Article L612-7 of the French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylum
When the foreign national has remained in the country illegally beyond the deadline for voluntary departure, the administrative authority issues a re-entry ban. Humanitarian circumstances may, however, justify the administrative authority not issuing a prohibition on return.The effects of this prohibition cease on expiry of a period, set by the administrative authority, which may not exceed two years from enforcement of the obligation to leave French territory.