Structure of the central administration

The service for French nationals abroad
The reciprocity agreements service;
The service for foreign nationals in France
The Supreme Council of French nationals abroad (CSFE)
A site for travellers

It governs, but also protects French nationals who are either living in or passing through a foreign country. It ensures that appropriate plans for security, assembly and evacuation are held on the spot. It deals with research in the interest of families, repatriation of the destitute, protection of detainees, social aid and ensures expatriates are able to exercise their civic rights. They support the "Maison des Francais à l’etranger", an extension of the reception and information centre, which provides information for nationals living or wishing to live abroad. An "employment- training" mission, created in 1985, endeavours to facilitate access to employment and professional training abroad. The public records central service in Nantes, is responsible for all public records relating to French nationals who are born, married, divorced or who have died abroad. It represents more than 13 million entries - 130,000 more every year.

It is involved in negotiating and applying international agreements related to social security, establishing French nationals abroad, taxation of French nationals abroad, judicial co-operation, nationality, international co-operation on family rights. The "international adoption" mission, a body set up to control and protect foreign minors, is the first in Europe to provide an Internet site.

It is involved in defining and applying government policy affecting the entry, stay and establishment of foreigners in France, in defining political asylum and in advising on applications. It represents France with the competent international organisations and maintains contact with humanitarian organisations. It co-operates with the French office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons (OFPRA) for receiving refugee status, protects those that have obtained it, administers registration. It shares responsibility for issuing entry visas to France with the Minister of the Interior. While blocking illegal immigration, it endeavours to facilitate the arrival of those that will assist bilateral relations.

The CSFE is the representative assembly for French nationals living abroad. Its secretariat is at the DFAE. It is made up of 150 members elected by universal suffrage for six years by French nationals abroad, half of whom must be re-elected, plus the 12 senators for French nationals abroad elected by the counsellors, plus 21 nominated individuals. It gives opinions and expresses its wishes on questions concerning its constituents that relate to French presence abroad.

A file giving advice to travellers on day to day travelling and security conditions in any country in the world was opened in spring 1999 on the Ministry’s France.diplomatie site.