Prohibition of French territory (ITF)

Verified 20 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The prohibition of French territory (ITF) may be pronounced by the criminal judge against a foreigner who resides in France and who has committed a crime or a offense. The ITF can act as a primary sentence or as a additional penalty a prison sentence or a fine. We're taking stock of the regulations.

The prohibition of French territory (ITF) may be pronounced by the criminal judge (criminal court or court of assizes) if you are a foreigner and have committed a crime or offense.

The ITF is most often a supplementary sentence, i.e. a sentence imposed in addition to a principal sentence.

In some cases, when it comes to a offense, the judge may decide to impose the ITF as the main sentence, i.e. it replaces the prison sentence or the fine.

The ITF results in deportation. You are then deported by the police or gendarmerie.

Before your actual deportation, you may be placed in detention or under house arrest time to organize your return.

You are away in one of the following destinations:

  • Your country of origin (unless your life or freedom is threatened or you are exposed to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment)
  • The last country that issued you with a valid travel document
  • Another country in which you can be legally admitted, with the agreement of the latter.

An ITF can be issued against a foreigner for many offenses. Under certain conditions, you can be protected against the pronouncement of an ITF.

Which offenses are covered by an ITF?

Many crimes and misdemeanors can result in an ITF, including:

  • Serious violence
  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Theft with violence
  • Murder
  • Act of terrorism
  • Drug trafficking
  • Illegal work
  • Use of false papers
  • Marriage fraud (white wedding done only to have a residence permit).

More generally, ITF can be pronounced if the offense shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of at least 3 years.

What foreigners are protected against a ban on French territory?

If you are in one of the following situations, you can be protected against an ITF, under certain conditions:

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You are a parent of a minor French child and you have been living in France for more than 10 years

You cannot be sanctioned by an ITF if you contribute to the maintenance and education of your child since birth or for at least 1 year.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

You have been married to French people for at least 4 years and have been living in France for more than 10 years

You cannot be sanctioned by an ITF if the 3 conditions the following are completed:

  • Marriage celebrated before the offense
  • Living legally in France for more than 10 years
  • Always living together.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

You have been married to a foreigner for at least 4 years and have lived in France for more than 10 years

You cannot be sanctioned by an ITF if the 4 conditions the following are completed:

  • Living regularly in France for more than 10 years
  • Spouse or wife has usually lived in France since the age of 13
  • Marriage celebrated before the offense
  • Living together always in progress.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

You have been living in France for over 20 years

If you have lived regularly in France for more than 20 years, you cannot be sanctioned by an ITF.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

You have been living in France since you reached the age of 13

If you have been living in France for as long as you have not reached the age of 13, you cannot be sanctioned by an ITF.

You must prove by any means your habitual residence: employment contracts, testimonies, etc.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

You are sick and have a residence permit for this reason

If you usually live in France and have a disease that cannot be treated in your country of origin, you cannot be sanctioned by an ITF.

This protection does not apply if the offense was committed at against your husband, your ascendants or your children.

This protection also does not apply if you have been convicted of fundamental interests of the Nation, for act of terrorism, for provocation to discrimination, hatred or violence.

Nor does the protection apply to to crimes, nor to offenses punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, nor to offenses committed in reiteration and punished with at least 3 years of imprisonment.

The ban may be temporary or permanent.

Temporary ban

The ITF can be pronounced for a period of time up to 10 years.

After this period, you can return to France if you meet the conditions for entry into the territory.

Warning  

Returning to France before the end of the ban can lead to a sentence of 3 years in prison and a new ban of up to 10 years.

Definitive ban

The final ITF prevents you from returning to France, unless the measure is canceled.

The regulations differ depending on whether the ITF is a primary or supplementary penalty:

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Inadmissibility is a primary penalty

You can challenge your conviction by appealing. The Court of Appeal may then set aside or amend the 1er judgment.

You can challenge the decision rendered on appeal by a appeal in cassation.

The prohibition is a complementary penalty

You can challenge your conviction by appealing. The Court of Appeal may then set aside or amend the 1er judgment.

You can challenge the decision rendered on appeal by a appeal in cassation.

You can also make a request for increase. This procedure relates only to the ITF pronounced at complementary title. In this case, whatever the decision on the ITF, you will remain guilty of the offense concerned.

This procedure is therefore different from the appeal which allows the conviction to be quashed altogether.

You can only apply for an increase if you have left the territory of France, so if the prohibition decision has been made. However, if you are imprisoned or under house arrest, you can apply for relief on the spot.

The following organizations should be contacted:

  • Correctional Tribunal that issued the decision, in the event of offense
  • Criminal Court at the seat of the Assize Court which handed down the sentence, in the event of crime
  • Correctional Court of the place of detention of the convicted person.

If an application for an increase is rejected, it is necessary to wait another 6 months to file a new application.

Who shall I contact