Moroccan Worker in France Loses Pay After Residence Permit Expires
A Moroccan man who has lived in France since 1992 and holds a permanent contract found himself without pay after his residence documents expired. The Cergy-Pontoise Administrative Court suspended the refusal to renew his residence card and ordered the prefecture to restore his right to work.
The man had begun the process before his residence permit expired. On January 25, 2025, he applied to renew his residence card through the ANEF platform. It was valid until April 19 of that year. The Hauts-de-Seine prefecture’s silence amounted to an implicit refusal, which he challenged in court, according to the ruling of April 3, 2026.
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In his appeal, he describes a life built in France over more than thirty years, with his wife and their children, all of whom are French. He also cites his tax obligations and a mortgage to repay. But without up-to-date residence documents, he has had to stop working.
A temporary assignment had already ended in December 2025. On December 17, he started a new job as a production worker at Le Joint Français, this time on a permanent contract. However, the latest certificate extending the processing of his application expired on March 14, 2026.
His employer then put him on paid leave, followed by authorized unpaid leave. His contract is still in place, but he can no longer work or receive his salary.
Fifteen days to restore his right to work
The loss of income convinced the judge that the matter was urgent. The prefecture filed no defense observations and was neither present nor represented at the March 31 hearing.
The court also found serious doubt about the legality of the refusal in light of the right to respect for private and family life. It therefore suspended the refusal pending a ruling on the merits.
To allow the Moroccan man to return to work, the prefect must issue him a certificate extending the processing of his application and authorizing him to work. This document is required for him to keep his job, even though he already has a permanent contract.
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The prefecture has fifteen days from notification of the ruling to provide the certificate. After that deadline, a penalty of 100 euros per day of delay will apply.
The State must also pay the Moroccan man 1,500 euros toward his legal costs.
