Obtaining a France work permit

Recruitment of a foreign employee not in possession of a visa or residence permit authorizing paid employment requires a specific work permit. It is up to the employer, whether based in France or abroad, to submit the application for a work permit.

The post-Brexit transition period expired on December 31, 2020. British citizens must now also apply for a work permit depending on their date of arrival in France and their situation. Find more information on this subject on the dedicated sheet “Fact sheet: British nationals and their family members”. The company should submit the work permit application at least three months before the employee is due to take up their role.

Before submitting the application, the employer must have attempted to find a candidate already in the French labor market with the help of government agencies (e.g. Apec and Pôle Emploi) or private organizations.

If the employment levels have to be checked before hiring the future employee (see below), the employer must have attempted to find a candidate already in the French labor market with the help of government agencies prior to submitting the application. To this end, the employer must submit the job offer to a public employment agency (Apec or Pôle Emploi) for three weeks.

Once this step has been taken, or if it is not necessary, the employer can submit the work permit application on the dedicated platform.

As of April 6, 2021, applications for work permits to hire foreign employees have to be done online on a dedicated portal.

Procedure

• Step 1: If the employment levels have to be checked before hiring the future employee (see below), the employer will have to publish the job offer for 3 weeks in a public employment agency (Pôle Emploi or Apec) before applying for the work permit.
• Step 2: Online application for the work permit on the dedicated portal.
• Step 3: Confirmation by e-mail that the application has been submitted.
• Step 4: If the work permit is issued, the employer and the foreign employee will receive it by e-mail.
• Step 5: The future employee will have to attach the work permit to his/her visa and/or residence permit application

The employer must provide the following documents :

• A letter explaining the employee’s role or the reasons for their recruitment and detailing the duties they will be performing.
• An up-to-date excerpt of the commercial register for legal entities (extrait K-bis) and sole proprietors (extrait K); a craft license (titre d’artisan); or, failing that, for private individuals, a tax notice.
• For intra-company transfers, evidence of the relationship between the company established in France and the company established abroad.
• A copy of the employee’s passport or national identity document.
• For employees already resident in France, a copy of the residence permit authorizing them to stay in France.
• The employee’s CV/résumé or other evidence of their skills and experience.
• Where applicable, a copy of any qualifications or certificates required for the position in question.
• Where the position in question is subject to specific regulatory conditions, evidence that these conditions are met.
• Where employment levels may constitute grounds for rejection, evidence of efforts made to find a candidate already in the French labor market.

If the employer is established outside France, the application must also include the following

• A certificate of employment from the company established outside France or initial employment contract, providing evidence of at least three months’ service.
• A sworn declaration of application for registration with the French social security system.
• Where applicable, a sworn declaration of application for registration with the relevant paid leave scheme (caisse des congés payés).
• Where applicable, a letter appointing a person established in France to complete the required administrative formalities in its name and on its behalf.