Information for Applicants

Applicants are advised that if the Directorate-General makes a decision on refusal of an application submitted at a diplomatic mission for the issuance, replacement or substitution of a residence permit, or for the extension of a national permanent residence permit issued in the interests of the national economy, or terminates the procedure, it will serve the decision on refusal by public notice, as postal delivery to an address abroad cannot be tracked.

To facilitate the exercise of clients’ rights, the Directorate-General notifies the diplomatic mission of the decision served by public notice as described above – at the same time as forwarding the latter one. The applicant is then informed at the diplomatic mission – in addition to being given the decision – that a decision has been issued in their case and served by public notice, and that the legal effects attach exclusively to service of the decision by public notice; accordingly, the time limit for lodging any appeal must be calculated from the date of service by public notice.

The decision is deemed served on the 15th day following publication of the notice on the website. An appeal against a decision on refusal of a residence permit application or terminating the procedure may be lodged within 8 days of service. If an application for the extension of a national permanent residence permit issued in the interests of the national economy is rejected, the appeal period is 15 days.

It should also be emphasised that the Directorate-General serves decisions in accordance with the legislation in force. This means that, in addition to serving decisions on the client by public notice, it also serves them on the client’s authorised representative or legal representative in the prescribed manner.

We therefore ask applicants to check the public notices regularly and pay particular attention to appeal deadlines.