Six official websites to know if you're planning to work in France
French bureaucracy is well-known for being complicated for foreigners to navigate but there are certain official government websites that are designed to help you if you are working or hiring in France.
When it comes to working in France, there are a whole host of things to think about...visas, work permits, different types of employment contracts.
Now, "Welcome to France," the French government website dedicated to helping foreign workers 'settle in,' has updated its interface to answer pretty much all of your questions.
But if it does not suffice, here are the other five websites you need to know for being (or hiring) foreign workers in France:
Screenshot of the website for Welcome to France
First things first, when you open this website, you'll notice that you can click to change the settings to English (found in the upper-right hand corner) - a very useful tool that not every French government website offers.
Next, you'll be offered several links to learn about the various French regions, how the country is "one of the world's fastest growing start-up hubs,' key Covid information, and informational videos.
But the most useful link is perhaps the "My Procedures" tab which allows you to fill out a quick survey about your situation - your country of origin, how long you plan to be in France, and what you'll be doing in France (working, starting a business, research, etc).
Based on your responses, you'll be provided with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for what to do six months before moving, at the time of moving, and in the immediate year after moving, even including guides for exchanging your driver's license and filing your taxes.
The "Our Rubrics" side of the website will offer you with five sub-themes: Visas, Employment Regulations, Social Protection, Taxation, and Day-to-Day Life.
As the aforementioned survey might apply more to those planning a move to France rather than those already here (though, the information is still useful for any foreign worker in France), these "rubrics" are particularly geared toward current workers or business owners in France.
For instance, if you click the "Employment Regulations" tab, you'll be offered a range of documents regarding different types of work contracts, regulations for dismissal or resignation, the extensive rules companies must abide by for recruiting new employees.
Beware that sometimes the links to certain rules or explanations will take you to other government websites that are exclusively in French, however.
While on this website, you might notice some links taking you to the Business France website, which is more so geared toward those who are recruiting foreign hires or aiming to start a business in France.
In many ways, the website gears itself toward tech or 'talent' employees, as it is part of Business France's goal to attract more investment into the country. However, if this status does not apply to you, fear not - the foreigner oriented rubrics are useful to everyone (take for example: "Opening a Personal Bank Account").
France-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/
This is the French government's visa portal website. It is also mostly available in English, and allows you to follow the "Visa Wizard" survey to determine if you need a visa.
You can also start, submit, and track your visa application on this website. On this website, you can find explanations of the different types of visas and residency permits, as well as the list of all the supporting documents you will need for your application.
The "visa wizard" segment of the France-visas website
This website is primarily in French, because it is not geared specifically to foreigners. It is the overarching 'public services' website in France, with plenty of information specific French nationals, like how to obtain a passport.
It can also be very useful for foreign workers because, like the Welcome to France site, it has a dedicated category to work (including information about contracts, retirement, and job trial periods). The section "Étranger" is meant for foreigners living in France.
This is where you will find information for residence permits, travel documents, and applying for French nationality. You should note that this website differs from France-visas.gouv.fr because it focuses more so on cartes de séjour residency permits rather than visas.
This is the website for the French Office for Immigration and Integration. You can find a lot of similar information to what has been outlined above on this site, like what to do if you are looking to recruit a young foreign worker, or how to bring your immediate family members to France if you are living and working here.
Ultimately, this website is most useful for information regarding completing your mandatory medical visit as long-stay visa holder. However, if you switch onto a "vie privée et familiale" permit, you may need to take integration steps, such as signing the "Republican Integration Contract," along with language and civics trainings.
Administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/
Finally, this is the website you must use to validate your visa or carte de séjour. In its latest update, you can also update your address here, if you have recently moved. You can even start your citizenship process on this website.
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When it comes to working in France, there are a whole host of things to think about...visas, work permits, different types of employment contracts.
Now, "Welcome to France," the French government website dedicated to helping foreign workers 'settle in,' has updated its interface to answer pretty much all of your questions.
But if it does not suffice, here are the other five websites you need to know for being (or hiring) foreign workers in France:
First things first, when you open this website, you'll notice that you can click to change the settings to English (found in the upper-right hand corner) - a very useful tool that not every French government website offers.
Next, you'll be offered several links to learn about the various French regions, how the country is "one of the world's fastest growing start-up hubs,' key Covid information, and informational videos.
But the most useful link is perhaps the "My Procedures" tab which allows you to fill out a quick survey about your situation - your country of origin, how long you plan to be in France, and what you'll be doing in France (working, starting a business, research, etc).
Based on your responses, you'll be provided with a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for what to do six months before moving, at the time of moving, and in the immediate year after moving, even including guides for exchanging your driver's license and filing your taxes.
The "Our Rubrics" side of the website will offer you with five sub-themes: Visas, Employment Regulations, Social Protection, Taxation, and Day-to-Day Life.
As the aforementioned survey might apply more to those planning a move to France rather than those already here (though, the information is still useful for any foreign worker in France), these "rubrics" are particularly geared toward current workers or business owners in France.
For instance, if you click the "Employment Regulations" tab, you'll be offered a range of documents regarding different types of work contracts, regulations for dismissal or resignation, the extensive rules companies must abide by for recruiting new employees.
Beware that sometimes the links to certain rules or explanations will take you to other government websites that are exclusively in French, however.
While on this website, you might notice some links taking you to the Business France website, which is more so geared toward those who are recruiting foreign hires or aiming to start a business in France.
In many ways, the website gears itself toward tech or 'talent' employees, as it is part of Business France's goal to attract more investment into the country. However, if this status does not apply to you, fear not - the foreigner oriented rubrics are useful to everyone (take for example: "Opening a Personal Bank Account").
France-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/
This is the French government's visa portal website. It is also mostly available in English, and allows you to follow the "Visa Wizard" survey to determine if you need a visa.
You can also start, submit, and track your visa application on this website. On this website, you can find explanations of the different types of visas and residency permits, as well as the list of all the supporting documents you will need for your application.
This website is primarily in French, because it is not geared specifically to foreigners. It is the overarching 'public services' website in France, with plenty of information specific French nationals, like how to obtain a passport.
It can also be very useful for foreign workers because, like the Welcome to France site, it has a dedicated category to work (including information about contracts, retirement, and job trial periods). The section "Étranger" is meant for foreigners living in France.
This is where you will find information for residence permits, travel documents, and applying for French nationality. You should note that this website differs from France-visas.gouv.fr because it focuses more so on cartes de séjour residency permits rather than visas.
This is the website for the French Office for Immigration and Integration. You can find a lot of similar information to what has been outlined above on this site, like what to do if you are looking to recruit a young foreign worker, or how to bring your immediate family members to France if you are living and working here.
Ultimately, this website is most useful for information regarding completing your mandatory medical visit as long-stay visa holder. However, if you switch onto a "vie privée et familiale" permit, you may need to take integration steps, such as signing the "Republican Integration Contract," along with language and civics trainings.
Administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/
Finally, this is the website you must use to validate your visa or carte de séjour. In its latest update, you can also update your address here, if you have recently moved. You can even start your citizenship process on this website.
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