Subsidiary protection: status, residence permit and travel document

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

If theOfpra: titleContent grant you subsidiary protection, you receive a multi-year residence card beneficiary of subsidiary protection. Subsidiary protection is a form of protection by asylum, granted to a foreigner who does not meet the conditions for obtaining refugee status. The residence permit issued shall be for a maximum period of Four years. If you wish to leave France to travel, a travel document can be issued to you. We're taking stock of the regulations.

The multi-annual residence card beneficiary of subsidiary protection which is issued to you has a period of validity maximum from 4 years.

It allows you to stay in France and work there (as an employee or self-employed).

Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

Conditions for obtaining a residence permit

You are concerned if you have obtained the subsidiary protection.

Members of your family can benefit from the same card:

  • Your spouse, cohabiting partner or civil union partner, who is already authorized to reside in France under the 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 community of life effective.
  • Your children, unmarried, not having exceeded their 19e birthday (or from 16 if they want to work)
  • Your parents (ascendants direct to 1er degree), if you are still a minor and unmarried, accompanied, if necessary, by their unmarried minor children of whom they are effectively responsible.

Your family members must provide proof of their identity and the family ties that unite you. They must present a visa of more than 3 months issued by the consulate for their entry into France.

Please note

The card issued to members of your family is marked family member of a beneficiary of subsidiary protection. It allows them to work in France.

Documents to be provided

The documents vary depending on whether you apply for the residence 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 Ofpra or the NADC: titleContent granting you subsidiary protection status
  • Statement 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
  • Full copy of the birth certificate (unless he already has a residence card) with the most recent information
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • Or consular certificate with photo
    • Or photo ID
    • 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)
  • Decision of theOfpra: titleContent or NADC: titleContent granting subsidiary protection status to the spouse, partner, cohabiting partner or child
  • Proof of family relationship with the beneficiary of subsidiary protection:
    • 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 under 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).
  • Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
  • Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if married and are a national of a country that allows it

Submission of the application

You must submit your card application on the Internet, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or title).

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

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

Cost of the residence permit?

You have to settle €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps.

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

Surrender of the residence permit

The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.

Duration of validity of the residence permit

The residence card is valid 4 years maximum.

Renewal of the residence permit

After 4 years in France with the map beneficiary of subsidiary protection, you or your family members may request a resident card.

You must apply within 2 months before the end date of your residence card.

If you meet the condition of 4 years of regular residence before at the end of validity of the title, you can request immediately the 10-year resident card.

The subsidiary protection residence card allows you to work. Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

If you wish to travel abroad, you can request a identity and travel document (TIV). This travel document is biometric. It allows you to leave France and then return.

Your travel document is valid for 4 years if you have a multi-year residence permit or 5 years if you have a resident card. It is renewable.

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, a naturalization application - 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

The following documents must in particular be presented:

  • Valid residence card (original and photocopy)
  • Proof of address of less than 3 months in your name or proof of accommodation and copy of the host's identity document
  • Proof that you are under the protection of theOfpra: titleContent (example: decision granting subsidiary protection)
  • In case of renewal request, old travel document (original and photocopy).

The travel document concerns a minor

The following documents must in particular be presented:

  • Full copy of the birth certificate with filiation or family record book drawn up by theOfpra: titleContent
  • Proof ofparental authority :
    • Extract of marriage certificate
    • Divorce judgment
    • Court decision 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

The cost depends on the category of residence permit you have:

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You have a multi-year residence card

The biometric travel document costs €40.

You have a resident card

The biometric travel document costs €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 or country of your habitual residence.

When you have obtained your residence permit and signed the republican integration contract, you can be supported in your efforts to find a job and housing.

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

Ask the territorial unit (UT) of the French Office of Integration or Immigration (Ofii) of your department.

Who shall I contact