Rule of silence equals agreement (SVA): which requests are concerned?

Verified 05 June 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In principle, if you do not receive a response from the administration after 2 months, this means that your request is accepted. That's what we call the silence rule equals acceptance (SVA).

One online service Check if the VAS rule applies to your application:

Consult the steps for which silence is agreed

The time limit from 2 months short from date of receipt of the request by the competent authority.

Example :

If the competent authority receives a complete application on 1er June 2026, the implied decision of acceptance intervenes on 1er August 2026.

What are the exceptions?

The silence kept by administration during 2 months worth denial (rejection decision) in the following cases :

  • The request does not concern the adoption of an individual decision
  • The application does not form part of a procedure provided for in a legislative or regulatory text
  • The request is in the nature of a complaint or an administrative appeal
  • The claim is of a financial nature (e.g. a claim for compensation), except in cases of social security provided for by decree
  • The request concerns relations between the administration and its agents
  • The request is excluded from the "silence equals agreement" rule by decree in the Council of State and the Council of Ministers
  • An implicit acceptance would not be compatible with the respect of France's international and European commitments, the protection of national security, the protection of freedoms and principles of constitutional value and the safeguarding of public order.

The time limit for 2 months short from date of receipt of the request by the administration initially seized.

Example :

If the seized administration receives a complete application file on 1er June 2026, the implied decision to reject intervenes on 1er August 2026.

FYI  

The implied decision of acceptance or rejection may intervene in a different from 2 months in case emergency or complex procedure.

Can an implied decision of acceptance be overturned?

The situation varies depending on whether it is your request or that of the administration:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

At your request as beneficiary of the decision

The situation varies depending on whether the decision is legal or not:

The decision is legal

The administration may repeal or remove a legal decision, without time-limit condition, if the 2 conditions the following shall be fulfilled:

  • The removal or the repeal of the decision respects the rights of other persons
  • The decision withdrawn or repealed is replaced by a decision that is more favorable to you.
The decision is illegal

The administration must repeal or remove one illegal decision to accept in the 4 months following the publication of the decision.

If you make an appeal litigation after one mandatory administrative appeal (Rapo), the time limit is extended until the end of the period allowed to the administration to decide on the Rapo.

However, the administration did not no deadline if the 2 conditions the following shall be fulfilled:

  • The removal or the repeal of the decision respects the rights of other persons
  • The decision withdrawn or repealed shall be replaced by a decision more favorable to the beneficiary.

At the initiative of the administration or at the request of another person

The administration may repeal or remove one decision to accept if the 2 conditions the following shall be fulfilled:

  • The decision is illegal
  • Withdrawal or repeal shall take place in the 4 months following the making of that decision.

However, the time limit condition is not required in the following cases :

  • The decision depends on a condition that is no longer met (for example, an age condition of the applicant)
  • The decision awarding a grant does not comply with the conditions laid down for its award.

Consult the steps for which silence is agreed

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