Helpful advice - Working in France

If you require only casual or seasonal work, then you will not require any form of permit and can simply start working without any of the beaurocracy normally associated with France.

However, if you are planning to relocate to France in your current job, or start working in a French company, then there are a number of considerations that both you and your employer should take into account in terms of working visas.

There are two types of work permit for France:

Temporary:

This is for a non-French company which needs to place their employees on it's client's site in France. This can be applied for by the foreign company but needs the full co-operation of the French client. The seconded employee must remain in the employ, pay, and line management of the foreign service provider. The maximum duration of these permit is 18 months and may then be extended for a further 9 months.

Full Work Permit:

This is applied for by an established French company who wish to directly employ a non-EEA national. The candidate must be a full time employee and paid in France in Francs or Euros.

There are three main things that are considered, in order of importance, that determine whether or not one is attributed a work permit:

1. Salary level
2. Education
3. The statute of "cadre" and a CDI contract (i.e, full-time employment)

The accepted requirements regarding experience and qualifications require that you must be a "professional" ("cadre"), so high-level work experience and a degree are essential. Knowledge of the French language is also taken into consideration and will only be of benefit to the application.

The candidate's salary should also exceed that of an equivalent French worker, on the basis that the government can claim reasonable levels of tax.

Holders of a "carte de sejour salarié" authorizing a candidate to work in "toutes professions salariés" in "France metropolitaine" means that one can occupy ANY salaried post in ANY profession provided that it is not a temporary job.

Education is very important as the French authorities consider highly-educated candidates more able to integrate into French society, which is a consideration in the work permit application, as well as the ability to speak French.

The status of "cadre" is also important. The closest translation of the term means that one is a effectively in a managerial position, or a high-level professional. This is a prerequisite for the application to be considered.
The higher the DDTEFP considers these above three three elements to be, the more general the work permit they would issue.

How do I apply?

Once you have signed the application, it enters the French bureaucratic system and must pass through four stages:
France deals with work permit applications regionally in local employment offices. There are a number of phases to the process:

1. The whole application and supporting documents must be lodged at the regional DDTEFP* office.
2. The DDTEFP* office approves the application, and returns it to the employer
3. The approved application is taken to the French consulate in the Candidate's country of residence.
4. The French consulate issues the long stay visa.
5. The candidate travels to France and is invited by the OMI to take a medical to be granted a residence permit from the police headquarters.