If you are a career man or woman and you are thinking of traveling to France, then you will have to apply for France Work Permit Visa to enable you to migrate to the country legally. France offers a number of options in case of long-stay work visas. So we are going to list them and the necessary documents required.
Many foreign nationals aside from visiting, come to France to study or work, or even to settle and live there. However, depending on their nationality and purpose of entry, many of these travelers will have to apply for a French work permit Visa first depending on the purpose of travel.
Eligibility for a work permit in France is related to employment status, and it’s usually necessary for ex-pats to find employment before relocating. Below is the major eligibility.
Work Permit in France Eligibility
As with most countries, there are certain requirements French visa applicants must meet before they can work in France. These may vary depending on the applicant’s country of origin. Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland don’t require France work permits to find employment in the country.
Non-EEA nationals must usually go through a complicated French work visa application process for the right to employment in France. There’s also a limitation on the number of job categories open to non-European foreigners. As such, work permits in France are notoriously difficult for ex-pats to get.
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The France work visa allows you to stay for more than three months in the country for work purposes. The eligibility requirements for these visas will vary and one must meet the work permit in France visa requirements for the particular visa one is applying for. The various visa categories are:
Types of Work Permits in France
There are several types of France work permit visas, and each one has its own set of requirements. Make sure employees know which category of French work visa they’ll need so that they can gather the relevant documents and make sure they meet all qualifications. Here are the French work permits that will be most relevant for your company as you expand:
- Short-term visa, or visa de court sejour: The short-term French work visa can authorize training assignments for up to 90 days. This visa does not allow for an extension of stay, so be sure to obtain an alternative visa if it’s possible that the employee will need to stay in France for a longer time period.
- Long-stay visa, or visa de long sejour: This visa is the one most of your employees are likely to need. It authorizes citizens of foreign countries to live and work in France for periods longer than three months.
- Corporate executive visa: To stay and work in France, corporate executives will need this type of visa.
- Intra-group transferee card: This visa applies to employees who are working in a group of companies and assigned to a French subsidiary.
- EU Blue Card: This type of visa allows highly qualified individuals from third-world countries to enter, live in, and work in France.
Requirements to Apply for France Work Permit Visa
The required documents to apply for a France work visa vary depending on each employee’s country of residence. If any of your employees are American or Australian citizens, make sure they’re aware of this general list of requirements:
- An application form
- Identity photographs
- Residence forms
- Tickets or detailed flight booking information from a travel agency
- An original passport or travel document (Note that for US citizens, the passport must have been issued no longer than 10 years ago, be valid for at least three months after their return to the US, and have at least two blank visas pages left)
- A processing fee
Additional documents required for French work permit visas include:
- Supporting evidence of residence in France
- Documents proving medical coverage
- Documentary evidence of means of livelihood for the period of stay in France
- Letters of reference, academic transcripts, and other supporting evidence of a socio-professional situation.
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As of June 29, 2021, applications for France work permits to hire foreign employees have to be done online on a dedicated portal.
France Work Permit Application Procedure
- Step 1: Online application for the work permit on the dedicated portal.
- Step 2: Confirmation by e-mail that the application has been submitted.
- Step 3: If the work permit is issued, the employer and the foreign employee will receive it by e-mail.
- Step 4: The future employee will have to attach the work permit to his/her visa and/or residence permit application.
How to Apply for a France Visa?
The process of getting a French Visa is not easy, nor quick. You can complete the application process for a France visa by following the steps listed below:
- Choose the right Embassy.
- Compile the documents file.
- Schedule an interview.
- Attend the interview.
- Pay the French Visa fee.
Because the France work permit visa is closely tied to residency status, it’s important for employees to be established before employees begin the process of obtaining a permit to move to France.
