Refugee: residence permit, travel document and accompanying

Verified 01 juillet 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You have been granted asylum and are applying for a residence permit
  • You are of another nationality
  • You have just been granted refugee status
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Nature of the residence permit

As a refugee, you are entitled to a resident card.

It allows you to stay and work in France. Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

Documents to be provided

The documents vary depending on whether you are applying for the resident 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 the Ofpra or CNDA: titleContent granting you refugee status
  • Declaration 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

You must provide the following:

  • Full copy of the birth certificate (unless he already has a residence card) containing the most recent information
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • Or consular certificate with photo
    • Or photo ID card
    • 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)
  • Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
  • Decision of theOfpra: titleContent or CNDA: titleContent granting refugee status to a spouse, partner, common-law partner or child
  • Proof of family relationship with the refugee:
    • 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 for 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).

Submission of the application

Upon receipt of the letter recognizing you as a refugee, you must submit your card application online.

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

The prefecture has a 3 months delay from the date of the decision granting you refugee status to issue you your residence card.

She also issues one to the following family members:

  • Your spouse, cohabiting partner or civil union partner, who is already authorized to stay in France for 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 effective community of life
  • Your children within one year of their 18th birthday or between the ages of 16 and 18 who declare that they want to work
  • Your parents (direct ascendants at 1er degree) if you are a child recognized as a refugee and are still a minor and unmarried.

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

Cost of residence permit

For you, beneficiary of refugee status, the issue of the residence permit shall be free of charge.

For the members of your family, it will have to be settled €50 (stamp duty) by tax stamps for the 1re issue of a residence permit.

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

You can buy the tax stamp on the internet or at a tobacco shop.

On the internet

You can purchase your tax stamp using the following online service:

Purchase on the internet of the tax stamp - Title for foreigner

Payment is possible with the following credit cards:

  • Credit card (CB) and e-credit card
  • Visa
  • Mastercard.

However, payment by Paypal or American Express card is not accepted.

The electronic stamp can be issued on two supports:

  • PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
  • SMS containing the 16-digit identifier of the stamp that will be accepted by the agent responsible for processing your file.

If you do not use the stamp or have purchased the wrong type of stamp, you can request a refund.

Request a refund of a tax stamp

In a tobacco shop

You can buy a tax stamp from a tobacco office, if the business is equipped to be able to edit them.

Warning  

Do not buy a fine stamp by mistake.

Surrender of the residence permit

You are contacted by email or text message when your residence permit is ready. It is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your department of residence.

Period of validity of the residence permit

The residence permit issued to you is a residence card. It is valid 10 years.

The certificate bearing the mention recognized refugee and the resident card allow you to work in France. Your employer does not have to apply for a work permit.

FAQ