Wanted Persons File (WPF)

Verified 30 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What is the RPF: titleContent ? It is a computer file used by services carrying out judicial and administrative police missions. It lists personal data and information concerning persons involved in judicial or administrative proceedings. Under certain conditions, the information recorded in this file may be consulted, rectified or deleted. Here is the information you need to know.

The RPF: titleContent is used to search for, monitor or control certain persons at the request of the judicial authorities, administrative authorities or police or gendarmerie services.

It can also be consulted during administrative investigations. For example, for recruitment in certain jobs.

The file is organized in 18 categories.

Each category groups people registered for the same reason. For example, category S groups RPF registrants to prevent a serious threat to public security or state security (e.g. terrorism).

In the first place, persons affected by certain court decisions shall be registered in the RPF: titleContent.

Example :

Administration may also request the registration of persons in the RPF: titleContent in certain situations.

Example :

  • A person sought to prevent a serious threat to public security or State security (e.g. terrorism), if real information or clues have been collected about that person
  • Minor prohibited from leaving France without the permission of the 2 parents
  • Runaway minor
  • No one who has failed to deliver their invalidated driver's license on time due to a zero point balance
  • A person who has tried to obtain a national identity card or passport illegally
  • Person subject to a ban on residence in all or part of a department 
  • A person who is prohibited from appearing on a portion of the highway on which drug trafficking is suspected.

Finally, a person may be enrolled in the RPF if they are wanted as part of a judicial police investigation.

Example :

  • Disappearance of a person under disturbing or suspicious conditions
  • Discovery of an unidentified deceased or living person
  • Search for a witness of a infringement, whose identity is unknown
  • Search for a person suspected of having committed an offense whose identity is unknown

In case of registration of a person to the RPF: titleContent, different personal data and information about it is stored in this file.

FYI  

The recording of information concerning a victim of identity theft meets different rules. If she agrees, only his personal data and information related to his identity and travel document will be registered with the RPF.

What personal data is recorded in the RPF?

The following data shall be recorded in the RPF:

  • Civil status (surnames, forenames, date and place of birth, filiation) and nickname
  • Sex
  • Nationality
  • Address of last known domicile
  • Place of commission of the offense
  • If the person enrolled in the RPF is minorthe civil status, nationality and telephone number of the holders of parental authority
  • Assessment of the dangerousness or fragility of the registrant (when violent, armed, involved in an act of terrorism, if at risk of suicide, etc.)
  • Description of particular physical signs
  • Photos of the registered person
  • File number, if the person is registered at Fijais or at Fijait
  • National identification number, if the person is a foreigner
  • Driver's license file number.

What information is recorded at the RPF?

The RPF shall also contain the following information:

  • Reasons for the search
  • Judicial or administrative decisions justifying registration with the RPF
  • Authority issuing the decision
  • If necessary, description and characteristics of objects directly related to the registered person and allowing to locate it (motor vehicle, caravan, boat, container, airplane, stolen, diverted, falsified or lost official documents, firearms, etc.)
  • Explanation of the action to be taken in the event of discovery of the requested person
  • Category and number of the identity or residence permit of the person registered in the RPF
  • Date, country and issuing authority
  • Copy of title
  • Number of the driver's license.

Please note

Other information may be registered with the RPF if it is strictly necessary for the identification of the requested person (e.g. health information, genetic data).

People, individually designated and specially empowered, may have access at RPF: titleContent, to a greater or lesser extent. In particular:

  • National Police personnel
  • National gendarmerie personnel
  • Customs Officer
  • Officer of the Ministry of the Interior, Prefectures and Sub-Prefectures
  • Foreign Ministry official
  • National Council for Private Security Activities (CNAPS) officer
  • Agent of the National Travel Data Agency 
  • National Financial Intelligence Unit Officer
  • National Administrative Security Investigations Officer
  • Nuclear Security Command Officer
  • National Travel Authorization Investigation Service (NTAVS) Officer
  • Central Arms and Explosives Service (SCAE) Officer
  • Specialized Intelligence Officer of the Ministry of the Armed Forces
  • National Penitentiary Intelligence Service (NPRS) Officer
  • Prosecutors, investigating magistrates and magistrates responsible for the application of sentences
  • Judicial Services Officer responsible for the application for registration and the follow-up of judicial decisions resulting in registration with the RPF
  • European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) officer
  • Environmental Inspector assigned to theOFB: titleContent.

The information recorded in the RPF are communicated to the following persons and services only within the scope of their powers and subject to conditions :

  • International judicial police cooperation agency (e.g. Interpol) and foreigners police service
  • Municipal police officer, at the request of a police officer or gendarme to search for a missing person. Exceptionally, in order to avoid a danger to the population, a police officer or a gendarme may transmit certain information orally to a municipal police officer.
  • Service Agent of the Fijais: titleContent
  • Service Agent of the Fijait: titleContent.

The information is kept until the search is completed or until the reason for registration is no longer valid.

Example :

  • Where a person is the subject of a registration in RPF: titleContent due to an arrest warrant, the data are kept until the arrest warrant is issued.
  • Regarding the registration of a missing person in worrying conditions, the information is kept until it is found.

Even if they are no longer visible to the RPF, this information remains in the archives for 6 years. During this period, they are only accessible to the personnel of the national police and the national gendarmerie responsible for the management of the RPF.

The means to request access, rectification or erasure of the data recorded in the RPF: titleContent differ according to the status of the person requesting it.

Generally speaking, the request shall be addressed to the Director of the National Police or the Director of the National Gendarmerie.

By exception, it must be carried out at the Cnil: titleContent for the following:

  • Persons wanted to prevent a serious threat to public security or State security (e.g. arms trafficking), if real information or clues have been collected about them
  • Person subject to certain individual administrative control and supervisory measures.
General case

The request can be made online or sent by post:

Online

The RPF registrant can apply online:

Request for access, rectification or erasure of data recorded at the RPF, the Director of the National Police or the National Gendarmerie

FYI  

The request may be made by a person other than the person registered in the RPF (example: legal representatives of a minor, lawyer).

The request shall be processed within 2 months following its receipt by the competent authority.

It may be rejected or partially accepted for one of the following reasons:

  • Avoid interfering with investigations, investigations and administrative or judicial proceedings
  • Avoid harming the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or enforcement of criminal offenses
  • Protect public safety and national security.

Whatever decision is taken, the person making the request shall be informed by post.

By post

The request must be addressed to the Director of the National Police or the Director of the National Gendarmerie, by postal mail.

The person making the request must indicate the file concerned (Taj: titleContent, RPF, etc.). It must also attach a copy of a proof of identity (example: national identity card, passport).

FYI  

The request may be made by a person other than the person registered in the RPF (example: legal representatives of a minor, lawyer).

The request shall be processed within 2 months following its receipt by the competent authority.

It may be rejected or partially accepted for one of the following reasons:

  • Avoid interfering with investigations, investigations and administrative or judicial proceedings
  • Avoid harming the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution or enforcement of criminal offenses
  • Protect public safety and national security.

Whatever decision is taken, the person making the request shall be informed by post.

Request to the Cnil

The request to the Cnil: titleContent is done online or by post:

Online

The request can be made online:

Request for access, rectification or erasure of the data recorded at the FPR, the Cnil

FYI  

It is possible to make this request for another person (example: a minor).

The Cnil responds within 6 months. Depending on the complexity of the case, this period may be longer.

By post

The request must be forwarded to the Cnil.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

It is possible to make this request for another person (example: a minor).

The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Copy of an identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.) of the person for whom the application is made
  • Copy of information in the RPF, provided it has already been received
  • Copy of any documents attesting to the error to be corrected or information to be erased (for example, the court decision that led to the registration).

Please note

Depending on the situation of the person making the request, other documents may be requested by Cnil: titleContent (e.g. legal representatives of a minor must attach a copy of family record book, a copy of each parent's ID and a copy of an application signed by each parent)

The Cnil responds within 6 months. Depending on the complexity of the case, this period may be longer.

In the absence of a reply or in the event of rejection of the application, the person registered in RPF: titleContent can enter the Cnil: titleContent and/or the Administrative Court of Paris.

Please note

In the event that the competent administration has not responded, the person concerned must send them proof of dispatch of his request dated 2 months or more.

How to contact the Cnil in case of refusal of a request related to RPF data?

How to appeal to the Cnil: titleContent depends on the status of the person challenging the previous decision.

FYI  

Such appeal may be brought on behalf of a person other than that listed in RPF: titleContent (example: parents of a minor).

General case

Online

To lodge an appeal with the Cnil, the person registered in a police file (Taj, FPR, etc.) can use an online service:

Police files (Taj, FPR): appeal to the National Commission for Information Technology and Freedoms (Cnil)

Before filing an online appeal, the Taj registrant must prepare the following documents:

  • Duplex/reverse copy of an identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.)
  • Application forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior
  • Decision of the Ministry of the Interior (if it has responded to the request)
  • Any document justifying the appeal.

The Council has 6 months to reply. Depending on the complexity of the case, this period may be longer.

By post

The appeal must be addressed to the Commission.

Who shall I contact

In this recourse, the person registered in a police file must specify the following:

  • The name of the file or files concerned (Taj, FPR, etc.)
  • His mailing address.

The appeal must also be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Duplex/reverse copy of an identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.)
  • Application forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior
  • Decision of the Ministry of the Interior (if it has responded to the request)
  • Any document justifying the appeal.

The Council has 6 months to reply. Depending on the complexity of your case, this may take longer.

Registrant for a reason related to State security

The person registered in the RPF can make a complaint to the Cnil, by sending it a mail.

Who shall I contact

This claim must be accompanied by the following documents:

  • Duplex/reverse copy of an identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.)
  • Initial application forwarded to the Cnil
  • Decision of the Cnil (if it has responded to the request)
  • Any document justifying the appeal.

How to apply to the administrative court in case of refusal of a request related to RPF data?

For refer the matter to the administrative court, the person registered in RPF: titleContent must transmit to him a query through online service Removal citizens.

Citizens' telemedicine (appeal to the administrative judge)

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region