Work permit to work in France
A work permit is required to work in France, unless an exemption applies. Depending on the visa or residence permit held, the work permit may be granted automatically, or the employer may have to apply for it in advance.
In a nutshell
- A work permit is required to work in France, except in cases where exemptions are provided for by law.
- Certain visas and residence permits serve as work permits and do not require any further action.
- When a residence permit is insufficient, a specific work permit must be requested by the employer before hiring.
- The duration and validity of the permit depend on the contract, the employer and the geographical area concerned.
- Any change in employment status (employer, contract, status) generally requires a new application.
What are the different types of work permits?
Some visas and residence permits directly authorize paid employment for their entire validity period, subject to compliance with the conditions associated with the relevant status (e.g. talent, ICT seconded employee).
In these cases, no specific work permit application is required.
For further details, please visit our dedicated page.
When a residence permit does not constitute a work permit, the employer must apply for a specific authorization to work before the employee’s arrival or commencement of employment.
This authorization is required, in particular, for:
- Hiring employees on permanent contracts (excluding “Talent” status).
- Recruiting temporary workers on fixed-term contracts.
- Changes of employer.
- Seconded workers outside of intra-group mobility.
A work permit is therefore a pre-requisite for the issuance of a visa and/or residence permit.
Good to know
To practice a regulated profession, a diploma or specific qualification unique to the profession in question must be held (for example: healthcare professionals, lawyers, chartered accountants).
Exemption from work permit requirements
Citizens of a member state of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland may work in France without a work permit.
Nationals of third countries regularly employed by an employer established in a member state of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, in the context of providing services, are exempt from work permit requirements, provided they hold a European residence permit authorizing them to work.
Nationals of third countries coming to work in France for a period of three months or less are exempt from work permits in certain specifically defined sectors, including:
- Sporting, cultural, artistic and scientific events.
- Conferences, seminars and trade shows.
- Film, audiovisual, performing arts, and phonographic production and distribution activities.
- Modeling and artistic posing.
- Personal services and domestic staff accompanying their employers.
- Auditing or consulting assignments (IT, management, finance, insurance, architecture, engineering).
- Occasional teaching activities provided by visiting professors.
How long is the work permit valid for?
The work permit is valid for the period specified in the employment contract or the letter of assignment. In certain cases, it may be issued for a renewable period of 12 months.
A specific work permit may be:
- Valid for all employers or for a specific employer only.
- Limited to one or more geographical areas
A work permit issued for an overseas department or region (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion) is valid only in that territory.
An employee looking to work in mainland France must obtain a new work permit.
Conversely, a permit valid for mainland France does not allow you to work in the overseas territories. A separate application is required.
Any change of employment (employer or employment contract) requires the submission of a new work permit application.
How apply for a work permit?
The employer, whether established in France or abroad, must start the application for a work permit.
When the employment situation is deemed acceptable, the employer must publish the job offer for three weeks with a public employment agency (France Travail or Apec) before submitting the application.
The work permit application is submitted online via the dedicated platform, at least three months before the anticipated start date. A confirmation of submission is sent to the employer by email.
If the application is approved, a message containing the work permit will be sent. The employee must include it with their visa and/or residence permit application.
The work permit must be attached to the Employee Register, which must be made available to the Labor Inspectorate.
The employer must verify whether there are available candidates on the French labor market (the job posting must be published three weeks in advance on the France Travail or Apec websites).
However, certain professions are listed as in-demand occupations, for which the employment situation is not applicable depending on the region. You can view a simulator to determine the applicability of the employment situation via the dedicated page.
Exemptions are also provided, including:
- In accordance with bilateral agreements concluded with certain countries.
- For recent graduates holding a degree at least equivalent to a master’s degree when the contract is related to their field of study and provides for a gross monthly salary of at least €2,704.54 as of January 1, 2026.
You can view the ANEF simulator via the dedicated page.
The official list of required documents is available on the ANEF website. An indicative list can also be consulted for informational purposes on our dedicated page.
The specific work permit does not incur any direct costs for the employer or the employee. However, the employer must pay a tax to the French Public Finances Directorate (DGFIP) upon the first issuance of the employee or seconded employee residence permit.
How to apply for a new work permit?
The renewal application must be submitted within two months of the expiry of the current permit.
If the assignment is extended, an amendment to the employment contract must be provided.
In the event of a change of employment, a new work permit is required, even if the employee’s residence permit is still valid.
What to do if the professional situation changes?
When the reason for the stay changes (for example, from salaried employment to starting a own business), a change of status procedure can be initiated between 4 and 2 months preceding the expiry of the residence permit.
Extending the stay
Certain statuses, including that of a seconded worker outside of intra-group mobility, do not allow for a stay to be extended beyond the initial assignment.
At a glance
This page explains the rules applicable to work permits in France, distinguishing cases where the residence permit itself is sufficient from those requiring a specific application through a dedicated procedure. It is based on institutional sources such as the French Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labour, the ANEF platform and Business France. It presents information covering access to employment, the work permit application procedure to be completed by the employer in France, and exemption cases. It uses the example of an employer recruiting a foreign employee in France and seeking to understand the work permit application procedure.