Legal services in Paris
Comprehensive legal services in Paris cover extension of temporary status (APS), arrangement of social benefits and the Carte Vitale, family reunification, business formation, and court representation. All of these matters can be handled through a single representative office.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a representative office in France and has for many years assisted Ukrainians in Paris on legalization and rights protection matters. Our experience shows that clients who seek advice immediately after relocating face prefecture refusals less often than those who try to navigate the procedures on their own.
APS extension in Paris: timelines and specifics of the Police Prefecture
Temporary protection has been extended by a decision of the EU Council until 4 March 2028, so holders of a valid APS may continue to renew the document on general grounds without the risk of an abrupt termination of status.
In Paris, issuance and extension of APS for temporary protection are handled by the Police Prefecture, and as of 23 February 2026 the relevant service is located at 92 Boulevard Ney, 75018 Paris.
An extension application should be filed one month before the document expires, and starting from the second extension after 1 May 2026 a stamp duty of EUR 100 is charged.
Social benefits and health insurance: ADA and Carte Vitale
APS holders with a temporary protection endorsement are entitled to the ADA allowance from OFII, the amount of which depends on household composition and whether housing has been offered.
| Household composition | Amount with housing provided | Amount without offered housing |
| 1 person | EUR 6.80 per day | EUR 14.20 per day |
| 2 persons | EUR 10.20 per day | EUR 17.60 per day |
| 3 persons | EUR 13.60 per day | EUR 21.00 per day |
Access to health insurance through PUMa and the Carte Vitale opens immediately after documents are submitted, without the standard three-month waiting period that applies to other categories of foreign nationals.
Family reunification in France
A spouse, minor children, and other close relatives who were dependent on the applicant may join them through a simplified procedure of inclusion in the temporary protection case file.
This procedure does not require proof of income or housing conditions—it is sufficient to demonstrate that the family existed in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and that the relative left the country because of the hostilities.
For relatives who do not fall within this category, the standard regroupement familial procedure applies, with stricter income and housing requirements.
Employment and starting a business: auto-entrepreneur without an additional permit
An APS with a temporary protection endorsement confers the right to work both as an employee and on a self-employed basis—unlike most foreign nationals, who need a separate residence title for auto-entrepreneur status.
Registration of a micro-enterprise is completed through the single electronic window of the INPI, and a SIRET number is usually assigned within a few days after a complete set of documents is filed.
Our experience shows that entrepreneurs who clarify turnover limits and the URSSAF contribution rate in advance avoid penalties for incorrectly declared income in the first year of activity.
Diploma recognition and the path to a carte de résident
Recognition of a Ukrainian diploma through ENIC-NARIC France helps with employment in one’s field, although regulated professions require a separate procedure before the competent authority.
Years spent under an APS do not count directly toward the five-year residence period for the standard path to a carte de résident, so for most clients it is more advantageous to switch in advance to a titre de droit commun.
Asylum application as an alternative path
For clients from regions of highest risk, applying to OFPRA for refugee status or subsidiary protection may prove faster than the standard path through a titre de droit commun.
Refugee status immediately confers a ten-year carte de résident and fully exempts the holder from the five-year residence requirement, whereas subsidiary protection opens access to that card after four years.
Our experience shows that the decision to file with OFPRA should be taken after consulting a lawyer, because parallel retention of temporary protection is possible but requires both procedures to be properly arranged.
Court representation and protection of Ukrainians’ rights in Paris
A prefecture refusal to extend an APS, a dispute with an employer, or a denial of social benefits can be challenged before an administrative or labour court with the support of a lawyer familiar with Paris practice.
We have helped close hundreds of such cases, and our experience shows that clients who seek representation immediately after receiving a refusal secure a review of the decision far more often than those who delay.
Housing and CAF assistance in the Paris region
Rent assistance through CAF is available immediately after a tenancy agreement is signed, and the specific type of payment—APL, ALS, or ALF—depends on the type of housing and the applicant’s household composition.
Because of high demand for rentals in Paris, finding one’s own housing often takes longer than in other regions of France, so many clients remain longer in state reception facilities.
Our experience shows that filing with CAF immediately after signing a lease, rather than after several months of occupancy, makes it possible to obtain compensation for a longer period.
Schooling and children’s adaptation in Paris
Children of Ukrainian refugees are required to attend school on an equal footing with French children, and special UPE2A classes with intensive language instruction are provided for children who do not speak French.
School enrolment is arranged through the district town hall or directly with the educational institution, and French-language adaptation support is handled by the academic structure CASNAV.
Specifics of qualification recognition for regulated professions
An ENIC-NARIC France statement does not automatically confer the right to practise as a doctor, lawyer, or engineer—for such professions there is a separate recognition procedure through the competent body, for example the Ordre or ARS for medical specialties.
Our experience shows that clients in a regulated profession should clarify the requirements of the specific authority before applying for a general statement of diploma comparability. This avoids wasting time on a procedure that still will not replace specialized recognition.
Common mistakes when handling matters independently
The most frequent mistake is filing an APS extension application only after the document has already expired, which creates a gap in lawful stay and complicates subsequent procedures.
Another widespread problem is applying for a standard carte de résident without taking into account that years under temporary protection do not count toward the five-year residence period.
Our experience shows that clients who plan a transition to another status in advance, rather than waiting for the temporary protection regime to end, complete all procedures significantly faster.
Which documents to prepare in advance
For most applications—APS extension, ADA claims, or family reunification—the same basic document package is useful.
- A valid international passport and the current APS with a temporary protection endorsement.
- Proof of address in France—a lease agreement or a certificate of accommodation.
- Documents on household composition with a French translation.
- Income statements when applying in connection with work, business, or a carte de résident.
Translations and certified copies prepared in advance significantly shorten the processing time for applications at the prefecture or CAF.
Obtaining a Carte Vitale at a Paris CPAM office
A Carte Vitale application is filed via ameli.fr or in person at a CPAM office, attaching the APS, a translated birth certificate, proof of address, and bank details (RIB).
A temporary social security number is usually assigned within two to six weeks, and the card itself arrives two to four months after a permanent number is assigned.
Our experience shows that until the physical card is received, a PDF certificate from the ameli.fr website is fully sufficient to obtain medical services without prepayment.
An expert view on long-term legalization strategy
Analysis of our cases shows that clients with stable employment in Paris should assess in advance a transition to an employment-based residence title so as to start the five-year clock for a carte de résident as early as possible.
We recommend reviewing one’s strategy at least once a year, especially in light of the coordinated exit strategy from the temporary protection regime under discussion at EU level.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a representative office in France and provides legal services in Paris across a full range of matters — from status extension to business formation and court representation.
Each situation has its own particularities — family composition, source of income, and plans for long-term residence in France — so a preliminary consultation helps select the right strategy from the outset.
The earlier a client seeks legal services in Paris, the less time is spent correcting errors and making repeated applications to French authorities.
