Applying for asylum in France
Reading : 3 minutes
Asylum is the protection granted to a foreign national by a host state when said foreigner is threatened and does not receive the protection of the authorities in their country of origin.
« In the face of persecution, everyone has the right to seek asylum and to enjoy asylum in other countries. »
Who can apply for asylum?
You can apply for asylum if you are at risk in your country of origin or forced to leave your country in search of safety. You can also apply for asylum if you are already in France illegally or with a residence permit for a reason other than asylum.
France can grant several forms of protection, depending on the type of persecution suffered by the asylum seeker. The authorities examining the case will decide whether protection can be granted and the type of this protection (refugee or subsidiary protection).
Steps in the asylum application process
You must go to a first reception structure for asylum seekers (SPADA). The SPADA will help you make an appointment at the single-desk contact point (GUDA).
The SPADA will fill in an asylum application registration form with you and will give you a notice for your appointment with the GUDA.
If you are in Île-de-France
Contact the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) by calling 01 42 500 900 to arrange an appointment at a SPADA.
If you are outside Île-de-France
Go directly to the SPADA in the department where you live. To find out its address, go to the SPADA guide.
At the GUDA, an official from the Prefecture will take your fingerprints, register your application and issue an asylum application certificate. This certificate allows you to stay in France for a period of 1 to 10 months. You will first be received by an agent from the prefecture at the GUDA. It will then be renewed until the end of the examination of your asylum application. If France is responsible for examining your asylum application, the prefecture official will also give you a file to send to the OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons), which is the only body competent to examine your application for protection.
You will then meet with an OFII official. They will examine your situation and your needs. If you meet the conditions set out in the regulations, they will then offer you the asylum seeker's allowance and, if necessary, accommodation.
Depending on availability and your personal situation, you may be offered accommodation in a region other than the one where you submitted your asylum application. This is known as regional guidance.
If you are identified as a vulnerable asylum seeker, you may be eligible for specialised accommodation.
If this is your first application, you have 21 days after your appointment at the GUDA to submit your file to the OFPRA (8 days in French Guiana).
Depending on your situation, you may be assisted in lodging your application either by the organisation where you are accommodated or by the SPADA.
The file must include:
- The asylum application form given to you at the GUDA (completed and signed);
- 2 photographs;
- a copy of your asylum application certificate or valid residence permit.
The OFPRA will assess your asylum application. It may:
- grant you refugee status;
- grant you subsidiary protection;
- reject your application.
If your application is approved, you will then be able to take part in the OFII's Republican Integration Process.
If your application is rejected, you may appeal to the National Court of Asylum (CNDA), which will review your case. The SPADA will also provide you with information about voluntary return assistance and reintegration assistance in your country of origin, offered by the OFII.
For more information on the asylum application process, the steps you need to take, and your rights and obligations, please refer to the asylum seeker’s guide.
In summary
Asylum in France is a form of protection granted to people who can no longer be protected in their country of origin. To apply for international protection, you must first complete a pre-registration with a SPADA (First Reception Structure for Asylum Seekers). You must then register your application at a GUDA (One-Stop Service for Asylum Seekers), where OFII may offer accommodation and the Asylum Seeker Allowance (ADA), depending on your situation. You must then submit your application to OFPRA, which will examine your claim and decide whether to grant protection.
Can't find the information you're looking for?
