Extension of residence permit validity - press communiqué by the Paris Prefecture de Police (16 Mar. 2020)

In order to secure the presence of legally-resident foreign nationals in the country and prevent any undermining of rights in a health context in which prefectures are unable to deal with their applications under normal conditions, several residence documents will have their periods of validity extended.

Given the health situation linked to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the reception of residence-permit applicants in prefectures is suspended until further notice.

In order to secure the presence of legally-resident foreign nationals in the country and prevent any undermining of the rights conferred on them by the residence permits they possess, in particular the right to work and the enjoyment of social rights, the following documents, which would be expiring on 16 March, will have their periods of validity extended by three months:

• long-stay visas;
• residence permits, whatever their nature, except special residence permits issued to foreign diplomatic and consular staff;
• provisional residence permits
• asylum application certificates
• delivery receipts for residence-permit applications.

This measure is applicable on French territory.

Foreign nationals carrying expired permits and benefiting from this extension are advised not to leave French territory, as they risk encountering difficulties in re-entering.

Press communiqué issued by the Paris Prefecture de Police on 16 March 2020