Glossary

Ofpra has not issued refugee certificates since 1 January 2004, since refugees' residence documents now clearly indicate their status.

Proportion of asylum seekers who have had their international protection application rejected following an Ofpra decision.

A person who has been granted refugee status by Ofpra automatically receives a renewable ten-year residence permit from the Prefecture. With this document, s/he may reside lawfully in France, work and receive certain social welfare benefits.

Document issued by the Prefecture which authorises a foreign national from a non-European country to reside in France for a set length of time. There are several types of residence permit. Persons who qualify as refugees may receive a residence document which is valid for ten years. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection obtain a one-year, renewable, "private and family life" residence permit. Lastly, stateless persons are entitled to a one-year, renewable, residence permit ("private and family life") and then a ten-year residence document when they have lawfully resided on French soil for five years.