Anticipating the renewal of your employee’s residence permit

Published on : 04/21/2026

Reading : 4 minutes

You have hired a foreign national who is legally authorized to work in the country. To ensure there is no interruption in their employment, it is important to plan ahead for the renewal of their residence permit. The application must be submitted by the employee themselves. 

Illustration d'un CV

The residence permit renewal application

A residence permit always has a specific period of validity. When a foreign employee holds a residence permit that is about to expire, they must submit a renewal application to maintain their right of residence and continue working.

The application must be submitted online via the Administration étrangers en France website. between 120 and 60 days before the permit expires.

Site administration Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France

8 boxes that allow you to complete procedures online. The fifth one is titled “I would like to apply for a work permit.”

Visuel de la page d'accueil du site Administration étranger en France

If you cannot find the residence permit you wish to renew on the ANEF website, please make an appointment at the prefecture to submit your application for renewal.

Make an appointment with the prefecture

Illustration d'un calendrier avec une loupe indiquant un "+"

  • ONLINE SERVICE

To find the list of required documents depending on the residence permit requested, refer to the Service-Public website.

Certificate of extended enrollment or receipt for a residence permit application

When the previous residence permit expires, an attestation of continued processing (for online applications) or a residence permit application receipt (for applications submitted at the prefecture) is issued to the foreign national and is renewed until a decision is made.

If the previously held residence permit authorized the exercise of professional activity, this activity may continue for the duration of validity of the attestation. Otherwise, details regarding the opening or continuation of the right to work are indicated on the attestation of continued processing or on the residence permit application receipt.

What is the legal validity of the certificate and the receipt?

The receipt issued by the prefecture has the same legal value as the attestation of continued processing (API) issued online by the French Digital Administration for Foreign Nationals (ANEF).

 

Récépissé et API de demande de renouvellement de titre

To go further

How to recognize temporary residence documents allowing foreign nationals to prove their lawful stay?The different types of temporary certificates and their effects
Submit your residence permit renewal application onlineWebsite of the Digital Administration for Foreigners in France
List of required documents depending on the residence permitResidence permits, residence cards, and travel documents for foreigners in France
Immigration and digital assistance point: local informationState services in Ardèche

Can't find the information you're looking for?

Check out our FAQ.

Related practical guides

Hiring a foreign national with legal status

You are an employer and wish to hire a foreign national who is legally authorized to work in France. The foreign national must have the right to reside in France and the right to work.

Working in France

Tools for hiring foreign employees

You’re looking to hire a foreign employee. There are solutions available to help you identify new candidates, assess their skills, or provide training before hiring.

Working in France

Back to top