Your récépissé is about to expire and you still have no decision, or your ANEF file has shown an error for days: here's the concrete course of action, without waiting for the situation to resolve on its own.
First, the rule to know: filing on time isn't enough on its own
Filing on time is essential, but the ANEF proof of filing alone isn't enough to prove your stay is regular. Check that you've actually received a valid instruction-extension certificate (or another provisional residence document matching your procedure): it's this up-to-date document that covers your situation while your file is under review. If this document expires without renewal, contact the préfecture or the relevant support immediately. Keep every proof of filing and every document you're issued safe (ANEF confirmation of receipt, certificate, a dated screenshot).
How long does a récépissé last, and can it be renewed
Duration and document type depend on which channel your file went through.
Filing at a préfecture: paper récépissé
- For a renewal of an existing permit, the récépissé issued is generally valid for 3 months, starting the day after your previous permit's expiry date.
- For a first application (or a duplicate), the duration is most often 4 to 6 months.
- For a first application, renewing the récépissé remains exceptional and generally capped at 3 months maximum (source: justice.fr).
Filing via ANEF: digital attestations
- A file submitted through the ANEF generates digital attestations rather than a paper récépissé: a proof of filing, then, if the review takes longer, an instruction-extension certificate.
- The instruction-extension certificate is generally valid for 3 months maximum, and can be renewed as long as no decision has been made on your file.
In both cases, if review isn't finished by the current document's deadline, it can be renewed. This renewal isn't automatic: follow the instructions shown in your ANEF account and those from the préfecture reviewing your file, and flag the absence of a certificate before the deadline rather than waiting for it to expire.
What to do as the deadline approaches
- Plan ahead, don't wait for the last day. File the renewal request for your récépissé or certificate as soon as you know review won't be finished in time, ideally several weeks before the deadline.
- Check your ANEF account: the renewal request is most often made directly from your account, in the section linked to your file.
- Keep a copy of every récépissé or certificate issued, with its expiry date, to prove the continuity of your situation in case of a check.
File stuck on the ANEF: the most common blockages
A file stuck at the "filed" status for weeks, an error when validating, an upload that keeps failing: these blockages can happen and don't always mean there's a problem with your file.
Before contacting anyone:
- Clear your browser cache, or switch browsers.
- Try again outside peak hours (early morning rather than during the day).
- Check the size and legibility of uploaded files: a blurry, cropped or oversized document can cause an upload to fail.
If the blockage persists despite these checks, first check the préfecture's messages in your ANEF account: what looks like a "bug" is sometimes a request for an additional document that went unanswered. Also check that no document request is pending on your file.
Contacting the préfecture by message, with the right proof
When the technical blockage doesn't resolve, use the ANEF's internal messaging rather than the phone, which is often saturated. In your message:
- State your file number.
- Describe the blockage precisely (with a screenshot of the error).
- Attach proof of your initial filing and, if applicable, the récépissé that's about to expire.
- Explicitly mention if an upcoming deadline (job, travel document, check) makes the situation urgent.
Keep a written record of every exchange: in case of a prolonged delay, this proof is useful to demonstrate good faith or support an appeal.
If you're not comfortable with the platform
Digital access points (often known under the name e-MERAUDE), with a mediator to guide you step by step, exist in many préfectures, sous-préfectures, town halls and France services offices. These access points already support ANEF procedures in many préfectures; the details vary by department. It's often more effective than showing up at a counter without an appointment.
To go further
- Our full ANEF guide covers account creation, file tracking and statuses.
- Our article on the residence permit récépissé covers the rights it grants while valid.
- To understand who handles your file between the ANEF and France Titres, see ANEF, ANTS, France Titres: who handles what.
What still needs case-by-case verification
- The exact duration of the récépissé or certificate (3, 4 or 6 months) and the conditions for renewing it depend on your precise situation: always check the document itself and, when in doubt, the préfecture reviewing your file.
- Response times for a message sent via ANEF's messaging vary a lot from one préfecture to another and aren't governed by a legal deadline.
Perfecture is an independent service, not affiliated with the préfectures or the French administration.