Send a request to the administration by mail or paper form

Verified 27 January 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You sent a request to an administration (city hall, prefecture, France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)...) and you wonder if it received it correctly? Are you not sure you sent your request to the right service? You want to know when you'll get an answer? This page outlines the rules an administration must follow when receiving and reviewing your request.

When an administration receives your request, it must send you a acknowledgement of receipt (AR).

L'AR: titleContent indicates the date on which the administration received your request.

However, you do not receive anyAR: titleContent in the following situations:

  • When the administration has the obligation to respond to you within a maximum of 15 days
  • When the administration only needs to verify that you meet the conditions to have a document or benefit
  • When your request is abusive. For example, you sent the same request several times.

The administration will consider your request even if a document is missing.

However, the administration may interrupt your application if the missing document is indispensable.

In all cases, the administration must tell you what documents and information are missing.

It tells you if it is necessary to translate or legalize the documents sent.

The administration sets you a time limit to send documents and information.

This information is provided in the acknowledgement of receipt of your application or in a separate mail.

If you have not sent your request to the correct service, it is forwarded to the competent service and you are informed.

The department responsible for examining your request sends you a acknowledgement.

The first name, last name, job title and administrative address of the person handling your request must be indicated on the letters sent to you.

However, this information shall not be given if there is a safety reason for doing so.

Consult the acknowledgement of receipt of your request.

L'AR: titleContent indicates the date to which, in the absence of a written reply, your request is considered to be accepted or rejected.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

If the RA indicates that the request is accepted in the absence of a written response

This is a implied decision of acceptance.

L'AR: titleContent indicates that you can request a certificate administration.

If the RA indicates that the request is refused in the absence of a written response

This is a implied decision to reject.

L'AR: titleContent indicates how to challenge this refusal (remedies and time-limits for appeals).

Please note

with exceptions, if you do not receive a response after 2 months, your request is accepted. This is known as the rule of silence means acceptance (SVA).