Common French expressions and abbreviations
Acte de naissance = Birth certificate
APS, Authorisation provisoire de séjour = Provisional stay permit
APT, Autorisation provisoire de travail = Temporary work permit
Autorisation de travail = Work permit
Cartes de séjour = Residency permit
CR, Carte de résident = Permanent residency permit
CRA, Carte de résident de ressortissant algérien = Special permanent residency permit applicable to some Algerian citizens
CST, Carte de séjour temporaire = Temporary residency permit
DDTEFP, Direction départementale du travail, de l'emploi et de la formation professionnelle = the Department of Work, Employment and Training
Départment = administrative unit within France
EEE, Espace Economique Européen = EEA, European Economic Area (all 28 European Union member countries and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway)
Espace Schengen = Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Portugal)
Etat civil = equivalent to Birth and Marriage certificates
Mairie = Town Hall office
Préfecture de Police = French administrative body in charge of policing, regulation and law within its department
Pole Emploi = French National Employment Agency
OMI, Office des migrations internationales = French national service for international immigration
RCS, Récépissé de demande de carte de séjour = Receipt acknowledging an application for a residency permit
Sevices des étrangers = office for foreigners within Préfecture, which delivers residency permits
Sous-préfecture = local French administration body (under Prefecture) in charge of policing, regulation and law within its department
Titres de séjour = Residency permits
UE, Union Européen = EU, European Union (28 countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom)
Visa de court séjour = Short-stay visa
Visa de long séjour = Long-stay visa
Visa de transit aéroportuaire = Transit visa
Visa long séjour temporaire = Temporary long-stay visa