Sophistication with a touch of bureaucracy: how Ukrainians in France don’t get lost in certificates, abbreviations, and requirements
Ukrainians seeking protection from the war in France often face the fact that instead of the desired stability, they are met by another front – a bureaucratic one. France is a country with centuries of administrative tradition that impresses with its passion for papers, seals and forms. Here, almost every official action is a legible algorithm, in which the main ones are a correctly designed form, signature and certificate. For people who came here in search of salvation, this is often a source of stress and powerlessness. However, this maze can be passed if you know what you are dealing with.
Form above all else: what makes foreigners puzzle
The foundations of the French bureaucracy were laid back in the era of absolute monarchy, when the power of King Louis XIV provided for total control, including documentary control. Later, the country went through revolutions, empires, republics, but the main feature – the desire to regulate everything – remained unchanged. This is where the idea comes from, that any social mechanism should work according to clearly written rules.
In the 21st century, France, despite the general trend towards digitization, is in no hurry to part with papers. Even the most modern online portals ask to upload a scan of a handwritten statement or a photographed receipt. Formality wins over functionality.
The French social security system is considered one of the most developed in the world. It covers a wide range of benefits — from financial payments for families with children to health insurance and housing subsidies. At the same time, access to these resources is possible only under the condition of complete and formally correct documentary support. Everything must be declared, confirmed, provided in the prescribed form – only then will the state recognize a person’s right to help.
Another key principle of the French administrative system is the pursuit of maximum equality. Standardized forms, unified procedures and requirements for supporting documents are designed to create a level playing field for everyone, regardless of citizenship, social status or origin. The idea is that clear rules and uniform bureaucratic language should ensure a fair distribution of rights and responsibilities among all participants in the system.
In France, special attention is paid to the protection of personal information. The state adheres to strict privacy standards: data is not just collected, but carefully checked and processed taking into account numerous legal restrictions. This adds another level of complexity to the process of applying for any benefits, but at the same time ensures that personal information is not used without consent and proper controls.
For Ukrainian refugees, who often arrive in a state of uncertainty, the bureaucratic reality of France is a real challenge. However, the problem lies not only in the volume of references, but also in specific terminology, differences between departments and internal contradictions of the system. Most often, Ukrainians come across incomprehensible abbreviations: CAF, CPAM, OFII, ANTS, URSSAF, DGFIP are institutions through which all key procedures go. They are responsible for payments, taxes, insurance, residence permits, but without explanation, these names look like coded messages. In order not to get confused, foreigners have to create their own dictionaries.
One of the main tests is “pièce justificative” — supporting documents. In France, you don’t submit a certificate just like that, there must always be appendices to it. And what is worse, the same documents may be needed again and again, even if they have already been submitted. In particular, the following are often requested: copies of passports, proof of address, bank details (RIB), income certificates or declarations.
A situation of a closed circle often arises: to receive one document, another is needed, and to receive this other, the previous one is needed again. For example, in order to issue a carte vitale, you need to have a residence permit, and to get a permit, they often ask for an already issued social security number. The way out of such situations is to request a temporary certificate “attestation en attente”.
Even those who speak French well can get lost in the terminology. Administrative language has its own grammar and vocabulary. Expressions like “attestation sur l’honneur” or “quittance de loyer datent de moins de trois mois” look intimidating, but for newly arrived refugees it is a completely different dimension. And here the main thing is not to be afraid to ask for explanations and not to give up after the first misunderstanding.
At first glance, France offers many online tools: medinsurance at ameli.fr, taxes at impots.gouv.fr, paperwork at ants.gouv.fr. There is even a help portal service-public.fr. However, using these sites is another adventure. They can “throw” the user, hang, not accept files due to the wrong format. In addition, even digital submissions rarely replace physical documents. More often than not, after submitting online, you will still have to send something by mail.
Survival hacks for Ukrainians
The key to survival is systematicity. You should immediately create separate folders (physical and electronic) for housing, medical affairs, immigration documentation, and finances. In addition, you should always have copies of documents at hand. Documents should be sent by registered mail with confirmation. When visiting the institution, write down the name of the employee and the content of the conversation. All of this may be needed if your request “gets lost” or someone says you didn’t submit anything.
Another tip is not to be afraid to ask questions. Service workers are not always friendly, but they understand that foreigners have a hard time. French society is generally tolerant of mistakes in filling out forms – if they see that you are trying.
France is a state that adheres to the principle of decentralization. This means that the same procedure may look different in different cities. A document accepted in Toulouse may not be valid in Bordeaux. Some departments require additional references, others have their own application templates. The same with receptions: often they are not even allowed to enter the institution without a prior appointment. And it can be difficult to make an appointment: there are no available dates on the websites, the phones are silent. The only way in this situation is persistence and regular attempts.
None of these problems are catastrophic. Millions of people in France pass this way every day, foreigners draw up documents, receive statuses, benefits, and payments. But this process requires time, calm and — most importantly — understanding that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
