Author
Beneficiaries of protection are entirely free to settle in any part of French territory. They are not restricted to specific areas.
The law states that the duration of validity of their travel documents is defined by Article 953 of the General Tax Code: 5 years for refugees, if it is a biometric travel document, and one year for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.[1] French law does not provide for duration of validity of non-biometric travel documents. In practice, whereas the law is clear on the 5-year duration, Prefectures issue only 2-year travel documents for refugees.
Overseas territories: when a person obtains a residence permit linked to their international protection in Mayotte, they cannot leave this territory where residence permits are “territorialised”.
[1] Article L.753-4 Ceseda.