You’ve made the move to France, and now you need to secure a job (or start that consulting, catering or tourist business you’ve always dreamed of starting). Or maybe you’ve noticed that France has a shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing or engineering, and think you could offer your services while living a French life (with all the famed social services and work /life balance included). The good news is that there are multiple paths to securing a work visa in France, for those in the EU, as well as for UK citizens post-Brexit and other non EU-nationals.
Many things might surprise you about working in France, from the 35 hour work week (somewhat mythical depending on your work position) to the legal right to disconnect on weekends, to the fact that French workers have one of the highest productivity rates in the world.
Share this:
Working in France as an EU citizen vs non-EU citizen
EU/EEA citizens have the right to live and work in France without a work permit. Until January 1, 2021 this included British citizens who only needed a train ticket or a full tank of petrol to cross the Channel and set up home and shop in France, or start a job search. Since that date, Brits are no longer part of the EU, or eligible for indefinite stays in France without the right visa. They, and citizens of the US, Canada, Australia or any other non-European union country, must first secure a residence visa, then a work visa to be professionally active in France.
The first step is to understand that there are quite a few different kinds of work visas and the process for each is a little different. This post will help demystify the French visa process and give you an overview and several resources to allow you to move forward to being a salarié/e or travailleur/se independent/e in France. It will also lay out the circumstances in which you don’t need a visa for work purposes. The information given here provides a general overview. To secure work visas, or start your own business we highly recommended that you consult and work with legal and finance experts in France. And keep the French Government Visa website at your fingertips, it’s a clearly laid out invaluable resource.
Do I need a French work visa?
No Under the Schengen Visa Waiver you can travel and perform some professional activities without having to secure a visa for work. This is only for 90 days within a 180 day period. Some examples of these types of work include: attending business or board meetings, or trade fairs. You can meet clients or customers (potential or actual), attend a job interview, do research or fact finding. The list for this visa exemption carries over to individuals taking part in sporting, cultural, artistic and scientific events, including for example, artists and the technical production team on a film shoot, audio-visual content or television show, fashion models working on a shoot or runway show, experts in architecture, engineering, finance, insurance, IT and management working on assignments. Domestic help based in the UK but accompanying a private individual or family on a trip to France don’t need visas either.
Yes As in any country, France requires different working visas depending on circumstances and positions in question. These range from part-time work for students on a learning stay, to temporary or seasonal work, to the coveted EU Blue Card for highly skilled/educated workers. A job in STEM makes this last one easier. Being a talented artist or entertainer is also a good way to facilitate the visa process. So, surprisingly, can be starting your own business in France.
Generally speaking, you need to apply for a French long-stay work permit when:
Working for a French company on a long-term French employment contract
Transferring long term to the French branch of a UK-based company
Providing long-term services to a client in France
Carrying out self-employed work
Conducting research work.
If you’re an employee recruited to work in France for more than 90 days, the procedure starts with an application for a long-stay work visa which will also serve as your residence permit. If you’re an employee of a French company, your employer will draw up a contract and send it to their local division of the French Ministry of Labour. Once approved it’s sent to the Office Francais de l’Immigration et de l’Integration (OFII).
For British nationals, the UK government website guide for travel to France for work provides comprehensive information about the procedures for each of these visas. As Britain is no longer part of the EU, this guide could be useful to other non-EU nationals wanting to secure work visas in France as the requirements are now very similar.
Family members of someone who is coming to France to work at certain high skilled jobs can follow in what are known as family reunification visas. Spouses may also be entitled to work in France depending on several factors, including the length of time the primary visa holder has lived in France and the kind of permit they have. The employer takes care of the visa procedures for accompanying family members of contracted employees as they did with the employee’s own.
Different types of work visas and permits in France
The Talent Passport permit France, with its love of culture and the arts, offers a “Talent Passport,” (equivalent to a work permit) to non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. The multi-year Talent Passport which the French government put into effect in 2015, is available to different categories of professionals. Generally speaking it’s for those who can prove compelling and or special skills that would let the individual make a significant contribution to the French economy, especially in intellectual, scientific, cultural, sporting, or humanitarian fields. Employees already holding an employment contract with an employer established in France may also be eligible for this Talent Passport.
The permit is broken down into the following ten categories:
Skilled recent graduates
Employees of an innovative company
Highly-skilled workers (EU Blue Card holders, see below)
Employees on a mission with a French work contract
Researchers/scientists
Champions of an innovative economic project
Economic or financial investor
Company representatives
Artist/Performers
A person internationally or nationally renowned in science, literature, arts, education, or sports
Executives, independent professionals, or employees who, generally must be involved in a specific project, can apply for this four-year, renewable residence permit. Requirements for getting the permit ball rolling vary, depending on which above category you fall into, but, generally speaking, you must:
Provide documentation Have a bachelor’s degree or higher A detailed CV Information about the work Evidence of sufficient funding
Family members of a holder of a Talent passport are entitled to a vie privée et familiale card, allowing the spouse of the holder to work legally in France after five years, and are also eligible for the long-term EC resident card.
An EU Blue Card gives highly-qualified workers from outside the EU a multi-year visa with the right to live and work in an EU country, provided they have higher professional qualifications, such as a university degree, and an employment contract or a binding job offer with a high salary compared to the average in the EU country where the job will take place. It’s offered in different countries in the EU and is similar to the Temporary Residence Permit.
In France, to be eligible, foreign employees must have evidence of some or all of the following:
A permanent employment contract or a fixed-term employment contract for at least 12 months with an employer established in France Educational qualification of at least 3 years’ higher education, or documents providing evidence of 5 years’ commensurate professional experience Gross annual pay of at least 1.5 times the average annual gross salary set by decree, which was €53,836.50 as of January 1, 2022.
The EU Blue Card is valid for four years, and those who have it can then immediately get permanent residence if they maintain their jobs. You must work in the field for which you were admitted to the scheme for two years; then you can take on any highly qualified work. After five years, you’re eligible for the renewable, 10-year, long-term work visa.
Holders of a European Union Blue Card from another EU Member State, may be issued with a French residence permit if they apply within one month of entering France provided they’ve lived in the other EU member state for at least 18 months.
Don’t be confused if you see this specific permit also included in the highly-skilled workers (EU Blue Card holders) qualification category of the Talent Passport permit. There is indeed overlap.
Special Visa
If you have special skills that entice a company (recognised as innovative by the French Ministry of Economy), consider yourself lucky, as you can also potentially benefit from a French Tech Visa for Employees, part of the Talent Passport portfolio, and your company will typically be responsible for securing the visa and doing all the paperwork.
Temporary workers' permit.
Foreign employees not eligible for a Talent Passport may still be granted access to the French labour market through a temporary residence permit provided that their employer has secured a work visa for them.
An example of this: If you’re a scientist, researcher, or teacher planning on working in France for less than 90 days, your employer must organize a valid work permit (convention d’accueil) for you at the time of travel. Typically they secure this through the French Ministry of Labor, the DIRECCTE (Direction regionale des enterprises, de la concurrence et de la consummation, du travail et de l’emploi), or a convention d’accueil stamped by the local prefecture (French local authority/administrative office). You or they will also need to arrange short-stay work visa for less than 90 days, unless of course you’re from the EU/EEA/Switzerland. Short term work permits (up to 90 days) are necessary if, for example, you are transferring short term from a UK or other foreign branch of a company to a branch in France or working for a French company on a short term contract
Exceptional economic contribution permit
If you’re a foreign investor committed to investing at least €10 million in tangible or intangible assets into the French economy, or are planning or agree to create or save at least 50 jobs in France, you can be eligible for a 10-year residence permit. Your spouse and minor children also get the same rights. Again this might overlap with the passeport talent permit above (in the economic and financial investors qualification category). This visa is valid for as long as you are an exceptional economic contributor. Although this residence card can be considered as elite, it should be one of the first options explored as a foreign entrepreneur wanting to run a business in France and to obtain residency. The prefect may issue the residence permit if he considers the economic contribution made, or agreed to be made by the applicant to be exceptional in its specific characteristics or in the situation of the area of employment in question.
Starting your own business in France
As much as it’s advised to work with legal, notary and financial advisors when beginning the process of obtaining visas above, it’s more so the case when starting your own company in France. Experts from the professional body of French accountants, the ‘l’Ordre des Expert-Comptables, or local Chamber of Commerce, and a notaire can be accessed through Notaires de France.
Setting up your own business in France is more lengthy than being hired as a salarié or salariée (employee) of another company. But it’s apparently easier for foreign residents to start their own business in France than in many other countries: A 2013 Ernst & Young report stated so, saying that it was easier, cheaper, and faster to start up a business in France than most other G20 countries. This may seem surprising to expats who’ve spent long afternoons over many different days in months at various caisses (health, unemployment, social security, etc, each of which you are required to sign up for), in a traditionally byzantine procedure. But the process has indeed become more streamlined in the last few years. You’ll still need resolve and plenty of photocopier ink as you’ll have to supply many documents such as tax declarations, and bank statements. But acquiring micro-entrepreneur status, formerly known as an auto-entrepreneur is a great path to take when you want to be self-employed, or freelance, or just have a side gig in France.
In France you need to establish your micro-entrepreneur status before starting to work because you need to include a SIRET business identification number on all invoices and to get into all the mandatory social services and tax departments. You’ll have to apply through one of five recognized business categories, each of which has its own registration center (Centre de Formalités des Entreprises or CFE). These categories are:
Commercial or industrial, such as running a shop, café or factory
Trades/artisan, which includes building trades, other manual jobs, some manufacturing
Independent or freelance professional – working independently and providing a service such as a dentist, writer, interpreter, musician
Commercial agent, where you act – negotiate or sell for example – on behalf of another company
Agricultural. You’ll also have to establish the type of business structure and its accompanying tax regime for your business i.e. whether you will be a sole trader (entreprise individuelle or EI); or a company (société). There is one for each of the categories in each department in France and that will be your point of contact.
To find the correct CFE for your type of business, click on this list. Of course you also need to make sure that French authorities recognize your qualifications and degrees. Prepare to bring or upload and send the following documents for business registration:
Proof of address (utility bill, rental agreement)
Valid ID (valid passport or national travel ID, residence card).
The CFE will process your application and send your documents to the relevant departments such as social security, tax office, and eventually the health department.
Finally the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), will register your company with the national business directory and allocate your SIREN.
Working for a foreign company while living in France
It’s perfectly legal to work in France for a foreign employer. Many tourism jobs catering to English speakers (such as tour guides, for instance), are available through foregin companies registered outside of France. But, if you live and work in France, your employer should be paying into the French social security system in return for which you will be registered in the France healthcare and unemployment departments, among others. Obviously if you aren’t an EU citizen you would need to obtain your carte de séjour first.
Student and Research Visas
Foreign students in France might be able to work a maximum of 964 hours in part time paid jobs as part of their student visa. Students can also do internships (convention de stage), though these are typically unpaid. Your home country school or college will have to issue an attestation of internship, and you, proof of financial security (approximately €615 per month), and accommodation. A temporary scientists/researchers work permit is available if you have at least a master’s degree and will be carrying out research or teaching at the university level. This is known as the carte de séjour temporaire ‘mention scientifique’ and is valid for one year, and renewable annually for up to four years. You will need a hosting agreement (convention d’accueil) from a scientific organization or university. (Also: see short term work visas above).
Seasonal workers permit
Temporary or short term visas for seasonal work are available. Some scenarios that would make your stay fall under this category include: employment for a seasonal contract lasting more than three months (typically renewable yearly for up to three years) for a maximum of six months out of every 12. (After that period you are not eligible to remain in France.) Your family may not join you.
Typical expat jobs
As mentioned in the Talent Passport section of this post, top of the list of long term jobs that tend to seek talented and experienced workers within the EU and outside, are jobs in STEM fields. Likewise, manufacturing, technology, agriculture, energy, and tourism are also leading industrial sectors in France and people possessing special skills in these areas make up a large proportion of expat visa holders. Other typical expat jobs include corporate or managerial positions of British or other foreign companies. If that’s you, typically it’ll be up to your company to arrange your visa once they can prove that your specialized skills and unique qualifications will be beneficial to the company (and France!). Typically the company will do the heavy visa lifting. Other typical expat jobs include teaching English, au pair, or tour guides.
Where and how to look for a job
Update your LinkedIn profile and other online job profiles
Make sure your resume or CV is up to date
Having a CV done French-style is a good idea. If the job you are applying for was posted in English, you might be fine sending your information in English. Otherwise you should think about having your CV professionally translated into French. Here is an example of aFrench specific resume
Do LinkedIn searches for businesses in your areas of interest or expertise and fire away your CV with a cover letter.
Check out the French national employment agency Pôle Emploi which lists all kinds of jobs including manual, unskilled and casual work and APEC, the national employment agency for professional and managerial jobs. The Local France Jobs, and the classifieds in French daily newspaper Le Figaro have long been good sources for jobs.
Another path: Think long term by getting a job in your home country with an office in France and transfer after a period of time.
People looking to work as au pairs are well served by these sites: Go Overseas, GreatAuPair, or Nannies Abroad.
If you want to teach English as a second language try ESL job sites.
XPatJobs.Com is a good source for English teaching and childcare jobs.
If you are searching for a job in the kitchens of a restaurant, or at an art gallery or fashion house, send letters to your dream company. They might offer stages or temporary work and this could lead to more down the line if you can prove exceptional talents or skills, or innovations.
Tourism jobs are usually plentiful, as there is always demand for English-speaking tour guides. (Of course you have to have in-depth knowledge of the places you hope to show to visitors). Often tourist companies are foregin owned and registered outside of France. Make sure that you are still legally able to work in France in those cases.
PR, Marketing and Social Media jobs are other areas to look at as they are often looking for English speakers to provide their content.
For casual jobs, check the job boards (either virtual or physical ones ) at typical expat gathering places such as the American Church, British Church, The British Library, Canadian Culture Centre, etc. all of these in Paris.
Citizens of EU/EFTA countries can access EURES, the European Job Mobility Portal set up by the European Commission to aid free movement within the zone. You can also upload your CV as well as use it as a resource for legal and administrative issues.
And if all else fails, and you are not at this time able to secure French working status, you might explore the option of working remotely from France, for your company at home.
Summary
Keep your chin up and learn French: France is a global world player with many English-dominant companies, but it's still obviously much easier to find a job if you speak the language. It may take time but once you’ve secured the right to work in France, then found your dream job, working in France is an experience that you’ll never forget.
Be the first to comment!