Official Correspondence for Asylum Seekers with OFPRA: How and Where Does It Take Place?

When the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) receives the file and confirms that it is complete and fulfills all requirements, it will send a letter to your address containing the "Certificate of Registration of the Asylum Application."

Correspondence is also conducted via standard postal mail, either through regular letters or registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt (AR).

*- New: In recent years, the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons has established a secure personal digital account that enables the notification of all decisions. An asylum seeker who meets all conditions will receive a confidential access key (password) within a document sent by OFPRA, allowing them to access the user portal dedicated to correspondence and incoming mail: Personal Space (see image).

Asylum seekers can access their secure personal digital account on a regular basis, and access must occur at least once every 15 days starting from the date of its activation by OFPRA, which must inform you of the consequences of failing to check this account regularly.

- Since then, using this portal has become mandatory, as through it OFPRA is able to notify asylum seekers of their summonses to personal interviews, as well as notify them of its administrative decisions (decisions of granting or refusal, closure of the file, withdrawal of refugee status, and the granting or refusal of stateless status).

- The decree specifies that other letters or documents relating to the asylum application may also be published on this portal.

OFPRA provides an "availability receipt" informing the asylum seeker that a new document has been added to the digital portal. The exact time the document becomes available on the portal is certified by an electronic timestamp.

In addition, an informational notification regarding the availability is sent to the email address and/or mobile phone number provided when submitting the asylum application or entered in your personal digital account.

An "acknowledgment of receipt" for an OFPRA decision is generated from the date and time of the recipient's first login to view the document, or upon the lapse of the 15-day period following the date of availability if no initial login occurred. From the date of this notification, the deadline for filing an appeal begins. In the event of a refusal, the date of receipt of the decision is critical because you have one month from that date to lodge an appeal (Notice No. 5) and only 15 days to apply for legal aid. For this reason, it is essential to immediately notify OFPRA of any change of address, telephone number, or email address.

Note: Previously, the Office could only notify asylum seekers via regular postal service through a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt addressed to the applicants at their domicile or residential address.

However, recently, with the adoption of the electronic platform and in order to reduce administrative costs and delays resulting from postal notifications, OFPRA can now use electronic means to notify you of its decisions regarding the granting or refusal of protection, inadmissibility of the application, closure or withdrawal of the application, or the granting or refusal of stateless status.

*- Do not forget that you can seek assistance from the reception platform (SPADA) / associations for help with OFPRA correspondence.