Asylum in France
OFPRA decision, OFII reception
People seeking protection in France register their claim at a prefecture one-stop desk (GUDA), receive an asylum attestation, and send their application to OFPRA, which decides on refugee status and then subsidiary protection. OFII manages reception conditions such as housing and the asylum seeker allowance (ADA). Since 12 June 2026, applications fall under the EU Pact, with a single application form, a 21-day deadline, wider accelerated procedures and new appeal deadlines.
Life in France
Money
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
83
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
11–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 20%
Per household share: 0% up to EUR 11,600, 45% above EUR 181,917 (2025 income, taxed 2026); plus 3-4% high-income contribution and 9.7% CSG/CRDS on most income.
Living
1
Happiness
#33 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
People in France or at a French border point who fear persecution or serious harm in their country.
Eligibility
Refugee status
For people who fear persecution in their country under the Geneva Convention. OFPRA examines refugee status first.
Subsidiary protection
If refugee status is refused, OFPRA examines whether you face serious harm, such as the death penalty, torture, or a serious threat from armed conflict.
Where to claim
Claim at the border police or, inside France, through SPADA, which books your GUDA appointment at the prefecture.
Registration time limit
- Normal registration
- 3 working days
- Mass influx
- 10 working days
- At the border, tell border police at port, airport or station
Official wording
At the border, tell the border police (port, airport, station). Inside France, first contact a first-reception structure (SPADA), which books an appointment at the prefecture's one-stop desk (GUDA). Registration should happen within 3 working days (10 in a mass influx).
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- 6 more requirements
- 7 documents
- 3 fees
- 8 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
- service-public.gouv.fr - Demande d'asile (F2232)
- OFPRA - (Mise à jour) Pacte européen : quels changements pour les procédures devant l'Ofpra ?
- OFPRA - Au 1er mars 2026, l'Ofpra ne prend plus les documents originaux
- Portail des étrangers en France - Aides proposées aux demandeurs d'asile
- service-public.fr - Carte de résident de 10 ans
- Ministère de l'Intérieur - Fiches de mise en œuvre du Pacte (11 juin 2026)
Other routes to France
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyVisa long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS) « étudiant »
- Work permitsCarte de séjour pluriannuelle « talent » (formerly Passeport Talent) - salarié qualifié and carte bleue européenne streams
- FamilyFamily reunification
- CitizenshipNaturalisation française par décret
