How to report a Lost or Stolen Carte de Séjour

Your Carte de Séjour is your legal method of proof of residence in France so if it is lost or stolen, it is essential you follow the correct procedure according to the French Government advice to report its disappearance.

If your Carte de Séjour was stolen in France

First of all, you MUST report this theft to the local Gendarmerie or the Commissariat de Police. You will receive a receipt, a “récépissé” of this fact and you will need this to replace your Carte de Séjour successfully.

Afterwards, you must then make an application online for a replacement. To do this, you will need to have the proof of your report of the theft from the Police Station, a photocopy of your stolen Carte de Séjour (if you have one), proof of residence such as an EDF electricity bill (dated within the last 3 months) payment and an e-photo taken in one of the locally verified booths.

There is a cost to renew your Carte de Séjour.

If your Carte de Séjour was stolen abroad ie outside of France

You must follow a very similar procedure. You must report this theft to the local Police and make sure you receive documentation and a crime number. To receive your new Carte de Séjour, you will need to provide your passport details in addition to the above paperwork required for a theft in French territory. Your passport is to verify your travel abroad.

If you have lost your Carte de Séjour

You must report this to your local Préfecture as soon as possible. It will be immediately invalidated and you will need to complete the necessary steps to renew your Card with your local Préfecture.

Although it can be distressing to have lost your documents and even more so to have had them stolen, it is reassuring to know that the replacement process should be relatively straightforward.

Bonne chance!