Glossary of French prefecture procedures

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ANEF

Digital Administration for Foreigners in France

National online portal of the French Ministry of the Interior centralising digitised procedures for foreigners: first-time residence permit applications, renewals, travel documents, status changes. Progressively replacing local prefecture-level online services.

Official source

ANTS

National Agency for Secured Documents (now France Titres)

Public agency responsible for producing and managing secured identity documents: passports, national ID cards, driving licences, vehicle registration certificates (carte grise). Renamed 'France Titres' in 2023.

Official source

CESEDA

Code on the Entry and Stay of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum

Reference statute consolidating all rules applicable to the entry, stay and removal of foreigners in France, as well as asylum applications. Article R 431-5 sets renewal deadlines (between 4 and 2 months before expiry) and the €180 penalty for late filing.

Official source

CIR

Republican Integration Contract

Contract signed between the French state and any foreigner admitted to stay in France for the first time who wishes to settle long-term. Includes a mandatory civic training course (24 hours over 4 days, free) and, where applicable, language training.

Official source

CR

Resident Card

Long-term residence permit (10 years, renewable) available after several years of regular residence in France. B1 French level required since 2026. Permits any profession and provides enhanced administrative stability.

CSP

Multi-year Residence Card

Residence permit of 2 to 4 years issued after the first annual permit, subject to integration conditions. A2 French level required since 2026. Intermediate step before the resident card.

Défenseur des droits

French Ombudsman (Defender of Rights)

Independent administrative authority created in 2011 responsible for ensuring respect for users' rights vis-à-vis the administration. Can be petitioned for free in cases of persistent difficulty with a prefecture (lack of slots, abnormal delays). In 2025, the institution received over 50,000 complaints related to residence permits.

Official source

DGCCRF

Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control

Service of the French Ministry of the Economy responsible for competition regulation and consumer protection. Publishes regular warnings against private sites that purport to sell free administrative appointments.

Official source

Examen civique

Civic Exam

40-question multiple-choice test (QCM) covering 5 topics (Republic and democracy, rights and freedoms, French history, republican values, daily life). Minimum passing score: 30/40 (75%). Mandatory for the multi-year residence card, the resident card and naturalisation.

Official source

France Titres

France Titres (formerly ANTS)

Public agency managing online services for passports, national ID cards, driving licences and vehicle registration certificates. Also operates a Citizen Contact Centre reachable at 0806 001 620 (free call).

Official source

GISTI

Information and Support Group for Immigrants

Non-profit association founded in 1972, specialising in foreigners' rights. Provides free legal clinics, publishes practical guides, and supports administrative appeals. Major contributor to case law on prefecture access since 2020.

Official source

JORF

Official Journal of the French Republic

Official publication of the French state consolidating laws, decrees, orders and administrative decisions. Naturalisation decrees are published here and publicly accessible, enabling official verification of someone's naturalisation.

Official source

Naturalisation

French Naturalisation

Procedure allowing a foreigner to acquire French nationality by decree. Conditions: regular residence (generally 5 years), integration (civic exam), B2 French level (since 2026), sufficient resources, clean criminal record. The decision is published in the JORF.

Official source

OFII

French Office for Immigration and Integration

Public agency responsible for receiving and integrating foreigners in France. Notably manages the CIR (Republican Integration Contract), civic training, the mandatory medical visit for certain visas, and family reunification procedures.

Official source

OFPRA

French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons

Public agency responsible for processing asylum applications and granting refugee status or subsidiary protection. OFPRA decisions can be appealed before the National Court of Asylum (CNDA).

Official source

OQTF

Order to Leave French Territory

Administrative decision requiring a foreigner in an irregular situation to leave French territory within a given period (typically 30 days, can be immediate). Appeal possible before the administrative court within 30 days (article L 614-5 of the CESEDA).

Official source

Préfecture

Prefecture

State representation at the departmental level, headed by a prefect. Handles procedures related to residence permits, naturalisation, and (residually) driving licences and vehicle registration. France has 101 prefectures (96 in metropolitan France, 5 overseas) and approximately 240 sub-prefectures.

Official source

Récépissé

Residence Permit Application Receipt

Document issued by the prefecture certifying the filing of a residence permit application (first-time or renewal). Acts as a residence authorisation during processing. Duration varies by prefecture (typically 3 to 6 months, renewable). May authorise work depending on the application basis.

Official source

Référé liberté

Référé Liberté (Liberty Interim Relief)

Emergency procedure before the administrative interim relief judge (article L 521-2 of the Code of Administrative Justice) when a public authority causes serious and manifestly unlawful harm to a fundamental freedom. Processing time: 48 hours. The Conseil d'État has validated its use against prefectures that fail to offer appointment slots since 2020.

Official source

Titre de séjour

Residence Permit

Generic term for all official documents authorising a non-European foreigner to stay in France beyond 3 months. Includes the temporary residence card (1 year), the multi-year residence card (2 to 4 years), the resident card (10 years), and several specific cards (talent passport, posted worker, etc.).

Official source

VLS-TS

Long-Stay Visa Equivalent to a Residence Permit

Long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit during its validity period (typically 1 year). Must be validated online within 3 months of arrival in France via the ANEF portal, with a tax payment. Must be renewed between 4 and 2 months before expiry (article R 431-5 of the CESEDA).

Official source