Article D312-3 of the French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylum

A commission reporting to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior is responsible for examining administrative appeals against decisions to refuse long-stay visas taken by the diplomatic or consular authorities.

A commission reporting to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of the Interior is responsible for examining administrative appeals against decisions to refuse long-stay visas taken by the diplomatic or consular authorities.
The deputy director of visas, within the general directorate for foreign nationals in France of the Ministry of the Interior, is responsible for examining administrative appeals against decisions to refuse short-stay visas taken by diplomatic or consular authorities.

The referral to one or other of these bodies is subject to the approval of the Minister of the Interior.
Referral to one or other of these authorities, depending on the nature of the visa applied for, is a compulsory prerequisite for lodging a contentious appeal, failing which the latter will be inadmissible.

Original in French

Article D312-3

Une commission placée auprès du ministre des affaires étrangères et du ministre de l’intérieur est chargée d’examiner les recours administratifs contre les décisions de refus de visa de long séjour prises par les autorités diplomatiques ou consulaires.

Le sous-directeur des visas, au sein de la direction générale des étrangers en France du ministère de l’intérieur, est chargé d’examiner les recours administratifs contre les décisions de refus de visa de court séjour prises par les autorités diplomatiques ou consulaires.

La saisine de l’une ou l’autre de ces autorités, selon la nature du visa sollicité, est un préalable obligatoire à l’exercice d’un recours contentieux, à peine d’irrecevabilité de ce dernier.