My rights and obligations

My rights

If you are recognized as a refugee : in application of article L. 314-11 8° of the Ceseda , a residence card valid for 10 years will be legally issued by the prefecture in the location of your residence. A travel document may be issued to you by the prefecture in the location of your residence, upon your request. It is valid for all countries, except your country of origin or the one in which you previously resided.

If you are a recipient of subsidiary protection : in application of article L. 313-25 from the Ceseda, a multi-year residence card of up to 4 years is legally issued to you by the prefecture in the location of your residence. A travel document may also be issued to you by the prefecture in the location of your residence, upon your request. It is valid for all countries, except your country of origin or the one in which you previously resided.

If you are recognized as a stateless person : in application of article L. 313-26 from the Ceseda, a multi-year residence card of up to 4 years is issued to you by the prefecture in the location of your residence. A travel document may also be issued to you by the prefecture in the location of your residence, upon request.

Common rights for refugees, stateless persons and recipients of subsidiary protection

If you are placed under Ofpra’s protection, you are entitled to social rights and support programs, in application of the labor code, the social security code, the social action and family code and the building and housing code. You can get information with your social referents on the subject.

In accordance with article L. 561-16 of the Ceseda, and while waiting the definitive finalization of your civil status by Ofpra, you can request to benefit from the rights to which you are entitled on the basis of your family’s composition taken into account under the framework of the asylum procedure.

You can also request to benefit from your right to be reunified with your family, in virtue of family reunification .

The conditions regarding the length of your stay, resources or housing will not be contested.

Attention ! When a marriage is celebrated after the asylum application has been submitted, the family reunification procedure is applied. It falls under the scope of the French Office of Immigration and Integration (more information on this page on OFII’s website).

You can request French nationality. You must fulfill the conditions regarding speaking and understanding the French language and integration into French society (for more information, consult the public service website). If you are recognized as a refugee, the condition regarding the length of your residence in France is not applicable.

My obligations

If you are placed under Ofpra’s protection, you are obligated to comply with the laws and regulations of the French Republic, as well as the measures taken to maintain public order.

The Ceseda indicates that residence permits and travel documents can be withdrawn in case of a serious threat to public order.

The Ceseda also indicates that a person’s refugee status or subsidiary protection can be withdrawn in case of, specifically, a serious threat to the safety of the State or society.

Family reunification can be refused if you represent or if the family member you want to come to France represents a threat to public order, or if you do not respect the essential principles, which in accordance with the Republic’s laws, govern family life in France, your host country. Lastly, family members are excluded from family reunification when it is established that they are an instigator, perpetrator or accomplice of serious persecutions and violations, which justified the authorization of your protection in virtue of asylum.

Fighting against the impunity of the most serious international crimes

The French legal system is involved in fighting against the impunity of the most serious international crimes.

Indeed, France is competent, according to certain conditions (specifically if the perpetrator is in France or is French), to investigate several different kinds of serious crimes and violence committed in a context of conflict or repression of the civil population.

Below, you will find a document (in French) detailing the acts of violence combatted by the French authorities.

If you were a witness or victim of one of these crimes or you have information regarding a presumed perpetrator or accomplice present in France or of French nationality, you can send a letter with your complete contact information to the Republic’s Public Prosecutor :

Tribunal de Paris
Parvis du tribunal - Section AC5
75859 Paris Cedex 17

 Protected people can find further information on :