ANEF statuses: what each status of your file means

By The FrenchPappers team · Published on 20 July 2026 · Last checked on 20 July 2026 · 6 min read

On the ANEF (the official portal for foreign nationals' procedures in France), each status has a precise meaning. "On deposit", "review in progress", "decision made" or "closed": we translate what you see on screen, the normal time before worrying and the action to take.

You log in to your ANEF account, you see a word — "closed", "on deposit", or worse, nothing at all — and the worry sets in. The ANEF (Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France, the official portal of the Ministry of the Interior where most residence permit applications are filed) displays statuses that are not always self-explanatory. Here we offer you a clear glossary: for each label, what it means, whether it is normal, the reasonable time to wait before becoming alarmed, and the precise action to take.

The official ANEF statuses, in order

A residence permit file normally goes through four stages displayed by the prefectures:

• Filing of the application : the application is registered but not yet handled by an officer.
• Review in progress : your file is being examined. This is the longest stage.
• Decision made : the prefecture has ruled. The decision can be viewed in your account.
• Residence permit available : the card is manufactured, a summons is sent to you by email to collect it.

The labels that panic you ("closed", "disappeared") are not extra stages: they are other ways of saying where your file stands. Here is the translation.

Each status translated, and the action to take

"My file has disappeared": it is almost never lost

This is the status that worries people most, because there is no status at all anymore. Rest assured: your credentials, your file number and your history remain valid. The ANEF only tracks the review phase; once the decision is issued, the file may no longer appear on the home screen without this meaning any loss.

Three useful reflexes: first check that you are logged in with the email address used when filing (a common mistake is having two accounts). Next, go through the "Mes démarches" section rather than the home page. Finally, if the file remains untraceable, report the anomaly via the ANEF contact form. If your disappearance coincides with a file that had been stagnating for months, read our pillar page on the blocked ANEF file: causes and remedies.

"Closed file": it is not necessarily a refusal

Closure simply means that the review is finished. It covers three very different situations, and only reading the reason in your account lets you know which one concerns you:

• Favourable decision : you receive a favourable decision attestation, then a summons to collect it. Manufacturing the card generally takes 4 to 6 weeks.
• Unfavourable decision : a refusal notification details the reasons and the avenues of appeal. You are not without a solution: see how to react to a residence permit refusal and the possible appeals.
• Closure for an incomplete file or documents not provided : if a requested document was not submitted within the indicated deadline, the file is closed. You can then refile a compliant application. Our guide to filling in your ANEF file properly helps you avoid repeating the mistake.

"Still on deposit, never under review": from when should you worry

Remaining "on deposit" for several weeks is normal: moving to the review stage depends on the prefecture's workload. The legal benchmark to know is the four-month period: article R. 432-2 du CESEDA provides that silence maintained for four months on a residence permit application gives rise to an implied decision of rejection. The Council of State confirmed this in an avis du 6 May 2025 (n° 499904), specifying that the issuance of a receipt or a renewal attestation does not push back this deadline.

Concretely: if your status has not changed after roughly four months, it is no longer a simple wait, it is the time to follow up with the prefecture and consider your options. Also remember to file your renewal at the right moment — between 2 and 4 months before your permit expires — to avoid enduring these delays under pressure.

What the ANEF does not display (and why your receipt matters)

The ANEF does not tell you why your file is advancing slowly, nor what is happening internally. Nor does it replace your temporary residence document. For an online filing, you receive a filing attestation, then, if your permit expires before the decision, a review-extension attestation that justifies the lawfulness of your stay. These documents have real value: know what your receipt and the rights it opens during the review. We cannot promise the granting of a permit nor predict an exact deadline: each prefecture and each situation is different.

Frequently asked questions

Does "decision made" mean my card is accepted?

No. It means that the prefecture has ruled, one way or the other. Open "Mes documents" and "Mes notifications": the direction of the decision (favourable, refusal, closure) is specified there, along with the next steps.

How long do I have to respond to a request for documents?

The exact deadline is shown on screen with a cut-off date: it is that date that is authoritative, respect it. Past this deadline, the file may be closed automatically. Submit the document as soon as possible, without waiting until the last day.

My file no longer appears: should I file a new one?

Not in haste. First check the right account and the "Mes démarches" section. An unnecessary new filing can create duplicates and complicate your tracking. Instead, report the anomaly via the contact form.

The status has not changed for months, is it serious?

Below four months, it is common. Beyond that, silence may constitute an implied decision of rejection (article R. 432-2 du CESEDA): it is the time to follow up and, if needed, to have your file checked.