The AGDREF number is a number made up of 10 digits which appear on the residence permit. The AGDREF (Application for the Management of the Files of Foreign Nationals in France) makes it possible in particular to guarantee the right of residence to foreigners in a legal situation on French territory and to fight against irregular stays in France.
AGDREF serves to better guarantee the right of residence of people in a regular situation and to fight against the illegal entry and stay of foreigners in France. It contains personal data such as fingerprints and the administrative situation of the persons concerned.
What is this number for?
In concrete terms, the AGDREF number makes it possible to verify the identity of a foreigner and guarantees his right of residence in France. This is a file number that allows the services of the Ministry of the Interior to manage the files of foreign nationals, in particular in relation to their residence permits, travel permits or even movement documents on French territory. It not only facilitates the implementation of procedures for applications, production and renewal of residence permits, but also improves the authenticity of these documents.
The application for managing the files of foreign nationals in France is used to better guarantee the right of residence of people in a regular situation and to fight against the irregular entry and stay of foreigners in France. In concrete terms, this file aims to:
- enable the services of the Ministry of the Interior to ensure the examination of applications and the production of residence permits, travel documents and circulation documents issued to foreign nationals as well as the management of their files respective;
- better coordinate the action of the services responsible for implementing procedures affecting foreign nationals;
- improve the conditions for verifying the authenticity of residence permits and those of the identity of foreigners in an irregular situation;
- allow the management of the different stages of the procedure applicable to removal measures;
- compiling statistics on the stay and expulsion of foreign nationals;
- to help determine and enable the identity of a foreign national who submits an asylum application to be verified in the overseas departments, regions and communities;
- help to determine and enable the identity of a foreign national who declares himself to be a minor and who is temporarily or permanently deprived of the protection of his family to be verified (unaccompanied minor or “UM”);
- allow foreign nationals, in certain cases, to submit an application for a residence permit, travel document or its renewal by means of a teleservice.
Where is the AGDREF number?
The AGDREF number can be found on the residence permit or the OFII sticker. For people who arrived with a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS), it generally starts with 991 or the host department number. If the long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit has been validated online, the AGDREF number corresponds to the identification number or the foreign number marked on the visa validation.
For titles issued after 2011, the AGDREF number is on the right-hand side. For those issued before 2011, this is the number at the top right. Please note that only numbers are required. For 9-digit numbers that start with 00, another zero must be added at the beginning. Otherwise, for 9-digit AGDREF numbers, you must complete with a zero in the fifth position.
