If you are not an EU citizen, your carte de séjour is the document that lets you live, work and study in France. Most first cards last one year, and even after you move to a multi-year card you will have to renew it one day. Delays at préfectures and technical problems have made that routine step stressful for many people. Here is a practical guide.
Where to apply
Most renewals are now done online on ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France). Not every card type has moved there yet. If yours has not, go to your préfecture's website, open the section for foreigners (étrangers) and follow its instructions exactly. Sending an email when they ask for post, or the other way round, only adds delay.
Read the list of supporting documents carefully, including whether you need certified translations (traductions assermentées). A single missing document is the most common reason for a slow file. And apply on time: the renewal window opens in the months before your card expires, and a late application can bring an extra fee.
When ANEF does not work
You are not imagining it: the site is known for bugs. A legal case ended with the Conseil d'État ordering the government to fix it within six months, with a deadline in November 2026. Until then, try another browser, clear your cache, take screenshots of every error and keep them. They are useful evidence if your file is delayed.
When you cannot get an appointment
After you apply, you usually need an appointment to hand in originals and give fingerprints. Many préfectures show "Aucun créneau disponible" for weeks. Part of the problem is a real lack of slots, and part is scammers using bots to grab appointments and resell them. Appointments are always free. Anyone asking for money for a slot is a scammer. Ask other foreigners in your area when new slots appear: some préfectures release them at a set time each day or each week.
When the SMS never comes
Once your card is approved, most préfectures send an SMS telling you to collect it. Sometimes that message never arrives. Some préfectures have a reception desk or walk-in hours for questions, but big-city préfectures are often appointment only. Check your préfecture's website before you go.
When your old card expires
This is common and not a reason to panic. When you apply, you should receive a récépissé, a receipt that proves your application is being processed. It is a legal document: it proves you are in France legally and should be accepted by employers and public bodies. You can travel with it by carrying your passport, your expired card and the récépissé. If the récépissé is about to expire and your card is still not ready, ask for a new one.
When to escalate
Waiting several months is normal, and anything under two months is fast. Waiting times also vary a lot from one préfecture to another, so compare with people in the same département, not friends elsewhere.
If your case is much slower than the local average, or your récépissé is about to run out:
- Write to the préfecture politely, by email, phone or its online form. Include your name, address, date of birth, numéro étranger (on your card) and any case number. Many people report that a reply or an appointment arrives after several unanswered messages.
- If nothing moves, a lawyer who specialises in immigration law can file a legal motion against the préfecture. The collective Bouge Ta Pref can recommend experienced lawyers.
- If you cannot afford a lawyer, associations such as La Cimade, Gisti, Secours Catholique and the Ligue des droits de l'Homme can help.