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For 2025, OFPRA reported a 9.1 months average time to deliver civil status documents. However, this is only an average and some beneficiaries of international protection wait much longer for their documentation. OFPRA prioritises the issuance of civil status documents for some categories of persons, for instance unaccompanied children, girls at risk of FGM and relocated/resettled refugees.[1] Additional resources have been allocated to this mission of OFPRA (8 FTE in 2023[2], 16 FTE in 2024[3], 29 in 2025[4]). This has produced a positive effect in a context of increasing beneficiaries of international protection in France, still in 2025.[5]
Since January 1, 2025, the OFPRA no longer issues a “family reference form” to newly protected persons. Only an information notice and an annex to be completed for family members are provided to the applicant, who can then submit additional information and documents from their country of origin to the OFPRA by any means. This represents an improvement, as it eliminates a step prior to the drafting of civil status documents, thereby speeding up the process.
OFPRA considers the potential documents provided by the beneficiary of international protection in their asylum application file if any, namely foreign civil status documents, identity or travel documents (national identity card, passport). However, the beneficiary need not have these documents. Statements of the beneficiary when filing their application for asylum, during the interview at OFPRA and on the family reference form, are also taken into account.
The personal status of the beneficiary of international protection will be ruled by the laws of their country of origin for all rights acquired before the granting of international protection. For instance, a prior religious marriage will be valid in France if the national law of the person considered it as official, even though French law does not recognise this type of union. By way of exception, French law will apply to acts prior to the recognition of international protection in two cases: (a) French law prevails in case of a right contrary to French public order e.g. polygamous marriage; and (b) same sex marriage will automatically be recognised pursuant to French law, even if not recognised under the law of the country of origin.
French law applies to all events subsequent to the granting of international protection. The beneficiary may therefore marry, enter into a civil union (PACS) or divorce according to French law.[6] BIPs register any child born during and after the asylum procedure with the general French civil registration service, like any other person present in France regardless of status.
[1] OFPRA, 2017 Activity report, 56.
[2] OFPRA, Rapport d’activité 2022, available in French at : https://bit.ly/49eglrk.
[3] Budget law 2024, Annex on Immigration, Asylum, Integration, October 2023, available in French at: https://bit.ly/4ct0VT5.
[4] Budget law 2025, Annex on Immigration, Asylum, Integration, October 2024, available in French here.
[5] Practice-based observation by Forum Réfugiés and partners, January 2024.
[6] OFPRA, Guide of procedures, available in French at: https://bit.ly/40dlrjd.