The foreign national who has been qualified a refugee or has obtained the benefit of subsidiary protection may ask to avail of his/her right, on the grounds of family reunification , to be joined by certain members of his/her family.

This procedure particularly concerns his/her spouse or partner aged 18 years or older, where the civil marriage or partnership (stable and continuous) predates the submission of his/her asylum application, as well as any of the couple's unmarried children, aged 19 years  or under. Family reunification is not subject to conditions associated with already having legally resided in the country for a certain length of time, income or housing.

The family members concerned must apply for their visa directly with the French embassy in their country of residence.

The procedure is also open to beneficiaries of stateless person status.

Where the marriage postdates the submission of the asylum application, the term used in France is " regroupement familial ", and this comes under the remit of the French Office for Immigration and Integration/ OFII . In this case, the procedure is subject to conditions associated with already having legally resided in the country for a certain length of time, income or housing.