Published on: December 16, 2024 | Article No: 283 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
Over four years after the launch of the French digital platform Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France (ANEF) for streamlining residence permit applications, the Défenseur des droits has received tens of thousands of complaints.
A newly published report by Défenseur des droits highlights the ANEF platform’s deficiencies and the significant rights violations it causes for users (foreigners). It has also shared a 14-point list of recommendations to ANEF and local Prefectures. This article is based on this official report and its recommendations.
Related Articles,
What is Défenseur des droits?
The Défenseur des droits is an independent administrative authority of the French Government that ensures the respect of rights and freedoms as per Article 71-1 of the French Constitution. It has been given 5 missions,
- Combating discrimination and promoting equality.
- Monitor compliance with ethics by security professionals.
- Guide and protect whistleblowers.
- Defending the rights of users of public services. (relevant for this article).
- Defending and promoting the rights of the child
If you would like to contact them regarding your problems, the various options are listed in Nous contacter.
ANEF: Flawed Digital Tool with major failures
Introduced in 2020 to streamline administrative processes, the ANEF platform became the sole digital channel for some residence permit applications. However, since its rollout, the Défenseur des droits has been flooded with complaints from individuals unable to complete their applications or receive timely responses, even for simple renewals.
Despite promises of simplification, the ANEF suffers from major shortcomings, including:
- Persistent technical issues. An example, Solution: Error message about previous Resident Permit on ANEF website.
- Design flaws causing additional obstacles.
- Patchy implementation and insufficient user guidance.
- Lack of flexibility to modify or update applications after submission.
Between 2020 and 2024, complaints about the ANEF surged by 400%, with three-quarters of grievances concerning residence permits. Alarmingly, most complaints involve renewal applications from people already legally residing in France.
Massive and Severe Rights Violations
The Conseil d’Etat ruled in June 2022 that digital applications through the ANEF must ensure adequate access and rights protection. This includes providing alternative methods (e.g., physical submissions) when digital processes fail and offering adequate support for those unfamiliar with digital tools.
However, the Défenseur des droits finds that the support systems, such as the Citizen Contact Center (CCC) and Digital Assistance Points (PAN), are insufficient. Common issues include:
- Unhelpful interactions with the CCC.
- Limited access to PANs.
- Underqualified staff and insufficient resources.
- Lack of authority to resolve technical or procedural obstacles.
As a result, applicants often find themselves unable to complete their applications, leaving them without proof of their right to stay in France. This loss of legal status triggers further economic and social consequences, such as:
- Loss of the right to work and subsequent unemployment.
- Suspension of social benefits,
- Risk of eviction, and
- Difficulties accessing healthcare.
Additionally, these delays create uncertainty and force applicants to put personal and professional plans such as job changes, internships, family visits abroad, or relocations on hold for months or even years.
14 Recommendations to Improve ANEF and Prefecture Services
Given the scale and severity of the issues, urgent measures are needed. While not opposing digital applications, the Défenseur des droits has made 14 recommendations to improve the services of the ANEF platform and local Prefectures.
Ensuring multi-channel Access to Resident Permit applications:
1. Legal Right to Non-Digital Procedures: Amend CESEDA (immigration rules) to guarantee the right to complete any administrative process through non-digital channels without preconditions.
2. Improved Online Information: Require prefectures to update and enhance their websites, providing clear, regularly updated guidance on title request procedures.
3. Centralized and Standardized Procedure Listings: Develop a ministry-led, uniform, and regularly updated section listing procedures available on the ANEF, accessible on all prefectural websites.
Optimizing the ANEF Platform
4. User-Friendly Tele-service: Modify ANEF to enable simultaneous requests, editing, cancellation, and updates while retaining submission history and offering real-time status tracking.
5. Streamlined Workflow for Staff: Adapt ANEF to improve prioritization and support efficiency for administrative staff.
6. Regular User Consultations: Facilitate ongoing consultations with ANEF users, including citizens, staff, and managers, to refine the platform.
Strengthening Guarantees for Digital Residency Documents:
7. Improved Digital Document Systems: Enhance protections by automating renewals of provisional extension certificates (attestations de prolongation d’instruction) and issuing digital attestations granting rights after verifying application completeness.
Supporting Vulnerable Populations:
8. Addressing International Protection Beneficiaries’ Needs: Resolve specific administrative challenges faced by beneficiaries of international protection (BPI).
9. Specialized Support for Victims: Provide tailored assistance to victims of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and exploitation.
Enhancing Support Services:
10. Expanded Citizen Contact Center (CCC): Transform the CCC ( Centre de contact citoyen) into a comprehensive support hub for users.
11. Strengthened Digital Access Points (PAN): Empower PANs (Points d’accueil numériques) to assist users unfamiliar with or unable to access digital tools.
Ensuring Accessibility for Non-Mobile Users:
12. Dedicated Prefecture Support by Phone: Equip prefectures with telephone support to guide users who cannot travel or require tailored assistance.
13. Streamlined Processes for Partner Organizations: Grant approved organizations (e.g., social services, victim support groups) with dedicated email access to handle multiple ANEF requests on behalf of users.
Reinforcing Prefectures’ Resources:
14. Sustainable Resource Allocation: Increase and maintain staffing levels in prefectures to manage workload efficiently.
These recommendations aim to improve inclusivity, simplify administrative processes, and strengthen support for all users, especially vulnerable groups.
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Sources & References 📕
#Rapport | L'Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France (ANEF) : une dématérialisation à l’origine d’atteintes massives aux droits des usagershttps://t.co/SyB6WgHziK
— Défenseur des droits (@Defenseurdroits) December 11, 2024
I am planning to apply PR soon and it is very helpful document
Hello Zithendra,
In some cases, a 10-year card (Carte de resident) can be applied online via ANEF during a renewal application. Please refer to my post about 10-year cards and PR. https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/07/french-pr-carte-de-resident-personal-experience-from-nanterre-prefecture/
I am having so much of trouble with my visa. I am doing PhD in University Jean Monnet in France. My visa expired before my PhD was finished so I applied for renewal of my visa. My application is still in processing since months. I successfully defended my PhD but still corrections are remaining in my thesis and I have no valid visa right now. I ask help from international office of the University and they were unable to help me. The visa office is still asking for some documents which the university has no idea about and the university told me that they cannot provide me with any document anymore. I am a PhD student and I have no documents to justify my stay right now. As well as I have no working contract still I have to submit final version of my thesis.
Hello Sachin,
Congrats on defending your your PhD. Sorry to know about your unfortunate situation. But I have a few questions.
1. Which resident permit and when did it expire?.
2. Was it an academic PhD with a CdS étudiant?. or the one with CdS Passeport Talent Chercheur?.
3. Was it a CDD contract?.
Hello Prasanth,
I had carte de sejour pluriannuelle and it expired on 30th September 2024. Yes, it was an academic PhD with CdS Passport Talent Chercheur. Yes, it was a CDD contract.
Hello Sachin,
These details matter and your resident permit has already expired. I wish you asked for advice a lot earlier. https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/06/faq_when-should-i-apply-for-the-visa-renewal/
You were supposed to defend your PhD, apply for chomage and renew the same resident permit. Please refer to “End of CDD” in https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/03/faq-resident-permit-status-after-job-resignations-and-terminations-in-france/
If you didn’t complete your PhD, you must obtain a temporary extension letter from your Univ and request an extension of your resident permit via ANEF.
Please contact your Prefecture and try to request an extension of your expired resident permit because ANEF portal may not recognize an expired document.https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/08/how-to-contact-the-prefecture-in-your-city/
Hello Prasanth,
Yes, I applied for my CdS renewal before expiration. My CdS expired on 30th September 2024 and I applied for its renewal on 27th July 2024. They closed my application and asked me to apply as a student. That application is still ongoing since long and right now I have no document that justifies my stay in France.
Thank you for these links I will try to contact the prefecture. However, I have already tried contacting them through email and ANEF platform separately but they don’t answer. I also tried visiting prefecture in person but they don’t let me in.
Thank you for your help and advice! Have a good holiday season.
You are not student but a researcher and so the student status is not possible. For it to be valid, you must be registered as a student for the academic year 2024-2025 & by paying the tuition fees.
In your case, there are only 3 options possible.
1. If research is not completed, try extend the CDD contract & apply for a renewal of CdS PT Chercheur.
2. If research is completed, apply for chomage & then renew the CdS based on chomage.
3. If research is completed, apply for APS. https://prasanthragupathy.com/2024/01/aps-french-job-search-or-business-creation-resident-permit/
For the CdS renewal, we must submit the relevant docs within the deadline. If not, the applications will be closed due to insufficient documentation. If this is the reason, writing to ANEF or Prefecture isn’t really going to help.
Also, Prefectures have stopped walk-ins a few a years ago. https://prasanthragupathy.com/2023/08/faq-prefecture-appointment-for-resident-permits/
If I understood correctly, the problem in your situation is not from ANEF or Prefecture.