Mother's cooking dream delayed by residency issues

A mother of a family who arrived in Mayotte in 2017 and is passionate about cooking hopes to build a career from her skills and one day open her own snack bar. However, while waiting for the renewal of her residency permit, she claims she had to turn down several job opportunities. She chose to speak anonymously.

Waiting period weighs on daily life

She recounts, with emotional tone, a waiting period that weighs on her daily life. Having lived in Mayotte for nearly ten years, this mother of a family nurtures an ambition: to turn her passion for cooking into her profession. However, her project is hindered by her administrative status.

Cooking is her passion, but not recognized

"I am a real cook, I love it," she says. Behind the stoves, she enjoys preparing dishes and introducing her recipes. She regrets that her work is not always recognized. "They don't know that it's me behind the stoves," she confides.

Residency permit renewal delayed

While waiting for the renewal of her residency permit, she explains that her receipt expired on October 13. Since then, she has been waiting for a response from the prefecture, despite the steps she claims to have taken, including contacting the administrative court.

Administrative status hinders job prospects

This situation constitutes an obstacle to her professional integration. According to her testimony, employers are said to be willing to hire her as soon as her documents are up to date. "My temporary work agency confirms it: as soon as you have the papers, we hire you," she reports.

Missed opportunities and postponed dreams

She also claims to have turned down a permanent contract (CDI) due to her situation. "They offered me a CDI, I refused because of my situation," she explains. For this mother of a family, the administrative waiting period translates into missed work opportunities and a postponed life project. The right to work depends notably on the nature of the residency permit requested and the provisional document issued.

Residency procedures face institutional criticism

Her testimony comes in a context where difficulties related to residency procedures have been noted by several institutions. In a decision dated July 29, 2025, the Defender of Rights pointed out obstacles to the submission and processing of residency permit applications in Mayotte, as well as excessive delays and unjustified closures of cases.

National reports highlight worsening delays

Nationally, the institution has also warned, in a report published on July 17, 2026, about the degradation of the service provided to people requesting a residency permit. An investigation conducted among 65 prefectures, covering the period 2019-2023, notes the lengthening of processing times. These national findings, however, do not allow for a precise measurement of the specific delays in Mayotte.

Administrative court handles many disputes

The administrative court of Mayotte is also regularly dealing with disputes concerning the stay of foreigners. According to its 2025 report, disputes regarding removal and rejections of residency permits represent 79% of the appeals registered. Across all matters, the jurisdiction received 3,169 appeals, a rise of nearly 24% compared to 2024.

Hope remains in her cooking

Despite the difficulties, she continues to believe in her skills. She speaks enthusiastically about her recipes, particularly her pilao, which she proudly presents as "the best in Mayotte." Her ambition is to offer her dishes in her own snack bar and to be able to live from her activity.

Family support in times of uncertainty

In moments of discouragement, her daughter, a local, tries to reassure her. "Sometimes my daughter tries to reassure me. She tells me not to worry," she says. While waiting for the renewal of her residency permit, her dream remains suspended on the evolution of her administrative situation. Contacted by us, the prefecture did not wish to respond to our requests.