Since late 2018, a new asylum law is in place in France. Much has changed in the asylum procedure. The new law has introduced new approaches and new ways of assessing and treating the cases of asylum seekers.
Updated 2019
I have not started my asylum process yet
You do not need an address in order to start the asylum process. That is to say, as soon as you arrive in France you must turn up in one of the ‘Asylum seekers’ first reception centers’ (SPADA). These centers are the points of first reception of all asylum seekers, even if you have the address of a friend or family that hosts you.
Attention!
By this new asylum law 2018, the asylum seekers who apply for asylum in the Parisian region (ile de France: departments- 75,77,78,91,92,93,94,95) will no more be received to the ‘asylum seekers’ first reception centers’ (SPADA) without a prior appointment! If you are in these departments of Ile de France you have to call this number (01 42 500 900 ) in order to obtain an appointment to go to the ‘asylum seekers first reception center (SPADA)’.
This call center is run by the OFII. On phone, you have to provide with the following information: your Name, date of birth, nationality and the asylum request (first time or a re-appeal). The call has to be made only from a cell phone (the caller’s geographic presence, at the time of the call, will be located and an appointment will be given to a SPADA of that location)
After the conversation on telephone, a date and time of the appointment and the address of the SPADA will be sent to you by SMS.
You have to present this ‘SMS’ to the SPADA on the day of your appointment. There they will prepare your file and send you to the prefecture (Guichet Unique) with an appointment to apply for the asylum in France.
If you have difficulties or unable to contact the ofii’s call center, you can go to one of the ‘day care Centers’. This day center will direct you to “the center of examination of the situation of the asylum seekers (CAES)” where an appointment for the prefecture (guichet unique) will be given to you.
Although you can go to any platform in order to seek an appointment for the ‘one stop service’ (GUDA) to apply for asylum,(if you are out of Ile de France area) but it is more prudent and appropriate to go to a nearby SPADA, close to where you live.
We recommend going there early in the morning because their capacities are often very limited.
→List of platforms “SPADA” in France
What should you know before going to a SPADA ?
1/ When should you take the first steps to apply for asylum :
In order to treat the asylum application through a ‘normal’ procedure the new law requires that the asylum seekers should begin the process of asylum within 90 days [3 months] / [60 days if you are in Guyane) of their arrival to France. It is, therefore, important to be attentive while declaring the date of your arrival in France. No proof of the date of the entry in france would be demanded ( if you have arrived in France without a Visa) as it is comprehensible that you entered in France by avoiding controls because you needed the protectection. You have just to declare the date of your arrival to the registration officer in the SPADA..
After 90 days (or 60), you CAN still seek asylum, but your request will be processed in a procedure called “fast track procedure” and you won’t get the “CMA” (the monthly amount of money and the accomodation).
2/ Information you should prepare :
Pay attention to the information you give to the SPADA. This information will be forwarded to authorities responsible for asylum (the prefecture and the OFII) for the registration of your asylum application. An error made in your declaration will not be easy to rectify later.
We recommend that you prepare in advance all the information required, such as: date of departure from your country, date of arrival in France, the countries you crossed in addition to arrival and departure dates. If you do not know the exact dates or some names of the countries you crossed, because the conditions of the journey did not allow you to remember all these details, it does not matter. This does not prevent you from applying for asylum. You just provide the information you have. Take care not to change your reportings.
Here in the SPADA you will meet an officer who will :
1/ ask you some questions about you. You will have to give :
-Personal information like : name, marital status
-Date of departure from your country and date of arrival in France
-The routes you have taken in order to arrive in France.
-Your language: the language in which you wish to do all your steps (be careful to choose the language with which you are most comfortable because it is this language that will be used at all stages of the procedure, including INTERVIEWS).
2/ fill in your information in the computer. This information is to be forwarded to the prefecture.
3/ Then the prefecture will give you a convocation to go (in a period of 3 to 10 days according to the texts) to the “one-stop service” in order to get the asylum application registered.