New Procedures for Foreigners in France: Residence Permits, Renewals, and Naturalization

If you find yourself as a foreigner in France and you wish to regularize your status on French territory, you have come to the right place.

In 2023, new procedures have been put in place to carry out a first application for a residence permit, renew your existing title, or even begin the naturalization process. The changes announced include a transition to digital methods, the simplification and modernization of procedures, as well as an improvement in the fluidity of communications. However, the implementation of these promises remains to be observed.

Below you will find a summary of the information available so far.

ANEF: What guarantees are offered?

Procedures for foreigners in France: where to take your steps?

The procedure has been completely digitalized, and from now on, it is on the ANEF website [1] (Digital Administration of Foreigners in France) that you will have to complete your formalities. This portal constitutes the only platform intended for foreigners in France.

In accordance with the decree of September 28, 2023, taken under article R431-2 of the Code of entry and stay of foreigners and the right to asylumthe following requests must be submitted via the ANEF website:

• Validation of the Long Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit
• Requests relating to certain residence permits
• Request for travel documents
• Application for naturalization
• Work authorization request
• Address change.

All applications for temporary residence permits (such as the APS, the new RECE, for example) are also processed on the new ANEF website.

It is imperative to note that only one platform is designated for your formalities, namely the ANEF website. You can also help yourself with a tutorial [2].

To do this, you must create a personal account. It is on the latter that you can submit your requests and follow their progress.

To create your business as a foreigner in France, it is imperative to hold an appropriate residence permit. It is essential to note that residence permits such as student or employee do not allow the exercise of a self-employed activity in France.

• If you are a student, you must apply for the RECE (Job Search and Business Creation) card, which replaced the APS (Provisional Residence Authorization). This process can be carried out on the ANEF website since October 2, 2023
• On the other hand, if you are an employee, you must make a change of status on the ANEF website
• When you reside outside France, you must initiate a long-stay visa application with the consular authorities of your country of residence. After which, you will need to validate your request on the ANEF portal.

Today, this certificate constitutes proof of the submission of a request for extension of the processing of a residence permit and has replaced the receipt.

You must log in regularly to your online account on the ANEF portal to monitor the progress of your file.

I am a foreign national in France and want to create my business, what should I do?

Is the APS still valid in 2023?

No, the APS is no longer in force in 2023, it has been replaced by the title “RECE” (Job Search and Business Creation).

Which business to create?

Once you have obtained the correct residence permit allowing you to carry out a self-employed activity in France, you are therefore in a legal situation and able to create a business.

You then have the range of possibilities: SAS, SASU, SARL, EURL… Depending on your project and your personal situation, one of the legal forms is more suitable than the other. You can also decide to operate in your own name under the cover of a sole proprietorship (and even opt for the simplified micro-enterprise regime)!