Verifying a person’s identity is necessary in a multitude of sectors to avoid fraud and impersonation.
The residence permits used today appeared in 2020 and are equipped with several security features: therefore, how do you check your French residence permit online and make sure that the document presented is authentic? Find out in this article!
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Control 1: general aspect for the online verification of a French residence permit
The first step for the verification of the French residence permit online / residence permit when you can have access to the original document is the overall aspect of the document: it must not show any trace of cutting, peeling, modification / rectification of any kind.
Pay particular attention to the level and around the photo.
The titre de séjour / carte de séjour is in ID-1 format, the size of a bank card, like the new driver’s license, for example.
Control 2: read, cross-check and verify the numbers and information on the residence permit / carte de séjour
Second step for the online verification of a French residence permit: check the consistency of the information on the document.
Document number
The document number can be found in three different places: in the top right-hand corner of the front panel, on the left-hand side of the front panel and in the first line of the MRZ strip.
All three must be identical:
Date of birth
Here again, the holder’s date of birth can be found in two separate places: in the middle right-hand corner of the recto and at the beginning of the second MRZ line in YYMMDD format:
Last name and first name(s)
The same goes for the first and last names, which can be found on the front of the card and in the third line of the MRZ stripe:
Type of owner
The gender of the holder is symbolized by “M” for men (male) and “F” for women (female). This information can be found on the front and in the second line of the MRZ strip:
Card expiry date
Another element present in duplicate on the card: the expiration date, which can be found on the front as well as in the second line MRZ in YYMMDD format:
AGDREF number
What is the AGDREF number?
When a foreign national arrives in France, an AGDREF number is automatically assigned to him. This number, made up of 10 digits, simplifies the management of applications for official documents and secures all the administrative procedures of the person concerned. The AGDREF, which stands for Application for the Management of Foreign Nationals in France, ensures the rights of individuals in a legal situation and fights against illegal stays.
Where can I find it on a titre de séjour / carte de séjour?
The AGDREF number can be found in three different places on a titre de séjour / carte de séjour: in the bottom center of the front, superimposed in the top left-hand corner of the back and in the first line of the MRZ strip:
Control 3: MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) or ZLA (Zone de Lecture Automatique) tape
The lower part of the residence permits / residence permits is made up of three lines that contain the information on the card, with validation keys that avoid misreadings or falsifications, in other words a relatively reliable way to check your French residence permit online!
You can find a comprehensive article detailing the information involved and how the security keys for online residence permit verification are calculated in our article at this address.
Control 4: safety features
An identity document has various elements to validate its authenticity.
This is the last step for the online verification of a French residence permit, as it is the longest.
Holographic device
A new-generation holographic device is used to protect the bull visible on the front of the residence permit.
The latter changes color depending on the orientation:
Secondary photo
A secondary or “ghost” photo in black and white is visible on the back of the card on the right side:
Electronic chip
An electronic chip is implanted in the document, enabling it to be read without contact.
Here again, it is possible to check your French residence permit online by cross-referencing the information from the chip with that on the card.
It can be found on the back of the document:
Multiple Laser Image
The acronym “RF” and the AGDREF number are used on the back of the title.
The image is changing depending on the orientation of the map.
This device is found on the back, top right of the title:
Ultraviolet control
Some elements are visible only under ultraviolet light, but this requires specialized equipment (so not suitable for checking your French residence permit online).
Front of title under ultraviolet light:
Verso of title under ultraviolet :
Conclusion
You now have all the keys to check your French residence permit online and make sure that it is authentic!
No need for specialized equipment: a little vigilance, time and you will be able to avoid most of the fraud that can be encountered on a daily basis!
Finally, if you need to verify the authenticity of documents as part of a rental application, we offer a dedicated service at the following address:
