the following:
- Receipt for filing a complaint for theft of your residence card
- Photocopy of your stolen residence permit (if you have kept one)
- Passport (pages relating to civil status, validity dates and entry stamps)
- Proof of address less than 3 months old
- Proof of payment of the tax and/or stamp duty of the initial ticket (requested when the card is handed over)
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
The issue of the duplicate is subject to payment (by regulation by tax stamps) and corresponds to the amount applicable at the time of renewal of the residence permit for the same reason. Its cost varies depending on the residence permit you hold.
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1 year old card
You must pay:
- €225 for a temporary residence card or a certificate of residence for Algerian of 1 year
- or €75 if you have any of the following titles:
- Student Card
- Annuity card or occupational disease
- Trainee Card
- Job search or company creation card
- Au pair youth card
- Family reunification card
- "Seasonal worker" card
- Certificate of residence for Algerian student or trainee mention.
If you have a card as a victim of domestic violence, or on humanitarian grounds as a victim of human trafficking or pimping, the duplicate is free.
Multi-year map
You must pay:
- €225
- or €75 if you have any of the following titles:
- Multi-year map student
- Multi-year card for family reunification.
- Multi-year card for occupational accident and sickness.
10-year resident card or certificate of residence
You must pay:
- €225
- or €75 if you have a card annuity or occupational disease
- or €25 if you have a 10-year residency certificate for Algerian.
If you have a card as a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking or pimping, the duplicate is free.
Retired card/10-year-old retiree spouse
You have to pay €25.
Flight abroad
You must first declare the offense in the country where the theft took place to the local police authorities, then to the French embassy or consulate in the country concerned.
Then you have to apply for a return visa to the French embassy or consulate in the country where you are, to be able to return to France.
Before issuing this visa, the embassy or consulate conducts an investigation with the prefecture issuing the residence permit.
Who shall I contact
You must then, upon your return to France, request it duplicate of your residence card online :
An application for a duplicate will result in the invalidity of the original residence card. This procedure is final. If you find your residence card after the duplicate request, it will be necessary to come and collect your new residence card.
FYI
The duplicate bears the same validity dates that of the stolen residence permit.
You must provide the following:
- Documents relating to the declaration of flight abroad
- Photocopy of the stolen residence permit (if you have kept one)
- Passport (pages relating to civil status, validity dates and entry stamps)
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- Proof of payment of the tax and/or stamp duty of the initial ticket (requested when the card is handed over)
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
The issue of the duplicate is subject to payment (by regulation by tax stamps) and corresponds to the amount applicable at the time of renewal of the security for the same reason. Its cost varies depending on the residence permit you hold.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
1 year old card
You must pay:
- €225 for a temporary residence card or a certificate of residence for Algerian of 1 year
- or €75 if you have any of the following titles:
- Student Card
- Annuity card or occupational disease
- Trainee Card
- Job search or company creation card
- Au pair youth card
- Family reunification card
- "Seasonal worker" card
- Certificate of residence for Algerian student or trainee mention.
If you have a card as a victim of domestic violence, or on humanitarian grounds as a victim of human trafficking or pimping, the duplicate is free.
Multi-year map
You must pay:
- €225
- or €75
- if you have a multi-year card student
- or if you have a multi-year family reunification card.
10-year resident card or certificate of residence
You must pay:
- €225
- or €75 if you have a card annuity or occupational disease
- or €25 if you have a 10-year residency certificate for Algerian.
If you have a card as a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking or pimping, the duplicate is free.
Retired card/10-year-old retiree spouse
You have to pay €25.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30Horaires exceptionnels le jeudi 2 avril de 08h30 à 09h45 et de 14h00 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Taxes and stamp duty payable
Online service