This morning, I submitted my residence permit renewal application at the Foreign Nationals Reception Center (CRE) of the Paris Police Prefecture in the 17th arrondissement (Truffaut Street). I’ve compiled some practical details observed on-site to help friends who need to go through this process avoid unnecessary detours.
Time Management: Clear Your Entire Schedule
My appointment was scheduled for 11:00 AM sharp, but I actually reached the counter at 1:30 PM. This is the norm, not an exception. It’s advisable to clear your entire day, bring books, a laptop, and a power bank for your phone, and avoid scheduling any other activities for the afternoon.
Bring Your Own Pen
A small detail, but crucial: keep a black ink pen in your pocket. You will need to fill out a double-sided form titled "Délégation à l'immigration — Partie à remplir par l'étranger (à l'encre noire)". If you don’t have a pen, you’ll have to borrow one from people in line, which can be awkward, and staff generally won’t lend you theirs.
First Line of the Form: "Titre de séjour demandé" (Requested Residence Permit Type)
This is the most important line on the entire form, located directly below the title. A common mistake is that applicants simply copy the administrative code from their appointment confirmation letter (e.g., CST 1, CST 2, PT, etc.), as it appears there.
Do not write the code; write the full French name of the category. For example:
- Vie privée et familiale (Private and family life — spouse of a French citizen, parent of a French child, long-term resident, etc.)
- Salarié (Employee)
- Commerçant (Business owner / Company manager)
- Étudiant (Student)
- Passeport talent (Talent passport)
The staff at the counter will not cross-reference internal codes like CST2; they need you to clearly state which category you are applying for.
Documents: Originals or Copies?
The most important rule, counterintuitive but proven effective:
Only your passport (and your old residence card if renewing) needs to be presented in original.
All other documents — proof of address (justificatif de domicile), birth/marriage certificates, payslips, various certifications, K-bis extract (business registration), invoices, tax returns, etc. — copies are sufficient.
Specific approach:
- To be safe, you can bring all originals (marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, lease agreement, etc.), but in practice, staff will neither check nor retain them.
- However, every single document must have a corresponding copy left with the police station for their records. They keep the copies, not the originals.
Practical advice: Photocopy everything in advance, including your passport (identity page + visa/entry stamp pages) and your expiring residence card. Take all originals home with you.
The Form is Double-Sided
The front side is filled out by the applicant: name, date/place of birth, nationality, address, marital status, parents, spouse, children, etc.
The back side is filled out by the staff; do not touch it or pre-fill it. Keep it blank.
Summary
- Allow an additional 2–3 hours for queuing after your appointment time.
- Bring a black ink pen.
- In the first line of the form, write the full French name of the category, not the code (e.g., write "Vie privée et familiale" instead of CST 2, or the actual category name).
- Bring originals only for: Passport + Old Residence Card.
- Bring copies for: All other materials, each one.
- Leave the back of the form blank for administrative use; do not fill it yourself.
Good luck with your application.