Comply with French visa laws and obtain the correct work permits for employees working in France using our expert PEO Services.
Allowing employees to live and work in a particular country, visas are a vital document that employees and employers must obtain when working on an international scale. However, they are also one of the most challenging documents to obtain for a multitude reasons.
As with most other countries in the EU, France has a two-tier immigration system. Those within the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland benefit from free movement and can therefore work and settle in France without a visa. Those outside of the EU will however have to obtain a visa to live and work in France. Following Brexit, UK residents must also now apply for visas when looking to work in France.
Under our French PEO services or while working as your portage salarial, our team can help you secure work permits for prospective employees in France. This way you can be assured that your employees working in France have the correct visas while you focus on growing your business. Read on to find out all you need to know about French work visas and how our PEO services can help you navigate each step.
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What are the types of French work visa?
French work visas can be broken down into two main categories:
- Short stay work visa - valid for up to three months
- Long stay work visa - for when period of stay exceeds 90 days
From here, visas are subsequently categorised based on the type of job role and skill level. It is important that the correct type of visa is selected as this can alter the application process and documentation required, not to mention an employee's ability to live and work in France.
How do I apply for a French work visa?
Employers, whether based in France or abroad, must submit a work visa application on behalf of their employees. Employers must also have endeavoured to find a candidate already in the French labour market before recruiting international employees.
Applying for a French work visa is a long, complex process and it is therefore recommended that employers start the application process at least three months before an employee is due to start work.
As of the 6th April 2021, all French visa applications must be completed online via the government portal. The below steps for applying for a French work permit are outlined on the French government website:
- If applicable, the employer will have to publish the job offer for 3 weeks in a public employment agency (Pôle Emploi or Apec) before applying for the work permit.
- Submit an online application for the work permit on the dedicated portal.
- You will receive confirmation by e-mail that the application has been submitted.
- If successful, visas will be sent to employers and employees via email
- Employees must attach their work visa to their residence permit application
While these steps may appear relatively simple, they do not take into account the requirements for work permits. For example, an applicant's salary must meet the statutory minimum wage while conditions of employment must be in line with those already employed at the company. You can find more requirements and how a visa application is assessed on the French government website.
How much does a French visa cost?
French visas start off at around €80-100. However, any declined applications or extra documentation that is required can push this cost much higher. And, as with all aspects of business growth, non-compliance in this area can result in large penalties.
Why use a PEO partner to obtain a French work permit?
With a long application process, applying for a French visa is not only time-consuming but also incredibly costly and requires a lot of resources, all of which can halt your business expansion. This is before you take into account that the risk of non-compliance when applying for visas can cause legal penalties as well as jeopardising your expansion into France. On top of work permit applications, you will also need to consider payroll, tax, national insurance contributions, recruitment and employment contracts to name but a few.
If you want to find out more about how our PEO Services in France can support your international expansion, call our experts today on +44 (0) 1625 537 555 or email [email protected].
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"For the last few years, we have worked very closely with Simon and the team at Leap29 on a number of different projects in multiple countries across the globe. Leap29 have been a fantastic partner for us and are always willing to think with us to find the best solution. The communication with the team at Leap29 has always been excellent and Simon, in particular, is great to work with! They come highly recommended from us!"
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