The application for the renewal of a residence permit must be submitted between 4 months and 2 months before the expiration date of the current permit. For most permits, the submission is done online through ANEF (Digital Administration for Foreigners in France) and no appointment is necessary for this step. A physical appointment at the prefecture follows, for fingerprinting or the issuance of the new permit, or from the outset for permits that are not yet digitized. Submitting within the legal window gives you a receipt or acknowledgment that maintains your rights during the processing, even if the permit expires in the meantime.
The submission window: 4 months to 2 months before expiration
The rule is the same for all departments: you can submit your renewal application starting from the fourth month preceding the end of validity, and at the latest two months before this date. Before four months, ANEF generally refuses the submission. After two months, submission remains possible but you risk a lapse of rights if processing is not completed by expiration, and additional fees at the time of issuance.
In practice, note the expiration date on your card, subtract four months, and start gathering the documents a few weeks before this date. The guide for renewing the residence permit details the timeline for each type of permit.
ANEF or appointment at the prefecture: who does what
Since digitization, the question "how to make an appointment for my renewal" often has an unexpected answer: you do not need an appointment to submit. The prefecture remains competent, and it is always the one in your department of residence, but the application itself is processed through ANEF.
Renewals submitted on ANEF
The majority of permits are renewed on administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr: temporary and multi-year residence cards (employee, private and family life, student, talent passport, visitor), resident cards, and most changes of situation. You create an account or log in, upload the documents, and receive a submission acknowledgment, then, after an initial review, an acknowledgment of extension of processing if necessary.
Cases where an appointment remains mandatory
- Permits or situations that your prefecture has not yet digitized. The list varies from one department to another and is available on the prefecture's website (department-name.gouv.fr).
- Fingerprinting, when the prefecture summons you to take or renew them. The article on fingerprinting at the prefecture explains when it occurs.
- The issuance of the new permit, which is always done in person.
If you do not know which prefecture or sub-prefecture you depend on, the article which prefecture do I depend on helps you determine this based on your address.
How to obtain an appointment when necessary
- Visit your prefecture's website, in the "Foreigners" or "Welcome to Foreigners" section, and locate the appointment scheduling module. Choose the exact reason (renewal, fingerprints, issuance of permit). A wrong reason may lead to refusal at the counter.
- If no slots appear, check back regularly: prefectures release slots in waves, and cancellations open spots at any time. The service rendezvousprefecture.com will send you an email or SMS when a slot opens in the prefecture you are monitoring, which saves you from refreshing the page.
- Keep the confirmation email. It often contains a link to modify or cancel, and it will serve as proof if you need to demonstrate your efforts.
- If making an appointment is persistently impossible, keep dated screenshots and write to the prefecture by registered letter or through the contact form. The Council of State ruled on June 10, 2020 (n° 435594) that a prefecture must offer an alternative when online booking is persistently impossible.
For local examples, see the pages on renewal at the Versailles prefecture and renewal in Ain.
Documents to prepare
The exact list depends on the permit and is published by each prefecture. The common base is as follows:
- Valid passport (identity pages, visas, stamps) and current residence permit.
- Proof of residence less than 6 months old. If you are hosted: accommodation certificate, host's ID, and their proof of residence.
- 3 compliant identity photos, or the code for an e-photo for online submission.
- Proof of resources: pay slips, tax notices, scholarship certificates as applicable.
- Documents specific to the permit: employment contract, school certificate and transcripts, marriage certificate and proof of cohabitation, etc.
- Tax stamp, the amount of which depends on the permit. It is requested at the issuance of the permit, not at submission.
Scan each document clearly before submission on ANEF. An incomplete file triggers a request for additional documents that prolongs processing by several weeks. The list published by your prefecture is authoritative, check it the day before submission.
Acknowledgment, certificate, and expired permit during processing
This is the most common fear: "my permit expires next month and I have no response." If you submitted within the legal window, your situation is covered.
What you receive
For a submission at the counter, the prefecture issues a renewal application acknowledgment, valid for several months and renewable. For a submission on ANEF, you receive a submission acknowledgment, then a certificate of extension of processing (API) when the permit or acknowledgment expires. These documents, presented with the old permit, maintain the right to stay and, for permits that allow it, the right to work and social rights. The details are in the guide on the acknowledgment and the extension certificate.
What to watch for
- The end date of your acknowledgment or your API. Request renewal on ANEF before it expires, without waiting for the decision.
- Your ANEF space and your messaging, including spam: requests for documents and summons arrive there.
- Your employer: provide them with the acknowledgment or API so they can verify your right to work.
If you submitted late, or if you have no provisional document, you are in an irregular situation at the expiration of the permit, even if a request is in progress. In this case, submit without delay and request an acknowledgment in writing from the prefecture.
Tracking the application and reacting to silence
The progress can be checked in your personal space, the reading of which is explained in the article how to track my file at the prefecture. The statuses change infrequently, which is normal: processing can take several months.
The silence of the prefecture for 4 months after the submission of a complete file constitutes implicit refusal (CESEDA, article R. 432-2). This rule opens a gracious appeal with the prefect, a hierarchical appeal with the minister, or a contentious appeal before the administrative court within two months. Before reaching that point, a written, dated, and reasoned follow-up often unlocks a file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit my application more than 4 months before expiration?
No, in principle. ANEF blocks submissions before the fourth month and a counter generally refuses them. Prepare the documents in advance and submit as soon as the window opens.
My permit has expired and I still have no response: am I in an irregular situation?
Not if you submitted on time and hold a valid acknowledgment or certificate of extension of processing. These documents extend your rights until the decision. Remember to renew them before their expiration.
Do I need to make an appointment to submit on ANEF?
No. Submission on ANEF is done from home. The appointment only comes into play if the prefecture summons you for fingerprints or to issue the permit.
What happens if I submit after the deadline?
The application remains admissible, but you are not covered between expiration and the potential issuance of an acknowledgment, and a regularization visa fee may be added to the tax stamp when the permit is issued. Submit as early as possible and explain the delay in writing.
