If this happens to your application it’s usually bad news – but if you have been arrested you will likely be delighted to hear this.
Why do I need to know classement sans suite?
This French phrase is important to know, especially if you’re dealing with legal matters.
What does it mean?
The phrase classement sans suite, roughly pronounced klahs-mahn sahn sweet (listen here), is a legal term that means a case is dropped, the matter is dismissed without prosecution and no further action is taken.
This decision is taken by the public prosecutor and means that they have decided that there is no case to answer, and the person will not face further judicial action. This phrase is a particularly legal term used in police complaints, criminal investigations or decisions by prosecutors.
It’s commonly seen in headlines when a case has been dropped against a famous or high-profile person.
The phrase can also be used in administrative settings, and here it usually means that your request or application has been cancelled.
If you are applying for citizenship or a residency permit in France, classement sans suite means that your file has been closed without being processed – which means it has been dismissed without anyone looking at your application.
This is usually due to a procedural error, such as applying too early, or a failure to meet the application requirements.
These types of dismissals most typically happen early on in the process, although they can happen at any time if you fail to meet the requirements of the application process within the timeframe required, for example if you fail to send extra documents when requested.
The phrase is, however, also used in casual speech too to refer to any kind of rejection or dismissal – someone might say mon dossier a été classé sans suite (my application was not accepted), as slightly ironic and dramatic way to describe the situation.
Use it like this
Le procureur a décidé un classement sans suite. – The prosecutor decided to drop the case.
L’avocat de Rima Hassan annonce le classement sans suite d’une enquête sur un «prétendu» stupéfiant découvert en garde à vue (Le Figaro) – Rima Hassan’s lawyer has announced that an investigation into an ‘alleged’ narcotic substance discovered while she was in police custody has been dropped.
Violences conjugales : pourquoi autant de classements sans suite ? (Le Monde) – Domestic violence: why are so many cases dismissed?
