French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylum
In forceWhere the stay is of a humanitarian nature or forms part of a cultural exchange, it must be planned as part of the activities of an organisation carrying out humanitarian or cultural activities. The foreign national must indicate the name of this organisation, its corporate purpose, the address of its registered office and, depending on the case, the reference of the articles of association of the association or the registration number of the company in the Trade and Companies Register or in the National Register of Companies as a company in the trades and crafts sector. It must specify the nature and dates of the humanitarian visit or cultural exchange. Lastly, they must produce a document certifying that they have been personally invited by the aforementioned organisation as part of the humanitarian visit or cultural exchange and, if they are not being accommodated by the organisation itself, the name and address of the natural or legal person providing the accommodation.
If the organisation mentioned in the first paragraph is approved, the foreign national may be exempted from presenting the reception certificate on the basis of the invitation mentioned in this paragraph alone.
Approval is granted, in the case of humanitarian organisations, by an order of the Minister for Immigration, the Minister for the Interior, the Minister for Social Affairs, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Health and, in the case of cultural organisations, by an order of the Minister for Immigration, the Minister for the Interior, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Culture. The approved organisation, if it does not itself provide accommodation for the foreign national, is required to inform the Prefect of the département in which the foreign national will be accommodated or, in Paris, the Police Prefect, of the name and address of the natural or legal person providing accommodation.
