Temporary authorisation to stay for a parent of a sick child (APS)

If you are a non-European foreigner living in France with your minor foreign non-European child who is seriously ill, you can apply, under conditions, for a temporary authorisation to stay, the autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS). The APS is valid for 6 months and allows you to work. You file your application at the préfecture (or sous-préfecture) of your home.

Steps

1. File your application at the préfecture (or sous-préfecture) of your home; check the filing procedure on your préfecture's website.
2. When your file is complete, the préfecture gives you an envelope with the address of the OFII doctor (OFII is the immigration and integration office) and a blank medical certificate that your child's doctor must fill in.
3. Have your child's doctor fill in the certificate, then send it to OFII in that envelope, with the documents listed in the notice, no later than 1 month after the préfecture gave it to you. If you are an asylum seeker, send it within 3 months from the registration of your asylum application.
4. Answer the OFII doctor's requests: with your agreement, he may ask for more medical information, and he may summon your child for a free medical examination; take proof of identity for you and your child, and send the exam results within 15 days of the request.
5. You receive the récépissé receipt once the préfecture is informed that the medical report was sent to the college of OFII doctors; if you did not answer the OFII doctor's requests, you cannot get it.
6. The college of OFII doctors gives a medical opinion and sends it to the préfecture; the opinion does not bind the préfet, who then decides to grant or refuse the APS.

Documents to bring

Key facts

• The APS is valid for 6 months and it allows you to work.
• You must pay 100 € in tax stamps (timbres fiscaux); proof of payment is asked when the APS is handed to you.
• You can ask for the APS even if you are staying in France irregularly.
• The APS can be issued to both parents.
• If your application is refused, by a written decision or by silence after 4 months, you can appeal to the administrative court.

When to renew

• You must file your renewal request at the latest 2 months before the end date of your current APS, at the préfecture (or sous-préfecture) of your home.

Renewal planner · the end date of your permit gives the filing window