A Moroccan woman wins against the Seine-Saint-Denis prefecture… then appeals over her legal costs and receives 1,000 euros

The young Moroccan woman submitted an application for a residence permit to the Seine-Saint-Denis prefecture on January 15, 2025. The administration did not respond, resulting in a tacit refusal decision.

On June 23 of the same year, she asked the prefecture to communicate the reasons for that decision. The administration again remained silent and did not provide her with any explanation within the statutory one-month period.

The Moroccan national then brought the case before the Montreuil Administrative Court. On January 29, 2026, the judges annulled the tacit refusal, precisely because the prefecture had not communicated its reasons. A failing that had already enabled another Moroccan man to have his refusal of residence annulled and obtain 1,500 euros.

On Bladi.net : The prefecture ignores her request: this Moroccan woman obtains 48 hours, 1,500 euros and 150 euros per day

The court also ordered the prefecture to reconsider the application within four months and to issue the young woman a temporary residence authorization in the meantime. However, it did not grant her the 1,200 euros she had claimed to cover her legal defense costs.

An appeal limited to the costs of the first proceedings

The Moroccan woman did not challenge the rest of the judgment. On March 29, 2026, she appealed to the Paris Administrative Court of Appeal solely to recover the costs incurred during the first proceedings.

She explained that she had not received legal aid and had been required to hire a lawyer to obtain the annulment of the prefectural decision. As her income was low, she argued that these expenses represented a significant financial burden. The prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis filed no defense brief.

On Bladi.net : She Gets the Withdrawal of Her Resident Card Overturned, but the Prefect Persists… and This Moroccan Woman Wins Again

In its ruling of June 19, 2026, the court ruled in her favor. It held that the Administrative Court had wrongly refused to charge her costs to the State.

The Moroccan woman had claimed 1,200 euros. The court ultimately awarded her 1,000 euros and amended the first judgment on this sole point. After obtaining the annulment of the refusal of residence, she therefore won a second time against the administration, solely to recover part of her costs.