Moving to France: Relocation Guide

If your employees fall into the following categories, they won't need a visa to work in France. Instead, they can focus on the tasks related to settle-in admin after arrival.

Citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland: If your employee is a citizen of one of the 27 EU countries, the three countries in the EEA outside of the EU — Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway — or Switzerland, they do not need a visa to work in France. However, upon arrival, they may need a residence permit (carte de séjour).

Other exceptions include:

• Foreign nationals who hold a long-term resident permit-EU from a state of the European Union
• Citizens of Andorra, Monaco, or Saint Marino
• Foreign employees from non-EU countries who are visiting France for three months or less to engage in paid work in the following fields:
• Sporting, cultural, artistic, and scientific events
• Conferences, seminars, and trade shows
• Production and distribution of cinematic and audiovisual works, shows, and recordings
• Modeling and artistic posing
• Personal service workers and domestic workers working in France during their private employers' stay in the country
• Audit and consulting in IT, management, finance, insurance, architecture, and engineering, under the terms of a service agreement or intra-company transfer agreement
• Occasional teaching activities by invited lecturers

As the employer, you are responsible for obtaining the work visa or permit on your employees behalf. Before diving in, determine which option is the best route for your employee and familiarize yourself with the necessary steps and documentation. The visa wizard is a great resource for this. 

Typically, your employee will apply at the French Embassy or Consulate in their country of origin - not in France - but the situation may vary. Be sure to apply with plenty of time, but no earlier than three months before the planned date of arrival in France.

Additionally, immigration laws and policies can vary and change, so it's crucial to ensure you and your employee have the most up-to-date information before proceeding with their application.

Once you and your employee are ready to begin the application process, they’ll need to collect the necessary supporting documents. While this will depend on the specific situation and nature of the job, common requirements include your employer sponsorship, employment contract, and proof of skills and qualifications. It may also include health and character requirements. 

On the France-visas website you can find a comprehensive list of required supporting documents.

Is a formal assessment of qualifications required?

France aims to uphold standards of quality and competence within its workforce while fostering the smooth integration of skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds into the labor market. Therefore, depending on the type of work and visa they’re applying for, applicants may need to pass a formal assessment of qualifications and expertise to be eligible for the visa. For additional details, review the current requirements and procedures directly from the French consulate or embassy websites.

Once they know what visa they're applying for, employees will need to prepare all required documents and submit their application to the French consulate or embassy. The basic application for the majority of these visas costs around €99. The Initial Blue Card fee is €269 for the Talent Passport visa. Once they submit their application, they'll need to schedule their interview. They can check the average waiting time for appointments and plan accordingly. 

When attending the interview, your employee should be prepared to present all necessary documents, including the completed application with receipt of payment, as well as discuss their intentions in France. The service provider or consulate will review the application, collect fees, and collect biometric data.