When things go wrong: The Défenseur des Droits
How to get help if facing administrative difficulties with official bodies
The Defender of Rights ombudsman service is ready to help foreigners who are facing administrative difficulties with official bodies, including people who are not full-time residents.
You can apply online for help through its website, by phone, in person with a departmental delegate, or in writing (no stamp required) to:
Défenseur des Droits
Libre réponse 71120
75342 Paris CEDEX 07
The Defender can look into issues free of charge and may undertake mediation or assist with court action.
The service reports that complaints about residency issues have increased as more procedures have moved online and it has become harder to meet officials in person.
Some, but not all, prefectures have points d’accueil numériques (IT help desks). These help with using official websites but do not deal directly with residency problems.
The Defender can help when a residency card has been refused or when it is taking too long to receive a response. All foreigners who are physically in France can meet a delegate to check whether their rights have been infringed.
The delegate can help restore a person’s rights, obtain a response, or request a re-evaluation of their case.
See here to find local delegates. You can also try calling 09 69 39 00 00 and ask whether there is an English-speaking delegate, although this is not guaranteed.