All you need to know about working in France.

You won’t run out of things to see and do in France, which has a population of close to 66

million, making it the third largest nation in Europe. From the renowned Parisian attractions,

such as Sainte-Chapelle and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, to the white sands and azure waters of

the French Riviera, as well as the breathtaking Alps and Pyrenees ski resorts, there is something

for everyone.

However, it’s imperative that you acquire the language before moving, particularly because

temporary positions are more common than permanent ones. When you get there, a strong

healthcare system and a sizable holiday allowance will allow you to live comfortably.

Careers in France

The French economy is primarily supported by the following sectors: tourism, agriculture,

energy, manufacturing, transport, and technology. The fashion, beauty, and luxury goods

industries are well-known in this nation.

France is home to a huge number of global corporations, including:

Airbus
Citroën
L’Oréal
Danone
Michelin
Peugeot
AXA
Ubisoft
Total
Renault

Since tourism is a crucial component of the economy, it’s simple to find seasonal employment at

campgrounds or ski resorts. There are also opportunities to teach English to foreigners.

How is the job market in France?

In France, a regular workweek is 35 hours. The purpose of its introduction was to improve living

conditions. Furthermore, you’ll be granted access to 11 public holidays in addition to 30 days

(five weeks) of paid leave every year.

Most workplaces employ a rigid hierarchical structure. Positions and the power that goes along

with them are quite obvious; you can anticipate working in a formal atmosphere and having

little to no direct interaction with your supervisor. Five income tax bands make up the pay as

you earn (PAYE) system of collecting taxes from official residents. Earnings under €27,519

(£23,507) are taxed at 20%; however, earnings over this amount are subject to a 30% tax. The

unemployment rate in France has remained a problem despite the country having the third-

largest economy in Europe and the seventh-largest in the world (Investopedia). 7.3% of the

population is currently unemployed, and 2.2% of those people are long-term unemployed.

This is a result of a mismatch between the demands placed on businesses and the workforce’s

capacity to fill these positions. Particularly, there is a lack of skilled candidates to fill critical

positions in the engineering, health, and information technology (IT) sectors as well as the

freight transportation industry. A forty to fifty thousand driver shortfall is thought to exist for

lorries. Workers in the manufacturing, mining, and agricultural industries, however, are in

excess. There are plenty of job openings, so if you have the talents employers want and

qualifications, then getting a job in France won’t be much of a hassle.

How to Find Employment in France

In France, you can submit your application via email, online forms, or by mailing your resume

and cover letter to the employer. Even if you’re applying for an English-speaking position, be

ready to provide these in both English and French because many employers will require it. For a

junior employment, a French CV shouldn’t be longer than one side of A4. It should highlight

your linguistic abilities, professional background (in reverse chronological order), and academic

accomplishments. There shouldn’t be any unforeseen gaps in your employment or educational

history.

Your cover letter should be brief and highlight your most pertinent experience to demonstrate

why you are an ideal candidate for the job. If your application is accepted, French employers will

request to see your transcripts in person rather than attaching them to your cover letter. After

the initial phase, the application procedure is difficult. Companies may conduct up to four

interviews, so you should prepare beforehand by learning French business lingo and learning

about the organization. You should be prepared for a formal interview environment since the

French place a high priority on punctuality and well-groomed professional attire.

If you’re trying to locate advertised work, take a proactive approach and get in touch with the

companies you’d like to work for directly. French employers favor speculative applications and

networking.

French Visas

You won’t require a visa or employment authorization to work in France if you’re an EU

(European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area) citizen, as well as a Swiss or Croatian

national. Upon arrival, you are no longer required to register as a resident if you have a current

passport issued by an EU member state and are:

A family member of an EU citizen who is employed, self-employed, a student, or who is

unemployed but has enough money to cover their stay. In France, you can register your

residency at the town hall closest to you.

To work in France, non-EU/EEA nationals—including those from the UK—will require a permit.

This process is handled by your company, so you’ll need proof of employment before it can

start. Once you’ve secured employment, you should submit an application for a long-term visa

at the French embassy or consulate in your country of residence. For UK nationals, this would

be the French Embassy in London.

Within three months of your arrival in France, you must submit an application for a residence

permit. This can then be renewed three months before to expiration and is then good for up to

five years.

You can receive a non-renewable extra permit for one year while working at least 60% of the

typical workweek if you earn a master’s degree in France. By then, if you’ve found a job paying

at least 50% more than the minimum wage, you can switch from being a student to an

employee and start working full-time.

Obtaining a work permit in France

A particular work permit is required when hiring a foreign worker who does not have a visa or

residency permit that allows for paid employment. It is the employer’s responsibility to file the

work permit application, whether they are based in France or elsewhere.

On December 31, 2020, the post-Brexit transition period came to an end. British nationals must

now submit an application for a work permit based on their position and date of entry into

France. On the specific fact sheet titled “Fact sheet: British nationals and their family members,”

you can find further information on this topic. At least three months before the person is

scheduled to start their job, the employer must submit the work permit application.

The company must have used public or commercial organizations, such as Apec and Pôle

Emploi, to try and recruit a candidate who was already employed in France before submitting

the application. The company must have made an effort to recruit a candidate who was already

in the French labor market with the assistance of government agencies before submitting the

application, if the employment levels must be confirmed before hiring the future employee (see

below). To accomplish this, the company is required to submit the job offer for three weeks to a

public employment agency (Apec or Pôle Emploi). The employer can submit the work permit

application on the designated platform after completing this stage, or if it is not required. By

April 6, 2021, applications for work permits to employ foreign nationals must be submitted

online through a specific portal.

Procedure for Acquiring a Work Permit

The employer must publicize the job offer for three weeks in a public employment agency (Pôle Emploi or Apec) before filing for the work visa if the employment levels must be verified before hiring the future employee (see below).
Submit an online work permit application using the designated gateway, visit the official website at French-Visas to get started.
Email confirmation of the application’s submission.
If the work permit is granted, it will be emailed to both the foreign employee and the employer.
The prospective employee must affix the work permit to his or her visa or residence

permit application.

Exploration of the work permit application

The Ministry of the Interior is in charge of overseeing foreign employees beginning of April 1,

2021. The Direccte previously completed this mission (foreign labor department of the local

employment authorities). The following factors are looked at by the competent service before

deciding whether to issue a work permit:

Employment rates in the questioned profession and area.
How closely the foreign applicant’s education, training, and experience fit the requirements of the position being considered.
The employer’s adherence to employment- and social-protection-related laws.
The employee’s compliance, where necessary, with the rules that apply to the job in question.
The foreign national’s employment and compensation conditions must be on par with those accorded to other employees of the company (or industry) in roles that are similar to theirs.
The proposed salary must be at least the legal minimum wage (SMIC), which will be €19,747 as of May 1, 2022.
Anything the employer does to make it possible for the foreigner entering France to acquire

lodging under normal circumstances.

The applicant will receive a confirmation of submission once the application has been submitted

electronically using the designated portal. The applicant will be given an electronic work permit

as soon as the application is approved. To apply for a visa at the consulate and/or a residence

permit at the Prefecture, you will need to present this authorization.