France: Translation of Response to Information Request FRA10991: Information on the right to return of the holder of an expired refugee certificate issued by the Office français de protection des réfugiés et des apatrides (OFPRA)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 August 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | FRA15015 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, France: Translation of Response to Information Request FRA10991: Information on the right to return of the holder of an expired refugee certificate issued by the Office français de protection des réfugiés et des apatrides (OFPRA), 1 August 1993, FRA15015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac5c50.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
KIMSPublisher:Ottawa
According to a representative of the Embassy of France in Ottawa, the Office français de protection des réfugiés et des apatrides (OFPRA) issues recognized refugees with a travel document, a refugee certificate and a card of residence (11 June 1992). In principle, these three documents are issued simultaneously and are valid for the same length of time (Ibid.). The travel document for a recognized refugee is a blue booklet, valid for two years and issued in accordance with Article 28 of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of Refugees which enables the holder to travel abroad (Ibid.). The refugee certificate provides proof of refugee status and is valid for two years (Ibid.). The card of residence is also valid for two years and enables the holder to remain on French territory (Ibid.).
According to a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ottawa, the refugee certificate is valid for three years and can generally be renewed for periods of up to five years (11 June 1992). The same source further indicated that a renewable card of residence also allows the bearer to work in France for a period of up to ten years (Ibid.).
According to a representative of the Embassy of France in Ottawa, an individual travelling abroad on an expired blue travel document must apply for a renewal or extension at the nearest French embassy or consulate (12 June 1993). Consulate officials can extend the duration of the travel document with the assent of OFPRA and the individual can return to France at a port of entry indicated by OFPRA (Ibid.).
Renewal of refugee certificates is within the exclusive juridiction of OFPRA (Ibid.). The card of residence is the responsibility of the district (préfecture) of the area (département) of residence, which in this particular case will make a decision based on OPFRA's instructions (Ibid.). The applicant must return to France for the renewal of both documents (Ibid.).
According to a UNHCR representative in Ottawa, a recognized refugee travelling abroad must return to France before the date of expiration of his card of residence, otherwise he looses his residency rights (26 June 1992). The same source further indicated that the consulate or Embassy of France cannot renew the refugee certificate or the card of residence (Ibid.).
For further information on this topic, please refer to Article 28 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to paragraphs 5 and 6 of the schedule of the Convention (Annex II of the UNHCR Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status, 68, 75) available at your Regional Documentation Centre, and to the attached document dealing with problems pertaining to refugees "who move in an irregular manner from a country in which they had already found protection" (UNHCR 1990, 138-40).
No additional and/or corroborating information on this topic is currently available to the DIRB in Ottawa.
References
Embassy of France, Ottawa. 11 June 1992. Telephone interview with representative.
. 12 June 1992. Telephone interview with representative.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ottawa. 11 June 1992. Telephone interview with representative.
. 26 June 1992. Telephone interview with representative.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). September 1979. Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status. Geneva: UNHCR.
. 1991. Conclusions on the International Protection of Refugees Adopted by the Executive Committee of the UNHCR Programme. Geneva: UNHCR.
Attachment
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 1991. Conclusions on the International Protection of Refugees Adopted by the Executive Committee of the UNHCR Programme. Geneva: UNHCR.
