Asylum seekers are entitled to accommodation, emergency care, basic health
care, and a temporary allowance (the amount of which will be less if applicant is
residing inside a reception center for asylum seekers) during the application review
process.620 Applicants are entitled to education, and are allowed access to the labor
market after a waiting period of one year.621
Palestinians applying for asylum in France may do so even if they do not possess
a passport, visa, or identity document.622 Applicants must provide the prefecture
(regional governmental unit) with the address of the place where they are staying. If
an applicant does not have access to stable housing, he or she may provide OFPRA
the address of an authorized aid organization within the prefecture.623
3. Refugee Status Determination Process: The Legal Framework
France has adopted the language of the Refugee Convention in Article L711-1 of its
Code of Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (“Code de l'entrée
et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile”), and those asylum seekers who fulfill
the criteria of Article 1A(2) of the Refugee Convention are granted asylum in France.624
Article L711-1 also extends the status of refugees to all persons falling under
UNHCR’s mandate.625 Moreover, Article 712-1 establishes the criteria for granting
subsidiary protection, in accordance with Article 15 of the Qualification Directive
– i.e., if the person concerned faces serious risk of death penalty, or serious and
individual threat to a civilian’s life or person by reason of indiscriminate violence in
situations of international or internal armed conflict.626
4. Refugee Status Determination: Article 1D
Case 543380, A, of 10 November 2005627
In this 2005 case, the National Court of Asylum rejected a Palestinian asylum
seeker’s application for refugee status. The asylum seeker fled due to general
insecurity and persecution on the part of the Israeli army, which he claimed infringed
his freedom of movement. Notably, the Court rejected the asylum claim on the basis of
620
Ibid.
Ibid.
622
State of France, “Code de L’entrée et Du Séjour Des Étrangers et Du Droit D’asile (Version
Consolidée Au 15 Novembre 2014),” November 15, 2014, http://codes.droit.org/cod/entree_
sejour_etrangers_droit_asile.pdf, Article L211-1.
623
Ministère de l’Intérieur, Guide Du Demandeur d’Asile, 9, Item 2.1(5).
624
State of France, “Code de L’entrée et Du Séjour Des Étrangers et Du Droit D’asile (Version Consolidée
Au 15 Novembre 2014),” Article L711-1.
625
Ibid.
626
Ibid., Article L712-1.
627
Commission des Recours des Réfugiés (CRR), Contentieux Des Réfugiés: Jurisprudence Du Conseil
d’État et de La Commission Des Recours Des Réfugiés, Année 2005 (Cour Nationale du Droit d’Asile
(CNDA), Mai 2006), 21, http://www.cnda.fr/content/download/5153/15589/version/1/file/
recueil2005_anonymise.pdf.
621
Survey of Protection at the National Level
127
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