What remedy should Ofpra reject the asylum application?
Verified 11 December 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If your asylum claim has been rejected by theOfpraOfpra : French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons, you can appeal to the NDANDA : National Court of Asylum. During the examination of your appeal, you are allowed to remain in France, except in certain cases. We present you with the information you need to know.
The time limit for filing your appeal is 1 month from notification the decision of Ofpra to refuse.
If you do not meet the deadline, your appeal will be heard inadmissible and the prefect can notify you of a obligation to leave the territory (OQTF).
Please note
If you asked legal aid within 15 days of Ofpra's decision to refuse, the time limit for bringing an appeal shall be suspended until the decision granting legal aid has been given to you notified.
Your appeal must meet certain formal requirements and be forwarded to the NDANDA : National Court of Asylum.
Formalism of the appeal
Your appeal may be presented on free paper. He must respect the whole the following conditions:
- Be written in French
- Contain your surname(s), first name(s), date and place of birth, nationality and domicile
- Be reasoned, i.e. state the circumstances that may affect Ofpra's rejection of your application
- Be signed by yourself or your lawyer
- Indicate the language in which you wish to be heard at the hearing
- To be accompanied by the decision of Ofpra to refuse the application and the documents to prove the validity of your application
If your appeal is completed within the time limit, you will receive a notice of registration from the CNDA by post with notice of receipt at the address you indicated in your appeal.
You have to have your foreign language documents translated into French. Your civil, judicial or police records must be translated by a sworn translator (list available from your court).
Who shall I contact
Transmission of the appeal
The request must be sent to the CNDA by post or fax. In the latter case, it will be necessary at the latest on the day of the hearing to produce one signed paper copy of your appeal or to sign, at the Registry of the Court, the documents transmitted by fax.
The request should be addressed to one of the territorial chambers of the CNDA (Nancy, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lyon) or directly to the National Court in Montreuil, depending on your domicile and situation.
Who shall I contact
The appeal to the CNDA is suspensiveexcept in certain cases.
Suspensive appeal
You can stay in France until the decision of the National Court of Asylum even if your asylum application has been placed in accelerated procedure.
The notice of registration of your appeal by the CNDA allows you to request the renewal of your asylum application certificate.
You obtain the renewal of your asylum application certificate upon presentation to your prefecture of the following documents:
- Acknowledgement of receipt or receipt of the registration of your appeal by the CNDA
- 2 photos
- Proof of domicile which may be one of the following documents:
- Proof of accommodation in reception centers for asylum seekers
- Lease in the name of the applicant
- Certificate of accommodation with a third party
- The name of an authorized association with which you are domiciled.
Your certificate is renewed until notification of the decision of the National Court of Justice.
Non-suspensive appeal
You no longer have the right to remain in France (the asylum application certificate can be refused, withdrawn or its renewal refused) in the following cases :
- Decision toinadmissible or the closing of your application by Ofpra
- Final Extradition Order Against You
- Request for review inadmissible or rejection of your request for a post-interview review decided by Ofpra
- Decision to reject your application because you come from a safe country of origin (POS) or your presence in France constitutes a serious threat to public order
- A decision rejecting orInadmissibility of your asylum claim has been taken, you are subject to a expulsion order, a prohibition of French territory (ITF) or a administrative inadmissibility (IAT) and you are under house arrest or placed in detention.
Please note
The prefect must take a OQTF within 15 days from the moment he received the information concerning the end of your right to remain on French territory.
The procedure before the National Court of Justice is free.
However, you may have to pay the translation costs of your documents and the fees of a lawyer.
To meet these expenses, you can optionally benefit from legal aid, provided that such request is made within 15 days of notification of the Ofpra decision.
Deadlines
The CNDA must rule on your appeal in a period of 5 months as of its referral.
This period shall be reduced to 5 weeks if your asylum application has been lodged in accelerated procedure or if your request is inadmissible.
If your case raises a new question of law presenting a serious and frequent difficulty, the CNDA may refer the matter to the Council of State for an opinion.
Your case is suspended until such notice. You are notified and can submit your observations to the Council of State, which has 3 months to decide.
Once the review of your appeal is complete, you are called to a hearing before the National Court of Appeal to explain yourself orally. You are informed of the date of the hearing at least 15 days before if the proceedings are before a single judge, 30 days before that date if the procedure is in college formation.
The hearing is public, with limited exceptions, and may be held by video. You have the right to the assistance of a lawyer and an interpreter.
However, the National Court of Appeal may make an order (i.e. without a public hearing) if your appeal is clear inadmissible or contains no serious elements.
Formation of judgment
Hearings at the National Court of Justice can be held in:
- training in single judge (which is basic training),
- training 3-member collegiate in some cases, for example, where the case raises questions that justify this peer review.
Viewing the file
The request for consultation of the file is made by simple written request preferably sent by fax, or otherwise by post, to the reception service of the CNDA.
Who shall I contact
The request for consultation of the file must include the following information:
- Name of the applicant
- Number of appeal
- Desired date of consultation.
Decision
The CNDA may:
- Reject your appeal
- Or cancel You and Ofpra's decision grant refugee status
- Or cancel the decision of Ofpra and ask it to re-examine your request in the following 2 cases:
- No individual examination of your application by Ofpra
- No personal interview (except in cases where he is authorized not to grant it to you).
The public reading of the court's decision or posting to the CNDA or notification in case of an order is sufficient for the prefect, in case of rejection, to take a removal order (OQTF).
The ruling of the National Court of Justice is read out in open court.
It must be reasoned (substantiated) and you are notifiedby registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, in a language you are supposed to understand.
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Agreement
In the event of a favorable decision on your appeal, you will be summoned to the prefecture to receive a residence permit:
- Resident Card if you are recognized as a refugee
- Temporary residence card "private and family life" if you are entitled to subsidiary protection.
While waiting for the card to be issued, you will receive a receipt for application for a residence permit. It allows you to work.
Rejection
The NADC rules first and last, which means that you cannot appeal its decision.
The only possible action is to file an appeal in cassation before the Council of State within 2 months of notification of the rejection of the CNDA.
Who shall I contact
However, this appeal does not extend your right of residence. You receive a refusal of stay, accompanied by a obligation to leave France (unless you fulfill another legal condition to be admitted to the stay).
You must be represented by a lawyer in the Council of State and the Court of Cassation. Your lawyer signs the appeal.
Who shall I contact
You may, under certain conditions, benefit from legal aid. You must address your request to the legal aid office of the Council of State.
Except in exceptional circumstances, the appeal may not contain grounds and evidence which have not been submitted to Ofpra and the CNDA.
The Conseil d'Etat only verifies that the decision of the CNDA was in fact legally taken.
In the event of annulment of the decision of the National Court of Justice, the Council of State usually refers the case back to it, but may also decide to settle it definitively without referring it back.
If your appeal is dismissed, you will be forced to leave France if such a decision has not yet been implemented.
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Agreement
In the event of a favorable decision on your appeal, you will be summoned to the prefecture to receive a residence permit:
- Resident Card if you are recognized as a refugee
- Temporary residence card "private and family life" if you are entitled to subsidiary protection.
While waiting for the card to be issued, you will receive a receipt for application for a residence permit. It allows you to work.
Rejection
The NADC rules first and last, which means that you cannot appeal its decision.
The only possible action is to file an appeal in cassation before the Council of State within 2 months of notification of the rejection of the CNDA.
Who shall I contact
However, this appeal does not extend your right of residence. You receive a refusal of stay, accompanied by a obligation to leave France (unless you fulfill another legal condition to be admitted to the stay).
You must be represented by a lawyer in the Council of State and the Court of Cassation. Your lawyer signs the appeal.
Who shall I contact
You may, under certain conditions, benefit from legal aid. You must address your request to the legal aid office of the Council of State.
Except in exceptional circumstances, the appeal may not contain grounds and evidence which have not been submitted to Ofpra and the CNDA.
The Conseil d'Etat only verifies that the decision of the CNDA was in fact legally taken.
In the event of annulment of the decision of the National Court of Justice, the Council of State usually refers the case back to it, but may also decide to settle it definitively without referring it back.
If your appeal is dismissed, you will be forced to leave France if such a decision has not yet been implemented.
Competence, organization and functioning of the National Court of Justice
Appeals to the National Court of Justice
Right to remain on French territory
Remedies against decisions of the National Court of Asylum (CNDA)
Opinion of the National Court of Asylum (CNDA)
Methods of lodging appeals before the National Court of Justice
Legal aid (Article 9(4))
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French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra)