You married a French citizen and the French consulate in Dakar refused your visa? French law protects you more than any other applicant: a long-stay visa is granted as of right to the spouse of a French national. The authorities may refuse it in only three specific cases. Any other ground is unlawful.
The only three lawful grounds for refusal
Under Article L312-3 of the French Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (CESEDA), a visa for the spouse of a French national may only be refused in the event of:
- Fraud: sham marriage, forged documents, falsified civil status records;
- Annulment of the marriage by a court;
- Threat to public order.
A refusal based on insufficient income, lack of accommodation or a “risk of not returning” therefore has no legal basis for a spouse of a French national.
What the consulate most often objects to
- Doubts about the sincerity of the marriage (age gap, short relationship, few shared memories, inconsistencies during the interview);
- Civil status records considered irregular (late registration, supplementary judgment, inconsistencies between records);
- Marriage not yet transcribed into the French civil status registers.
In practice, the consulate must prove the fraud. It cannot rely on mere suspicion.
How to challenge the refusal
- Appeal to the CRRV within 30 days (Commission de recours contre les décisions de refus de visa). This step is mandatory before any court action.
- Action before the Administrative Court of Nantes if the Commission rejects the appeal, expressly or by remaining silent for two months.
- Urgent application (référé-suspension) where the separation of the couple causes serious and immediate harm.
Evidence that makes the difference
- Proof of the relationship before and after the wedding: photos, messages, call history, trips;
- Money transfers and joint plans;
- Proof of the French spouse’s visits to Senegal;
- Consistent civil status records and a transcribed marriage.
Decisions obtained by our correspondent law firm
Some cases won by FB AVOCAT, our correspondent law firm in France, in comparable situations (case reports in French):
- Annulation d’un refus de visa d’un futur conjoint de Français
- Régularisation d’un conjoint de Français
How we help
Legal Field Avocats in Dakar, together with FB AVOCAT, our correspondent law firm in France, analyses the refusal decision, builds the evidence file, drafts the appeal to the CRRV and, where needed, takes the case to the Administrative Court of Nantes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reapply instead of appealing? Yes, but a new application without new evidence is often refused on the same grounds, and the 30-day deadline for the appeal keeps running.
Does the marriage have to be transcribed? A marriage celebrated abroad must be transcribed to be effective in France with regard to third parties (Civil Code, art. 171-5). Our civil status pages explain the procedure (in French).
Spouse visa refused? You have 30 days. Call us on +221 33 844 29 16.
Sources: CESEDA, articles L312-3 and D312-3 to R312-6; French Civil Code, article 171-5. Accessed on 4 November 2026.
LEGAL FIELD AVOCATS
14 rue Woro Fila, Fann Hock, Dakar, Senegal
Phone: +221 33 844 29 16
Email: contact@fbavocat-sn.com
Our correspondent law firm in France:
FB AVOCAT
11 rue Galin, 33100 Bordeaux, France
Phone: +33 9 85 40 18 64
Email: contact@legalfb-avocat.fr