Associations are empowered to assist foreigners held in transit zones.

The waiting area is a well-defined area located either in an airport (e.g. Roissy, Orly), in a port or close to a disembarkation point (e.g. Marseille, Calais), or in a railway station open to international traffic (e.g. Paris-Gare du Nord, Lille-Europe).

These associations are:

• Amnesty International France
• National Border Assistance Association for foreigners (Anafé)
• Cimade, ecumenical service of mutual assistance
• French Red Cross
• France Land of asylum
• Refugee Forum
• Groupe Accueil et solidarité (GAS)
• Immigrant Information and Support Group (Gisti)
• League for Human Rights (LDH)
• Movement Against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples (MRAP)