French visa resources
France's immigration authority
France's immigration system is run by the Interior Ministry's DGEF, with the OFII handling reception and integration and prefectures issuing residence permits.
Important
Immigration policy in France sits within the Ministry of the Interior, led by the Direction generale des etrangers en France (DGEF), created in 2013. The DGEF designs and implements policy on the entry, stay and work of foreign nationals, sets the regulations, and coordinates the consulates, prefectures and its public operators.
Two bodies carry out the front-line work most applicants deal with. The Office francais de l'immigration et de l'integration (OFII), created in 2009, is the state operator for welcoming and integrating newcomers during their first years in France. In-country, the prefectures receive and decide residence-permit applications, increasingly through the national online platform (ANEF).
Who does what
- DGEF (Ministry of the Interior) - sets and implements immigration policy and regulation
- OFII - reception and integration, including the republican integration contract, and handling of certain professional and family immigration formalities
- Prefectures - receive and issue residence permits in France
- French consulates abroad - process long-stay visa applications
Official digital platform
Most residence-permit procedures run through the Administration Numerique pour les Etrangers en France (ANEF), the Interior Ministry's online portal.
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.