As governments move immigration services online, many asylum seekers are finding themselves trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare. Digital platforms, designed to streamline applications and renewals, are instead creating new barriers that leave thousands without legal status. From technical failures to a lack of in-person assistance, the shift to online systems is making it harder for asylum seekers to secure their rights.
In France, the ANEF digital platform has become a major source of frustration for migrants. Reports from organizations like La Cimade and Secours Catholique describe it as a system that effectively turns people into undocumented migrants. Many asylum seekers struggle to submit applications, retrieve documents, or renew permits due to frequent glitches. With no clear alternative, many are forced to hire expensive lawyers or risk losing their legal status altogether.
The consequences of these digital failures are severe. Without proper documentation, asylum seekers risk losing jobs, housing, and access to essential services. In some cases, they face deportation simply because they were unable to complete an online form. The Defender of Rights, France’s independent watchdog, reported a 400% increase in complaints related to foreigners’ rights between 2019 and 2023, with most cases linked to digital system failures.
Even the limited support offered by the government often proves ineffective. Digital Access Points, staffed by young volunteers, are meant to help asylum seekers navigate the system, but these workers lack the expertise to solve complex administrative issues. The state’s Citizen Contact Center, another supposed lifeline, is often unresponsive, leaving migrants with nowhere to turn.
Advocacy groups are calling for urgent reforms to prevent further harm. The Defender of Rights has proposed several solutions, including allowing non-digital alternatives, automatically renewing temporary residence permits, and improving telephone support at prefectures. Until real changes are made, however, thousands of asylum seekers will remain stuck in bureaucratic uncertainty, their futures dictated by the failures of an inaccessible system.
As more countries adopt digital-only immigration services, the risk of exclusion grows. If these platforms are to serve their purpose, they must be accessible to all—ensuring that no asylum seeker is denied their rights simply because they cannot navigate a flawed online system.