A few frequently asked questions about appointments with French prefectures. After Covid, most prefectures have stopped allowing walk-ins and so the public must take an appointment before visiting a local prefecture.
1. Documents to be presented for collecting the resident permit card?
You will need to present the following documents at the counter,
- Your original passport. In other cases, a proof of identity (travel document, consular card, driving license, etc.).
- Your récépissé or favorable decision attestation.
- Your previous residence permit card or, except when it is a first resident permit application or a request for a duplicate resident permit.
- A copy of the police complaint, if the previous resident permit was stolen or lost.
- A tax stamp “timbre fiscal” of the amount indicated on the SMS or email. The QR code can be presented using your mobile phone.
- Copy of the RDV confirmation email or SMS. It can be shown from your smartphone too.
2. Can I take multiple appointments for the same person?
- No, the service systematically removes all duplicate appointments. So, you should cancel the exisitng appointment, before looking for a new one.
- If the type of the appointment is not the one that should have been made (example appointment made for collecting the resident permit, instead of its renewal), you will not be received at the counter. So, you need to take another appointment.
Common types of resident permit appointments:
- Premières demandes or First application
- Demandes de Renouvellement or Renewal application
- Remise de titre (Titre de séjour et titre de voyage) or Collecting the Resident Permit
Reminder: Your application must be complete with all the supporting documents.
3. What should I do when I can’t find an appointment?
“Il n’existe plus de plage horaire de libre pour votre demande de RDV. Veuillez recommencer ultérieurement”.
- This message means that all the available appointment slots in the planning are taken.
- Appointments are updated several times in a week, depending on the reception capacity. So, the prefecture’s website should be consulted at least 4-5 times everyday.
- There is no point in writing to the prefecture about the non-availability of appointments.
- If you have booked an appointment and you cannot go, it is mandatory that you cancel your appointment online and request a new one. Without its cancellation, the appointment cannot be reassigned to another user.
4. Can I ask a friend to collect the resident permit on my behalf?
- No power of attorney is possible. The presence of the applicant concerned by the application for a residence permit is mandatory. It is required for multiple reasons, including taking of fingerprints, and even obligation for the delivery of the document.
- If there is a genuine medical issue, you can write to your prefecture along with a copy of a medical certificate. The prefecture may or may not consider your request.
5. Can a couple make use of the same appointment?
- The French resident permit procedures are individual. So, you must take 2 separate appointments.
- As these are on first come first served basis, try to search for appointments as soon as possible. So, you can have both the appointments on the same day or even next to each other.
Hello
I am currently a student applying for my APS visa as an Indian. I was wondering if I can submit applications from 2 different prefecture. To fasten the process.
Hello Anirudh,
No, a person cannot submit 2 resident permit applications simultaneously. Neither online nor offline.
Hello,
Thank you for the information. I would like to book an appointment to collect my second APS after the expiry of the first one. I’m in Nanterre prefecture and I searched the website for a RDV booking option. I couldn’t find one. Can you please guide me on how I can book an appointment with Nanterre prefecture?
Hello,
I have listed the website link for Nanterre prefecture too in this article.