InsideOut Travel—Working in France

by Jocelyn Fong

So you’re interested in the French connection and want to know how to get that essential slip of paper that says “Autorisation de travail,” a work permit. Certainly the idea of living and working in a foreign country is an exciting adventure to write home about. Like the rest of Europe, France has a strong attraction for people wanting to find work and experience a slice of European life.

Many will tell you that they have tried and failed to get a permit. Sure, getting a French work permit isn’t easy but it’s not impossible either. Good planning and preparation is key, plus copious amounts of patience. As much as the French love their “pain,” the French word for bread, French immigration officials have an insatiable appetite for paperwork.


	Working: Visa, S’il Vous Plait
	by Jocelyn Fong So you’re interested in the French connection and want to know how to get that essential slip of paper that says “Autorisation de travail,” a work permit. Certainly the idea of living and working in a foreign country is an exciting adventure to write home about. Like the rest of Europe, France has a strong attraction for people wanting to find work and experience a slice of European life. Many will tell you that they have tried and failed to get a permit. Sure, getting a French work permit isn’t easy but it’s not impossible either. Good planning and preparation is key, plus copious amounts of patience. As much as the French love their “pain,” the French word for bread, French immigration officials have an insatiable appetite for paperwork.				If you think you can get a permit on your own merits then good luck because France has a staunch reputation for guarding its national workforce. Unless you are an EU national or a citizen from Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, or San Marino, you cannot apply for a work permit once you arrive in the country. For EU and European Economic Area nationals (which includes Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), a valid passport and identity card will suffice. However, if the job is longer than 12 months, you will have to apply for a residence permit within the first three months. Failure to do so might incur you a fine. “When you begin job hunting, remember August and December aren’t the best months .” Be Prepared You have to know how to speak the lingo or at least have an intermediate knowledge of the language, especially if you are interested in working in specialized work environments like legal, accounting, or software. If your French is rusty, you might want to enroll in a French conversational course. Also, prepare a one- or two-page French CV—don’t expect your future employer to be bilingual. more >> << home
	Jan. 2004 Copyright 2003-2004 InsideOut Travel << disclaimer

WORKING IN FRANCE

Working: Visa, S’il Vous Plait

by Jocelyn Fong