A Concise and Comprehensive Guide to Applying for Asylum in France

Where does an asylum seeker begin, and what preparations must be made prior to registering an application?
Here, we summarize the most critical stages, documents, and deadlines to bear in mind, ensuring a clear path from the initial step through to the final decision.
To file an asylum claim in France, one must go through several administrative stages as follows:

01- Step One: Mandatory Passage Through Initial Reception Platforms (SPADA):

To submit an asylum application, you must first pass through the reception platforms designated by the French state. These are associations dedicated to receiving asylum seekers and acting as intermediaries with the Prefecture (police).

The nature and services of these associations vary from region to region, but they generally assist with administrative procedures, such as drafting and translating your personal narrative, compiling and preparing your asylum application file, and related tasks.

Methods of contacting these associations also vary by region, as does the waiting period for the first appointment, which typically does not exceed 15 days. Therefore, the applicant must contact the association by phone or appear in person as soon as possible to secure an initial appointment. You can find comprehensive details in this article:
What do you know about initial reception platforms for asylum seekers in France (SPADA)?

2- Step Two: First Appointment with the Reception Platform / Specialized Association:

After scheduling the initial appointment and arriving at the offices of the reception body/association, a caseworker will conduct a preliminary interview to verify your identity and record your information in order to draft the technical registration form for the asylum application and verify that your file is complete before forwarding it to the Prefecture. The form includes the following information:
- Your civil status: Surname, given name, nationality, family status, etc.
- Your travel route: From the moment you left your country of origin.
- Dates: All dates and stages of the journey and the manner in which you entered France.
- Prior asylum or protection claims: Whether you previously applied for asylum in France or elsewhere in Europe, etc.
The form, along with a photograph taken via webcam, will be transmitted to the Prefecture.

The association will then forward a copy of the technical form to the Prefecture (police). At the end of the interview, the association will issue you two documents: the first is a summons (Convocation) indicating the date and time of your appointment at the Prefecture for fingerprinting; the second is an appointment with the association to complete administrative procedures (this initial follow-up appointment is usually set within one week at most to finalize administrative and medical files, while a second follow-up appointment with the association takes place within 10 days to two weeks at most, dedicated to completing the OFPRA dossier and reviewing your narrative). Additionally, you will receive a voucher for passport photos and paperwork intended for writing down the full details of your narrative.

03- Step Three: Prefecture Appointment and Fingerprinting at the Single Desk for Asylum Seekers (GUDA):

Upon arriving at the Prefecture at the scheduled time, you will be asked to present your identity document alongside the summons (Convocation). You will then be asked to wait until you are called to have your fingerprints taken on a dedicated device.

Once all ten fingerprints have been scanned, you will be asked to wait a second time while verification checks are run to ascertain whether you have previously been registered in the Eurodac or Visabio databases. The Prefecture will then issue you a renewable Asylum Application Certificate (Attestation de Demande d'Asile), leading to three possibilities:
*- First Possibility: If the Prefecture representative finds no record of your fingerprints or any evidence of your passage through another European Union member state, you will be placed under the "normal procedure" (Procédure Normale).
*- Second Possibility: If a record of your fingerprints is found in the Eurodac system or there is evidence that you crossed through another country before France, you will be placed under the "Dublin procedure" (Procédure Dublin). For more details, see the article:
The Dublin III Regulation and Entry Procedures into the European Union: A Comprehensive Summary
*- Third Possibility: If the Prefecture determines that you provided false information or submitted forged documents, it may conclude that you refuse to cooperate, placing you under the "accelerated procedure" (Procédure Accélérée). This is disadvantageous, as the examination and review of the file are handled faster and more superficially.

For more details, consult the article: What is the "Accelerated Procedure" (Procédure Accélérée)?

Afterward, the Prefecture will provide you with an informational booklet in a language you understand, explaining why your fingerprints were taken, entitled "I have asked for asylum in the EU: which country will handle my application?" The guide aims to provide pertinent information concerning the Dublin procedure.

If you are placed under the normal procedure, the Prefecture will hand you the asylum seeker application file, which must be completed with the assistance of an adviser from the reception platform/association during the appointment established at your initial interview.

*- Clarification: The Prefecture must issue you an "Asylum Application Certificate" specifying the procedure assigned to you (normal, accelerated, or Dublin). This document proves that you are an asylum seeker; you must keep it with you (either the original or a copy) in the event of police checks.

After this, you will be asked to wait a third time until you are called by a representative of the French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii).

04- Step Four: Interview with the Representative of the French Office for Immigration and Integration (Ofii) at the Prefecture:

During this interview, which typically takes place in a dedicated OFII office within the Prefecture, the OFII representative will explain your full rights and the material reception conditions available (accommodation, asylum seeker financial allowance + payment card, administrative mailing address, care for vulnerable cases, etc.).

Regardless of the procedure assigned by the Prefecture (normal, accelerated, or Dublin), you are entitled to material reception conditions, except in specific cases stipulated by law.

Here, it is vital to note the importance of every detail regarding reception conditions; we invite you to review the dossier carefully in the following article:
What do you know about initial reception platforms for asylum seekers in France (SPADA) and why are they considered an essential step?

5- Step Five: Second Appointment with the Reception Platform/Association (SPADA):

After completing administrative formalities at the Prefecture, you will proceed to your second appointment with the association. You must bring all your administrative documents, especially your written narrative. For further details, consult the following article:
What narrative must be submitted when applying for asylum in France? Here is a comprehensive and detailed explanation.

Upon arriving for your appointment with the association, you will meet an administrative adviser who will assist you in filling out the asylum application form for the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) in French, which covers all the details outlined in the following article:
The asylum application file in France: How is it completed and what information is required?

At this stage, you must ensure the file is properly dated and signed. The association will then send the dossier by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt within twenty-one (21) days from the date the asylum application certificate was issued: LETTRE RECOMMANDEE AR (see attached image).

During the same appointment, your mailing service will be activated, you will receive your postal collection card, and your medical file will be prepared, granting you the right to healthcare coverage for a full year. For more information, read the following article:
What is an asylum seeker's medical file in France?

05- Step Six: Activating the Postal Address and Receiving the Dossier Acceptance Form:

After the application is dispatched to the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra), you will receive a registration letter from Ofpra confirming the registration of your file.

Next comes the wait for an OFPRA summons for an in-person interview, which is decisive in determining the applicant's future. This interview typically takes place 3 to 4 months later. For more details, consult the following article:
What do you know about the OFPRA interview? Questioning with an OFPRA representative

- Receiving incoming mail and official correspondence via the association's address will become a routine matter.

*- How can I obtain administrative assistance and legal counsel?

There are numerous associations dedicated to assisting migrants and asylum seekers. We will soon publish an exhaustive directory in a separate dossier titled: Your Comprehensive Guide to Charitable Associations in France Assisting Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

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