Minors

Accompanying minors

Accompanying minors are placed under the protection of the Ofpra at the same time as their parents. If they experience personal fears of persecution or if one of the parents is recognized as a refugee, they are recognized as refugees on a principal basis or on the basis of the family unit. If they have personal fears of serious harm and neither parent is recognized as a refugee, they are granted the benefit of subsidiary protection. 

Minors joining or born in France after the date of registration of the parent's asylum application

Minors joining or born in France after the registration of their parents' asylum application at the GUDA have the possibility, if they so wish in view of their personal situation, of registering, through these last, an individual asylum application in the prefecture. In no case can the Ofpra be contacted directly.

Important: Minor children born in France or joining their parents after they have obtained international protection benefit, as such and without the need to apply for asylum, from a right of residence as soon as they arrive in France, which will be confirmed to them. at their majority by the issue of a residence permit if they have not acquired French nationality in the meantime.

In addition, parents have the option of contacting the prefecture to request the issuance of an identity and travel document (TIV) which will allow the minor to travel.

In addition, you can contact the prefecture to request the automatic issuance of a circulation document for foreign minors (DCEM) allowing their readmission to France without a visa on presentation of this document accompanied by a travel document. valid (passport or TIV).

Children born in France must request copies of their birth certificate from the town hall of their place of birth.

Minors placed under the protection of Ofpra before 1st January 2019

Since March 1, 2019, Ofpra no longer issues administrative certificates to minor children. If your children were placed under the protection of the Ofpra during their minority, a letter attesting to their international protection can be requested from Ofpra, by post. This letter will attest to their admission to the benefit of international protection with all the administrations entitled to ask you for proof of their situation with regard to asylum. It is advisable that you keep the original of this document and that you present it, if necessary, accompanied by a photocopy to the administration which requests it.

In addition, at the age of majority (or at 16 if your child wants to exercise a professional activity), and if he has not acquired French nationality, it will be up to him to go to the prefecture of his domicile in order to request a residence permit. He must indicate whether or not he wishes to obtain a residence permit bearing the mention of the international protection from which he benefits.

If your child wishes to continue to benefit from the protection of the Ofpra, no action is necessary with Ofpra. It is therefore no longer necessary for your children to collect an asylum application form from the prefecture, when they reach the age of majority, to continue to benefit from international protection.

If, on the other hand, your child is an adult and no longer wishes to benefit from this protection, he must inform Ofpra by post (if he is still a minor, it will be up to you to take this step). The prefecture will then issue him a common law residence permit. To do this, he must in particular be able to present a passport from his country of origin.