Population figures
Total country population
64,881,830
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
689,273
Asylum-seekers:
71,169
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
1,936
Country context
France, a member of the European Union, maintains an asylum system governed by the Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d’asile (CESEDA). Asylum seekers in France are registered at a centralized point, the Guichet Unique, and are accommodated in reception centers managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and funded by the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII).
The Office Français pour la Protection des Réfugiés et Apatrides (OFPRA) is responsible for processing asylum claims and statelessness determination, while the Cour Nationale du Droit d'Asile (CNDA) serves as the appellate body. The CNDA includes judges trained by UNHCR to ensure impartial hearings. The French government has periodically reformed the asylum system to address efficiency and reduce waiting times, including the introduction of temporary protection measures for Ukrainian refugees and proposals for further procedural changes.
...Efforts have been made to accommodate asylum seekers, but challenges persist, particularly in providing adequate housing and resources. In certain areas, notably in the north of France, informal settlements have emerged, as refugees seek to reach the United Kingdom. The government and local authorities continue to address gaps in reception facilities, particularly through new accommodation centers and the national roadmap for asylum reception and refugee integration (SNADAR).
France has also prioritized refugee integration, particularly through the 2018 CESEDA reform, which improved refugees’ access to housing, employment, and education. The establishment of the Inter-ministerial Delegation for the Reception and Integration of Refugees (DiAIR) has enhanced coordination across ministries, local governments, and private sector actors. Notably, the AGIR program, launched in 2022, has provided individualized support to refugees, focusing on housing, employment, and language training.
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