What is an asylum application?

An asylum application is a procedure through which a person seeks protection from France because they feel they are in danger in their home country.

OFPRA (the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) is the body that grants either refugee status, subsidiary protection status, or stateless status, or denies the application and grants no protection.

How to apply for asylum if I am over 18?

To apply for asylum, I must contact a SPADA (First Reception Center for Asylum Seekers).

• If I am in the Île-de-France region, I must call the OFII at 01 42 50 09 00 to schedule an appointment at the SPADA.      

• Please note: You may need to call the OFII phone number several times to get an answer.
• If I am not in the Île-de-France region, I must go directly to the SPADA in the department where I am located.

Once I have contacted a SPADA, I am given an appointment at the GUDA (Single Desk for Asylum Seekers) to register my asylum application.

At the GUDA, I meet with the OFII and the Prefecture, who register my asylum application.

-> At the time of registration, the OFII will offer me the Asylum Seeker Allowance (money received monthly on a special card) and may offer me accommodation in the Île-de-France region or elsewhere in the country. This is a "package"; if I refuse the offered accommodation, I lose my right to the Asylum Seeker Allowance and to accommodation in an asylum seeker center.

There are three asylum procedures:

Normal or accelerated procedure: this means that France will examine my asylum application.

• At the GUDA, I am given an application file for OFPRA. I must return it within 21 days. In this file, I must explain why I am seeking asylum in France.
• OFPRA will summon me for an interview after I have submitted my file.
• After the interview, within a period ranging from 15 days to several months, OFPRA will issue its decision and may grant me refugee status or subsidiary protection status, which allows me to apply for a residence permit or a resident card at the Prefecture.
• If OFPRA denies my application, I can file an appeal with the National Court of Asylum (CNDA) within one month. I can be assisted by a lawyer for my appeal.

Dublin procedure: this means that France considers another European Union country responsible for my asylum application.

• France must then organize my transfer to the country responsible for my asylum application within 8 to 11 months of my application, depending on my situation. If my transfer is not organized within these time limits, I can reapply for asylum, and my application will be processed by France.
• When I am in the Dublin procedure, I may be summoned to the Prefecture regularly. If I do not attend these appointments, I may be classified as "absconding." This means I lose my Asylum Seeker Allowance, my right to accommodation in a center dedicated to asylum seekers, and the time frame before I can submit a new asylum application to be processed by France is extended by one year—if I am not transferred to the country responsible for my asylum application within that time.
• If I am in the Dublin procedure, I can get information about my rights and the deadlines from specialized organizations.

How do I apply for asylum if I am under 18?

• If I am under 18 and accompanied by my family in France, I must follow the standard asylum application process with my family.
• If I am under 18 and a foreign minor not accompanied by my family on French territory, I am considered an unaccompanied minor.

I can apply for asylum as an unaccompanied minor if I feel I am in danger in my home country. In this case, the Prefecture must appoint a person to represent my interests during the asylum process, known as an "ad hoc administrator." The Prefecture does not have the right to refuse my asylum application or to refuse to appoint an "ad hoc administrator" to represent me.

Depending on the Prefecture of the department where I am being assisted or where I live, I can either make an appointment directly at the Prefecture to submit my asylum application, or, in certain departments in the Île-de-France region, I must call the OFII at 01 42 50 09 00 to get an appointment at a SPADA (First Reception Center for Asylum Seekers).

At the SPADA, I will be given an appointment at the Single Desk for Asylum Seekers to register my application. At that time, the Prefecture will appoint the "ad hoc administrator" to represent me.

If I am a minor and not accompanied by my family, I am not eligible for the Asylum Seeker Allowance (money received monthly on a special card) nor can I be housed with adults. I must be housed by Child Social Services (Aide Sociale à l’Enfance).

Whether I am a minor or an adult, if I need help with the procedures:

I can also go to soliguide.fr and search for "legal aid" in the city where I am located. I will then get a list of organizations where people can help me.

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