What is withholding tax for verifying a foreigner's right of residence?

Verified 28 August 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A foreigner who stays in France must be able to justify that he has the right to move within France. In the event of an inspection, the foreigner must be able to present a valid visa, a residence card or any other document authorizing him to stay in France. If he is unable to provide such proof, he may be taken to a police or gendarmerie premises and held for verification of his right of residence. We are taking stock of the regulations.

Deduction for verification of the right of residence is an administrative measure. It permits the detention of a foreigner who is unable (or refuses) to present his visa or residence permit.

It may intervene from time to time:

It allows the police to check whether the foreigner has the right to stay in France.

The deduction may be followed, if necessary, by removal measure (obligation to leave French territory, prohibition of French territory, expulsion...).

FYI  

When it is a minor, on public prosecutor must be informed from the outset of the detention. Unless this is impossible, the minor must be assisted by his or her legal representative.

Only one judicial police officer may decide on the withholding.

The public prosecutor shall be informed from the beginning of the procedure.

The officer (or the designated judicial police officer) checks that the foreigner has a valid residence document (passport, visa, residence permit). Foreigner may present it spontaneously.

His luggage and personal belongings can be searched.

If the foreigner does not provide any elements or documents, fingerprints or photographs may be taken to establish the right of residence.

Minutes are drawn up. It's forwarded to the prosecutor.

The minutes shall specify the day and time of the start and end of the detention and the duration of the detention.

Medical examinations may be carried out. In this case, a medical certificate shall be drawn up and annexed to the minutes.

The final CW of the holdback shall indicate the conditions under which the foreigner held may have been fed.

The foreigner is invited to sign it, but it can refuse to do so. If he refuses to sign it, mention shall be made of the refusal and the reasons for it.

Please note

The prosecutor may terminate the proceedings at any time.

The foreigner is held in a police or gendarmerie room.

The retention period varies according to the control at the origin of the measure.

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Identity check

Deduction for identity check is limited to 4 hours maximum (to 8 hours in Mayotte and in the territorial community of Guyana).

The time spent to carry out this identity check will reduce accordingly the maximum duration of the deduction for the control of the residence permit (which is a maximum of 24 hours).

Control of residence permit

The deduction for checking the residence permit shall be limited to 24 hours.

This period should allow for a full examination of the foreigner's situation.

From the beginning of the procedure, the foreigner must be informed by thejudicial police officer, the reasons for the deduction and its maximum duration.

This information shall be given to him in a language which he understands or is supposed to understand.

The foreigner shall also be informed of:

  • Be assisted by an interpreter
  • Be assisted by a lawyer (chosen by him or a clerk of the court) and to speak with him as soon as he arrives
  • Being examined by a doctor
  • Notify his family at all times and, if he is responsible for minors, have contact for their care
  • Notify the consular authorities of your country
  • Notify the public prosecutor of the verification.

The foreigner may ask his lawyer to attend the hearings.

The lawyer must be present within the hour of being informed.

The 1re The hearing may begin without counsel if it concerns the identity check of the detainee.

The outcome of the deduction may be different depending on the findings made.

The judicial police officer may decide:

  • Either release the foreigner (if it is found that he is regular stay or that his application for a residence permit is being examined)
  • Either to pronounce a detention center placement or a house arrest if a removal measure has been decided
  • Or to place the foreigner in police custody, in particular in the case of an offense of unlawful retention (a foreigner who is the subject of a final removal order, but who remains in France without a legitimate reason).

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