France Extends Validity of Expired Residence Permits Amid COVID-19 Restrictions

"Given the health context related to the spread of the covid-19 virus, the reception of applicants for residence permits in the prefectures or sub-prefectures will be limited only to users with a summons on a date to be specified later," indicates a note from the state services in the department of Seine-et-Marne.

The same source recalls that the ordinances No. 2020-328 of March 25, 2020 and No. 2020-460 of April 22, 2020 extended the validity of residence documents that expired between March 16, 2020 and May 15, 2020 by 6 months. These are long-stay visas, residence permits, temporary residence permits, and receipts for residence permit applications.

Asylum application certificates expiring between March 16, 2020 and May 15, 2020 are extended by 3 months. "Access to first reception structures (SPADA), for the registration of first asylum applications in the Paris region, is done only by telephone (01 42 500 900, at the price of a local call)," it is specified.

As for the new certificates, they will be sent by mail. For people domiciled in a shelter, the new certificates will be sent directly to the center manager; for people domiciled in SPADA (2 bis avenue Jean Jaurès 77 000 MELUN), the new certificates will be sent directly by mail to SPADA; and for people domiciled with an individual, the new certificates will be sent directly by mail to the last registered address.

Furthermore, the renewals of the certificates of asylum seekers placed under the Dublin procedure are carried out only on summons from the prefecture.