Working abroad

Working in France: permits, registration and basic rights

Who can work in France without a permit, how residence permits for work function and which minimum rights the French Labour Code gives you.

7 min read

Who this is for

People who want to work in France as employees, whether EU citizens or non-EU nationals. It does not cover self-employment, study or asylum.

In short

  • EU/EEA and Swiss citizens work in France without a residence permit or work authorisation.
  • Non-EU citizens need a permit that allows work: "salarié", "talent" (formerly the talent passport), the European Blue Card and others.
  • Most residence permit and work authorisation applications go through the online ANEF portal.
  • Legal working week: 35 hours. Paid leave: 2.5 working days per month, i.e. 5 weeks a year.
  • Since 1 June 2026 the SMIC is 12.31 euros gross per hour.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and have exceptions. Always check the official text in the sources below and, for your own case, talk to a trade union, a qualified lawyer or the competent public authority.

EU citizens: free movement

If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you can work in France on the same terms as French nationals, without a permit. Practical steps remain: registration with social security (usually started by your employer) and, if you move, sorting out your tax residence. See free movement in the EU.

Non-EU citizens: the main routes

The rules are in the Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (CESEDA). [1] The most common routes for employees are:

You apply for the long-stay visa at the French consulate in your country (official portal france-visas.gouv.fr). Once in France, many procedures go through the Interior Ministry's online ANEF portal: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. Do not pay intermediaries to "get" a permit: see fair recruitment.

Qualifications and job search

Regulated professions (healthcare, law, teaching...) require recognition by the competent authority. For academic diplomas, ENIC-NARIC France issues comparability certificates. Public job offers are on France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi), the public employment service. See also recognition of qualifications.

Contracts: CDI and CDD

The open-ended contract (CDI) is the normal form of employment. [3] A fixed-term contract (CDD) is allowed only in cases set by law (for example replacing an absent employee or a temporary increase in activity) and must be in writing. [4]

Minimum wage (SMIC)

The SMIC is the statutory minimum wage. From 1 June 2026 it is 12.31 euros gross per hour (1,867.02 euros gross per month for 35 hours), after an extra inflation-linked increase; from 1 January 2026 it was 12.02 euros. [5] The SMIC changes often: always check the current amount.

Working hours

The legal working week is 35 hours: beyond that, overtime applies and is paid at a higher rate. [6] Maximum limits are, unless an exception applies, 10 hours a day, 48 hours in a single week and 44 hours on average over 12 weeks. [7]

Paid leave

Each month of work gives you 2.5 working days (jours ouvrables) of leave, up to 30 days, i.e. 5 weeks, for a full year. [8]

Dismissal

Dismissing an employee on a CDI requires a real and serious cause. As a rule the employer must invite you to a preliminary meeting before deciding. [9] Disputes go to the conseil de prud'hommes (employment tribunal).

Who to contact

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