ANEF: how to book an appointment and track your application

ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) has become the single entry point for most residence permit procedures: account creation, filing your application, booking a préfecture appointment and tracking your file. Here is how to create your account, land an appointment and understand each status of the ANEF application tracker, without getting lost in the platform.

What is ANEF and which procedures go through it

ANEF is the French Interior Ministry's online platform that gradually replaces the older online services and paper files filed at the counter. It covers most residence permit procedures: first applications, renewals, changes of status, naturalisation requests and the issue of certain récépissés. Depending on your préfecture, the application is filed entirely online or combined with a physical appointment for fingerprint capture and collection of your card.

Everything happens from your personal dashboard: you upload your supporting documents, read the préfecture's messages and track the progress of your file. This shift has made filing easier, but it has also created new situations, such as being unable to reach an officer by phone or hitting technical blocks in the middle of a procedure. Knowing how the platform works, and above all how to react when it gets stuck, makes all the difference.

Creating your ANEF account and logging in with France Identité

Creating an account on ANEF

Account creation happens on the official ANEF website. You enter your email address, a password and your civil status details, then activate the account through the link sent by email. Check your address carefully: this is where the préfecture will send important notifications, such as a missing document or an appointment summons. Keep your credentials safe, because tracking your application always requires this login.

Logging in with France Identité

To log in, ANEF offers several authentication methods, including FranceConnect and France Identité. France Identité is the official app that uses your new-format ID card for stronger identification. It is recommended for sensitive procedures such as residence permits, because it reduces the risk of fraud and identity theft. If you haven't activated it yet, FranceConnect remains a simple and quick way to access your account.

ANEF appointments: how to book a préfecture appointment

Not every procedure requires a physical appointment. Renewals filed online are usually handled remotely, with a récépissé you can download directly from your account. First applications, fingerprint capture and collection of the finished card, on the other hand, require a visit to the préfecture or sous-préfecture. This is where the famous "ANEF appointment" comes in: the platform shows the slots opened by your préfecture and lets you book the date that suits you.

The trickiest part is slot availability. In some préfectures, no appointment is offered for several weeks, and schedules fill up within hours of opening. If you are in this situation, check out our guide on finding no préfecture slot available : it covers concrete levers, such as widening your search to nearby sous-préfectures, watching for schedule openings in the morning or flagging your urgent situation to the préfecture.

Tracking your application on ANEF

Once your application is filed, everything is tracked from your personal dashboard. The tracking section shows the status of your file, the documents received, the missing items and the messages exchanged with the préfecture. It is also where you will be alerted about a decision or a summons.

The statuses: application filed, under review, decision

The "application filed" status confirms that your application has reached the platform and is waiting to be picked up by the préfecture. At this stage, you may still be asked to complete a document or correct some information. "Under review" means the préfecture is examining your file: checking documents, running checks, possibly requesting additions. Finally, "decision" means a decision has been made, positive or negative, and is available in your dashboard. If you are refused, act quickly: our article on appeals against a residence permit refusal explains the deadlines and the legal remedies you must not miss.

Uploading your supporting documents

Supporting documents are uploaded directly into your application, in PDF or image format. Check the legibility of every document before sending it: a blurry, cropped or oversized file is the first cause of requests for additions, which extends the processing time just as much. Gather everything in advance and name your files clearly to avoid confusion.

• Your passport or travel document, valid and including the identity and visa pages where relevant.
• Civil status records (birth, marriage) matching your family situation.
• Recent proof of address, in your name or with a hosting attestation.
• Proof of resources: employment contract, pay slips, bank statements or a sponsorship attestation.
• Compliant ID photos, if the préfecture asks for them in addition.

The exact list depends on your situation and the type of application: ANEF shows the expected documents in your file, and the préfecture can request more during processing. Answer every request for additions quickly: it is the safest way to keep your file moving.

The récépissé issued online

For renewals filed through ANEF, the récépissé is issued online and downloadable from your account as soon as your file is complete. This official document proves that your stay is legal while your application is being processed. Print it or keep a copy on your phone, because it is required at every check; its validity period and renewal conditions are detailed later in this article.

Processing times as of 1 September 2026

These figures remain indicative and vary a lot depending on the préfecture, the type of application and the time of year. Use them to gauge your safety margin, not as a guaranteed timeline.

Processing times by type of application

Not all applications are processed at the same pace. A renewal filed through ANEF with a complete file and legible documents is generally processed in 2 to 4 months. A first application takes longer, often 3 to 6 months, because it involves deeper checks and, in some cases, an appointment for fingerprints before processing even starts. Changes of status (for example from student to employee status) and naturalisation requests follow different frameworks, with even longer timelines.

If your file clearly exceeds these averages, don't just wait: check the préfecture's messages in the online service, then follow up through the official messaging system. Our article on how long the préfecture takes to reply helps you know when to follow up, who to contact and what to mention to get an answer quickly.

Renewal versus first application: different journeys

Renewing a residence permit is now the easiest procedure to complete on ANEF: file online, upload your documents, get your récépissé directly in the online service, and in most cases no visit at all. As long as your application is filed before the expiry date of your card, your right to stay is preserved, even if the decision takes time. Check our guide on residence permit renewal and its waiting times for the precise steps, especially the dates you must not miss.

A first application is a longer journey: it often starts with an appointment at the préfecture or sous-préfecture, then the filing of the application, then processing that can last several months. In this case, the appointment is the first step to secure, and its date conditions everything else. If your préfecture shows no availability, you can monitor open slots in real time on our live map: for example first residence permit applications in Ain are updated continuously.

Known bugs and blocks on the platform: what to do

ANEF is a useful tool, but it is not bug-free: pages that won't load, uploads that fail, France Identité that refuses to validate, a file stuck on "filed" for weeks, or an error message when you try to validate. Before panicking, clear your cache, switch browsers or devices and try again outside peak hours. A large share of blocks is temporary and disappears on its own.

If the problem persists, first check the préfecture's messages in the online service: many "blocks" are actually requests for an additional document that went unanswered. Only then contact the préfecture through its dedicated messaging system or contact form, attaching a screenshot of the error and keeping a written record of your exchanges. In a real emergency (a card about to expire, an imminent departure), some physical counters accept blocked situations by appointment.

Contacting the préfecture

The right move is to use the platform's internal messaging system rather than the phone, which is often saturated and sometimes unreachable. Mention your application number, describe the problem precisely and attach the screenshots. If the answer is slow, follow up with the reference of your first message: préfectures process requests in order, and a clear follow-up almost always speeds things up. For récépissé renewal procedures, some préfectures open dedicated slots that you can monitor on our map, such as récépissé renewal appointments in Étampes or those in Haute-Garonne.

Messages in the online service

The messaging system built into ANEF is your official channel of communication with the préfecture. This is where you will receive requests for additions, summonses and decision notifications. Check it regularly, at least once a week, and reply within the stated deadlines: a missing document that is never provided can suspend processing or lead to a negative decision. Don't neglect the notification emails either, which tell you a new message is waiting.

How long is the récépissé issued online valid

The récépissé issued through ANEF is valid for a period that depends on the situation: 3 months for a renewal and generally 4 to 6 months in the context of a first application. It can be renewed if processing takes longer, provided you ask before it expires. During its period of validity, it allows you to stay and work under the same conditions as the previous card, and it is required at every check. Always keep a copy, preferably the version downloaded from your account, which is more reliable than a simple photo.

For everything about the conditions of issue, renewal and the cases where the récépissé can be refused, read our dedicated article on the residence permit récépissé, which covers the whole topic.