How the Defender of Rights can help you in France
Free support for legal problems is available online, by phone, or at in-person meetings
The service has 250 experts in Paris, including lawyers, and 570 delegates throughout France.
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France’s Defender of Rights, or Défenseur des Droits, service can help foreigners in their administrative and legal difficulties with official bodies online, by phone or in-person.
The Défenseur des Droits is an independent constitutional authority that can look into issues free of charge and undertake mediation or assist when going to court.
The service has 250 experts in Paris, including lawyers, and 570 delegates throughout France.
Many of its services are available online (and in English), particularly those concerning residency issues.
Read more: Did you know? France has a team ready to defend foreigners' rights
Get help with overstays or visa and residency card issues
In some cases, the slow application process for visas or residency cards can result in people staying longer than they should under the 90/180-day rule.
The Defender of Rights can help in these cases or when a card is refused.
All foreigners in France can visit a delegate if they believe their rights have been infringed.
The delegate can help to restore their rights, clarify their legal situation and appeal for a review in cases of a rejected application.
Read more: Where can I go to obtain free advice about legal issues in France?
For more information, call 09 69 39 00 00. You can ask if there is an English-speaking delegate who can talk to you, however this is not guaranteed.
You can also apply online here, or by post (no stamp required) to:
Défenseur des Droits,
Libre réponse 71120,
75342 Paris CEDEX 07.
