Claims, hierarchical appeals and compulsory prior administrative appeals (Rapo)
Verified 11 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
An administration has made a decision that is unfavorable to you? Before going to court, you can ask the administration to review its position by making an administrative appeal. Sometimes, the administrative appeal is mandatory before the referral to the judge: it is then a mandatory prior administrative appeal (Rapo). We present you the information to know.
An administrative appeal is a complaint to the administration asking it to change a decision it has taken.
The decision of the administration may be explicit or implicit.
The decision is explicit when it results from a legal act that is taken by the administration (written decision posted or notified).
The decision is implicit when it results from the administration's failure to respond to your request.
There are different administrative remedies.
Claims of grace
The ex gratia remedy is a claim sent to the author of the contested decision (mayor, prefect, academy inspector, etc.)
Hierarchical redress
Hierarchical recourse is a complaint sent to supervisor of the person who made the decision. For example, the Minister of the Interior, for a decision taken by a prefect.
It is possible to file a hierarchical appeal without first having made an ex gratia appeal or without waiting for the response to the ex gratia appeal.
Mandatory Prior Administrative Remedy (Rapo)
The Report is a complaint that must necessarily be made before referring the matter to the judge.
The Rapo applies in particular to the following areas:
- Tax litigation (e.g. plate of tax)
- Access to administrative documents
- Access to regulated professions (e.g. College of Physicians)
- Military civil service: appeal to the Military Appeals Board
- Foreigner litigation (e.g. denial of visas)
- Social disputes (e.g. appeal against a decision of the MDPH: titleContent).
The applicable rules are different depending on the Rapo.
Differences may relate to the following: referral, collegial appeal body, adversarial procedure.
Please note
When an administrative decision is submitted to a Rapo, it is notified in the decision. The decision indicates the means and time limits for appeal to make a report.
The time limit varies depending on whether the appeal is mandatory or not:
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Non-mandatory remedy (ex gratia or hierarchical remedy)
The time limit varies depending on whether it is an ex gratia or hierarchical remedy:
Claims of grace
The deadline varies depending on where you live:
You live in metropolitan France
The time limit is 2 months to make an ex gratia appeal.
You live overseas
The time limit is 3 months to make an ex gratia appeal.
You live abroad
The time limit is 4 months to make an ex gratia appeal.
Hierarchical redress
The deadline varies depending on where you live:
You live in metropolitan France
The time limit is 2 months for hierarchical recourse.
You live overseas
The time limit is 3 months to make a hierarchical appeal.
You live abroad
The time limit is 4 months to make a hierarchical appeal.
Mandatory Prior Administrative Remedy (Rapo)
The deadline is indicated in the notification the decision you are challenging.
The procedure varies depending on whether the appeal is mandatory or not:
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Non-mandatory remedy (ex gratia or hierarchical remedy)
The procedure varies depending on whether it is an ex gratia or hierarchical appeal:
Claims of grace
You must address your appeal to the author of the decision that has been taken and that you are challenging.
Your mail must include the following items :
- Your surname, first names and address
- The subject of your appeal
- Explanation of the grounds of appeal
- The explicit request for review.
You must send your appeal by post RAR: titleContent to keep proof of shipment.
You must also attach to your mail a copy of the contested decision as well as any documents that you deem useful to review the decision.
Hierarchical redress
You must address your appeal to supervisor of the decision-maker which you are challenging.
Your mail must include the following items :
- Your surname, first names and address
- The subject of your appeal
- Explanation of the grounds of appeal
- The explicit request for review by the decision maker's supervisor.
You must send your appeal by post RAR: titleContent, to keep proof of the consignment.
You must also attach to your mail a copy of the contested decision as well as any documents that you deem useful to review the decision.
Mandatory Prior Administrative Remedy (Rapo)
According to the domain in which you make the report (for example, in relation to parking), it is possible to file the appeal online (this is specified in the notification the decision you are challenging).
Otherwise, you must send your appeal by post RAR: titleContent, to keep proof of the consignment.
Your mail must include the following items :
- Your surname, first names and address
- The subject of your appeal
- Explanation of the grounds of appeal
- The explicit request to review the decision rendered and the review you wish.
You must also attach to your mail a copy of the contested decision as well as any documents that you deem useful to review the decision.
The situation varies depending on whether the remedy is mandatory or not:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Non-mandatory remedy (ex gratia or hierarchical remedy)
The dispatch of the appeal interrupts the timeout of 2 months (3 months for overseas and 4 months for foreigner) that you have to apply to the administrative court, provided that the complaint is sent before the expiration of this period.
If the appeal is dismissed, a new period of 2 months (3 months for overseas and 4 months for the foreigner) starts running again from the notification of this decision.
Example :
The administration notifies you of an unfavorable decision on January 5, 2026. You filed an administrative appeal on January 26, 2026. Your administrative appeal is dismissed on 25 March 2026. You can appeal to the administrative judge until 24 May 2026 at midnight.
The administration has a deadline of 2 months to answer you. If you do not receive a reply after this period, your appeal will be considered rejected. In this case, you can hire a contentious remedies before the administrative court.
Mandatory Prior Administrative Remedy (Rapo)
The administration has a 2 months delay to answer you.
The sending of the report has the effect of extending the time limit for bringing a decision before the court. The time limit shall not start running again until after the appeal has been dismissed.
If the report is rejected, you must file a legal challenge against the decision rejecting the Rapo and not against the initial decision.
The administration must give reasons for the decision to reject the report, i.e. it must state the reasons why it took the decision.