Obtaining a work permit in France: France work visa requirements

Want to work in France? Our guide on the French work visa will give you an overview of the work visa requirements and application process.

Jale

5 minute read

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Updated on 16 Aug 2024

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Moving

So you've landed a job in France. Great! Applying for a work permit in France is a relatively easy process as a lot of it can be done online.

In this guide, we'll tell you about how to apply for a work visa in France and its requirements after your employer has secured a work permit for you.

A work visa for France is mandatory for most non-European citizens who want to work in France for longer than 90 days. With this visa, you’re allowed to live and work in France for the duration stated on your work permit.

The following non-European citizens do not need a work visa for stays of up to 1 year: Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Holy See, and foreigners with an EU long-term resident permit.

For most jobs, the France work visa requirements are straightforward. Your French employer will apply for a French work permit on your behalf and once that is approved, you can apply for a work visa.

But for certain regulated professions, like lawyer, medical professional, or architect, it’s difficult to get a job in France as a non-European. These require certificate of comparability for diplomas, approvals from professional bodies, knowledge of French language, and more.

Then there’re positions in the sovereign public services (defense, justice, taxes, police, etc.) that are closed to non-French citizens.

France offers several types of work visas. Which one you need depends on your qualifications, the job you’re hired for, and the duration of your stay.

Here’re 3 of the most common work visas for expats in France:

VLS-TS refers to visa equivalent to a residence permit. With this type of visa, you don’t need to apply for a residence permit in your first year of stay.

1. Employee VLS-TS: for employees with a permanent contract or a contract longer than 1 year. This visa is valid for 1 year and is also known as “salarie” long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit.

2. Temporary VLS-TS: for employees with a fixed-term contract of 3-12 months. It’s valid for 1 year and is also known as “travailleur temporaire” long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit.

3. Talent Passport (passeport talent): a multi-year residence permit valid for up to 4 years for highly skilled foreigners who will help enrich the economy of France. This permit is also a work permit and you can bring your spouse and minor children with you.

Note: If your contract is up to 12 months long, you’ll receive a Talent Passport VLS-TS, which is valid for 1 year.

Who is eligible for a talent passport (passeport talent)?

There’re different types of talent passport visas, depending on your exact qualifications. Here’s 3 ways you can qualify for a Passeport Talent visa in France:

1. As a highly skilled employee, you can get a ‘Talent passport - EU Blue card’ if:

• You’ve a contract longer than 12 months
• You’ve completed 3 years of higher education or have at least 5 years comparable of work experience
• You earn at least €53,836.50 (as of 2022)

2. As a French graduate, you can get a ‘Talent passport - Qualified employee’ if:

• You’ve obtained a Master’s degree or equivalent from a French higher education instituion
• You’ve a work contract that is longer than 3 months
• You earn a minimum of €40,295 (as of 2022), which is twice the national minimum salary

3. You can get a ‘Talent passport - Employee of a young innovative company’ if:

• Your French employer has the status of a jeune entreprise innovante – JEI
• You’ve a work contract that is longer than 3 months
• You earn a minimum of €40,295 (as of 2022)
• You play an active role in the R&D of the company

You can apply for your French work visa after you’ve been hired for a job in France and your future employer has received a work authorisation (autorisation de travail) from DIRECCTE.

Once your work authorization has been sent to the French consulate/embassy in your country of residence via OFII, you’ll have 6 months to start the visa application process.

1. Fill up the visa application form on France Visas website or apply in person if you’re not eligible to apply online.
2. Make an appointment at the consulate, embassy or the visa centre, ideally, 3 months before your arrival date in France.
3. Come to your appointment with all the required documents and their copies (mentioned below). Pay the visa fees, submit your biometrics, and do a short interview (if applicable).
4. Use the reference number given to you to track the status of your application.

Required documents to apply for a work in France

Here’re the France work visa requirements:

• Passport, valid until 3 months after your visa expires
• 3 passport-sized photos
• Receipt of the France-Visas application form
• Printed Cerfa form with your photo and signature (long-stay visa form)
• For talent passport applicants, Cerfa 15614*01 filled by your employer
• Copy of the work authorization
• An employment contract signed by both you and your future employer
• Your CV and other qualifications, such as degree certificates.
• Proof of minimum financial means (recent bank statements and contract stating new salary)
• Proof of health insurance
• Payment of the application fee
• Certificate of no criminal record

All these documents must be officially translated in French and legalised.

How much does the work visa cost in France?

The French work visa (long-stay visa) application cost is €99.

How long is the processing time for a France work visa?

The typical processing time for a French work visa is 2 months following the submission of the completed application.

If you don’t receive a positive result within 2 months of your application, your application is considered rejected. You’ll receive a written explanation detailing the refusal and the deadline for making an appeal.

Validate your work visa

You’ve a work visa with VLS-TS: validate your visa online within 3 months of your arrival. Otherwise your visa won’t be equivalent to a residence permit. You’ll need your visa number, arrival date, French residence address, and a card for online payment. Once the OFII office processes your application, you may be invited for a medical check-up__ and/or to sign the Republican Integration Contract (CIR).

You’ve a passeport talent visa: apply for your multi-year residence permit within 2 months of your arrival__ in France. Apply via the police headquarters if you’re living in Paris or the local prefecture if in another city. The required documents will be stated on the prefecture’s website.

The administrative cost of validating your visa or applying for a permit is €225 (tax of €200 to OFII and €25 for stamp duty). After this payment, you can begin working in France.

Get your taxpayer identification number

Obtaining a tax identification number (simplification des procedures d’Imposition) is mandatory for everyone working in France.

Get health insurance

You’re eligible for public health insurance after 3 months of living in France. As an employee your company will sign you up for public health insurance in France. This will cover majority of your healthcare costs.

Open a French bank account

Once you arrive in France, you must open a French bank account to receive your salary. But to open a bank account, you must show proof of address. Booking your house before your relocation to France will accelerate the process.

When booking your accommodation in France, use trusted platforms like Housing Anywhere to avoid scams.

A change of employer is possible if you continue to meet the eligibility requirement. When you change your job, your new employer will have to apply for a new work permit even if your previous work permit isn’t expired.

You can renew your VLS-TS work visa 2 months before expiry at your nearest prefecture or the police headquarter if you’re residing in Paris. You’ll need to show proof of current work permit, employment certificate or payslips from past 3 months, and proof of social security contributions.

If you’ve got a passeport talent visa, you can renew your permit online 3 months before expiry. You need to show you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and an employment certificate.

After 5 years of an uninterrupted stay, you can apply for one of the long-term French residence permits.