Foreign job for Asians
France
Living, working or studying in France?
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Visas & Permits
Before leaving to come to France, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to France or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Requirements
Which papers do you need to come to France?
If you come to live, work or study in France, you might need to get a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Be prepared to spend a lot of time assembling your documentation and waiting in line. As some permits have to be applied for from your home country, you should start this process well in advance of your move to France.
French immigration laws are complex and confusing for most people. On our site we have tried to give an overview of the most important legal aspects you need to consider. Due to the complexity of the French legislation, which is constantly changing, we cannot provide detailed information for every situation. However, we hope this guide will be helpful to get you started working out what you need to do.
When coming to live in France, you will probably need to go through the process in the following order (each step requires documentation from previous one), although there are some exceptions:
Visas
Who needs a visa? And which one?
Not everyone needs a visa to enter France. Read the following section to find out which rules will apply to you. Also be sure to check out the official links provided for up-to-date information.
Citizen of one of EU/EEA countries (i.e. all 25 European Union member countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) do not need a visa for France.
Non-EU/EEA citizens need a visa to enter France, unless there exists a special agreement between France and your home country. These include: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 3 months without a visa.
Before coming, however, check whether there are no changes. Up-to-date information on entry requirements regarding your nationality and/or residence is available on the official website of the French Ministry of Interior: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas (in French, English and Spanish).
VisasVisas are valid for the length of time stated on them, starting on the date of arrival in France. There are very big differences between visas, so make sure you know what you want (purpose and length of stay) before applying for one. It might be very difficult, or even impossible to change a visa once you are in France. For example, you cannot enter France with a short-stay visa and then apply to stay longer. Neither can you change the status of your visa (i.e. change your status from student to employee) without first returning to your country of residence and obtaining the new appropriate visa. Also, it is not possible to ask a friend at home to obtain a visa for you once you're in France. In any case, you have to get out of the Schengen Area in order to apply for a new type of visa, so plan accordingly.
The Shengen Area refers to the treaty which enables free circulation of residents within these countries. Signatory states to the treaty currently are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Portugal, and the name itself is the place in Luxemburg, where the treaty was signed in 1985.
The main kinds of visa are:
Formalities for visa applicationsVisas are never issued in France, so they must be applied for in your home or another country. If you are required to have a visa, do not attempt to enter France as you are likely to be refused entry. Generally, you should apply for your visa 8-12 weeks before your planned date of arrival in France - check with the issuing authorities (such as your local French Embassy or Consulate) for likely delays.
Long-stay and other specific visas are normally issued in your country of residence. A short-stay visa can be issued by any Schengen country (in principle, you should get the visa from the authorities of the main destination country).
Up-to-date information about visa requirements is available on the official website of the French Ministry of Interior:www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas (in French, English and Spanish). The site is well organised. Based on the country of residency, your nationality and length and purpose of stay it gives all important information, such as:
Finding a job
Where to look for jobs in France
Looking for work can be a frustrating and difficult task in France. As in most places, many hires are made through personal connections and alumni networks. Effective networking is a great way to find out about opportunities and 'get a foot in the door'.
The traditional routes of newspapers, Internet and employment agencies are used frequently in France, but many jobs are got on the basis of relationships and contacts. Often vacant positions are not advertised publicly, but filled by people who have contacts within the company.
Our advice is to take advantage of every possible contact that you have, from friends, colleagues and classmates. Even the most casual acquaintances can sometimes point you towards a potential job lead. Persistence and confidence are vital ingredients to a successful job search.
The French administration has a large network of agencies for employment. The most important are:
We have included a number of other useful job-related websites in our directory.
The job market
Work opportunities in France
Like in many European countries, in France the majority of the workforce is now employed in the services sector. Of the remainder, around 27% is employed in industry and 5% in agriculture.
There are around 700,000 EU and 800,000 non-EU immigrants working in France. About 44% of the workforce is made up of women. Unemployment is running between 9 and 11% (with approx. 4% long-term unemployment). Structural unemployment is mainly due to the decline in many manufacturing and industrial sectors, as high labour costs make them uncompetitive.
France has a generous system of social security which is supported by high taxation. In addition, there are mandated holidays and minimum wage constraints. In many enterprises, in particular public and ex-public sector organisations, there is an adversarial employer/employee relationship which can make change difficult, especially when workforce numbers are reduced.
Union membership and working hoursAlthough France has much lower union membership that in the past, strikes hitting public sector and transport are still a common occurrence. This regime is blamed by many for the lack of job-creation and for producing a rigid labour market.
Several years ago, the 35-hour week was introduced to increase the total number of jobs. This is mandatory in some sectors and types of companies, although it looks like the current administration is relaxing rules and dismantling parts of the legislation. The shorter working week seems to have had little impact on creating new jobs.
Jobs for foreigners
Au pairing, language teaching and other jobs
It isn't easy to find a "normal" job as a foreigner in France, but there are some jobs that allow you to finance your stay in the country.
Au pairingAn 'au pair' is hired to look after children. The usual deal is free accommodation, food and a small allowance in return for looking after the kids and sometimes helping with other household chores. The main advantage is learning the language as you will be in contact with it daily and can use your time off to meet people.
There are no standard conditions for au pairing, so make sure you clearly discuss what you will be expected to do in advance - there are stories of families expecting their au pair to act more like a domestic servant.
Normally, a formal childcare qualification is not required and an au pair should not be responsible for kids under the age of two years. Families that will accept a boy are rare, experience with children is usually required and due to visa issues, EU citizens usually have an advantage. Length of service is a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 3 years.
Typical responsibilities and requirements
Typical responsibilities of the family
The following organisations put together families and au pairs - they will usually charge a registration fee to the family and/or the au pair:
Foreign language teachingTeaching your native tongue as a foreign language is one area where you have a distinct advantage in the job market. English, German and Spanish are languages in high demand. Getting employed in the French public education system is very difficult as specific French qualifications are usually required and the selection itself is made though complicated competition process (French nationality can be compulsory).
However, there are many language schools and training agencies that readily employ foreigners. Some do not even require a teaching qualification (such as a TEFL for English), but this depends on the institution. Having a degree or qualification will give you an advantage. No qualification is required for private tuition.
Teaching is not highly paid with rates varying widely. Private tuition is typically billed at €15-20/hour, but you have to take into account managing your students, scheduling and traveling time. Look at notice boards in language schools and universities for teaching opportunities, or have a look at our notice board in the job section.
Seasonal agricultural jobsIt's estimated that more than 120,000 foreigners come to France every year to help with seasonal and labour-intensive work, such a grape and fruit picking. The grape season is 4 to 5 weeks in September/October (depending on the weather and region), other fruit seasons run from May until early November.
It's relatively easy to get a temporary work permit to do this legally (the employment is also often done illegally). The work is hard and wages are low. Many people come back year after year to the same places, so it can be difficult to get a job.
Tourist industryIn the Summer season there are many opportunities in the tourist industry. Finding temporary work in August, especially in Paris and other places packed with tourists, tends to be easier as most French people go on holidays, too. Hotels, restaurants and other food services are the most common places of employment.
Depending on experience and qualifications, jobs include: cleaner, waiter/waitress, cook, cashier and receptionist. The easiest place to find a job are fast food chains like McDonald's, Quick, etc., as they usually tend to be desperate for staff. Your languages skills can help you in this industry, giving you a competitive advantage over French people. In Winter, job opportunities are concentrated in the ski resorts in the Alps and Pyrenees.
Student internshipsStudent internships (stage d'études) or training assignments are not legally regarded as jobs, so a work permit (ATP) is not required. You retain your status as a student throughout the internship. A training agreement (convention de stage) between your academic institution, the company and you should be completed. This defines what you will be doing, working hours and conditions, in addition to any remuneration (allowances, subsidies for transport or meals, etc.).
Before leaving to come to France, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to France or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Requirements
Which papers do you need to come to France?
If you come to live, work or study in France, you might need to get a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Be prepared to spend a lot of time assembling your documentation and waiting in line. As some permits have to be applied for from your home country, you should start this process well in advance of your move to France.
French immigration laws are complex and confusing for most people. On our site we have tried to give an overview of the most important legal aspects you need to consider. Due to the complexity of the French legislation, which is constantly changing, we cannot provide detailed information for every situation. However, we hope this guide will be helpful to get you started working out what you need to do.
When coming to live in France, you will probably need to go through the process in the following order (each step requires documentation from previous one), although there are some exceptions:
- Visas: EU/EEA citizens (i.e. all 25 European Union member countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) and some other nationalities do not need a visa to enter France. If you do need a visa, you have to apply for it in your home country (visas are never issued in France). Visa applications take some time and the type of visa will affect your residency rights, so choose accordingly. For further information see our chapter on visas.
- Residence permits: If staying more then 3 months, your stay is considered as a residency in France and you should officially obtain a residence permit. EU/EEA nationals do not need a residency permit, but it is still very useful for longer stays. Contrary to visas, the residency permits are never issued outside France. For further information see our chapter onresidence permits.
- Work permit: This can be a separate document, but in many cases, it will be a residency permit which will specify that you can work in France. Citizens of most EU/EEA countries do not need a work permit to work in France. For further information see our chapter on work permits.
Visas
Who needs a visa? And which one?
Not everyone needs a visa to enter France. Read the following section to find out which rules will apply to you. Also be sure to check out the official links provided for up-to-date information.
Citizen of one of EU/EEA countries (i.e. all 25 European Union member countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) do not need a visa for France.
Non-EU/EEA citizens need a visa to enter France, unless there exists a special agreement between France and your home country. These include: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 3 months without a visa.
Before coming, however, check whether there are no changes. Up-to-date information on entry requirements regarding your nationality and/or residence is available on the official website of the French Ministry of Interior: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas (in French, English and Spanish).
VisasVisas are valid for the length of time stated on them, starting on the date of arrival in France. There are very big differences between visas, so make sure you know what you want (purpose and length of stay) before applying for one. It might be very difficult, or even impossible to change a visa once you are in France. For example, you cannot enter France with a short-stay visa and then apply to stay longer. Neither can you change the status of your visa (i.e. change your status from student to employee) without first returning to your country of residence and obtaining the new appropriate visa. Also, it is not possible to ask a friend at home to obtain a visa for you once you're in France. In any case, you have to get out of the Schengen Area in order to apply for a new type of visa, so plan accordingly.
The Shengen Area refers to the treaty which enables free circulation of residents within these countries. Signatory states to the treaty currently are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Portugal, and the name itself is the place in Luxemburg, where the treaty was signed in 1985.
The main kinds of visa are:
- Short-stay visa (visa de court séjour) Valid for a maximum of 3 months. A visa granted by one of Schengen Area countries (for example, Germany) is valid in all other member countries and authorises its holder to circulate freely within Schengen area. This means that traveling within the Schengen Area is legally the same as traveling within France and thus you can make as many entries to France as you wish during the validity of your visa, as long as you do not leave the Schengen Area. If you intend to leave and re-entry the Schengen Area (for example visiting the U.K., which is not a signatory state to the treaty), you have to ask for a multiple-entry short term visa!
- Long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) A long-stay visa is valid for 3-6 months. After arriving in France you need to apply for a temporary stay permit (Carte de séjour temporaire) which will describe your status in France: visitor ( visiteur), student(étudiant), private or family purposes (vie privée et familiale), employee (salarié), etc.
- Temporary long-stay visa (Visa long séjour temporaire de six mois) This visa is valid for stays up to 6 months, but you do not need to apply for temporary stay permit ( Carte de séjour temporaire). You cannot remain in France past the visa validity date.
- Short-stay 'student-examination' visa (Etudiant-concours)This visa is for students whose enrollment into a academic institution is conditional on an examination in France. If the enrolment is approved after a successful entry exam, you then have to apply for temporary stay permit ( Carte de séjour temporaire).
- Circulation visa (Visa de circulation) This visa is valid from one to five years and allows stays in France up to 3 months every six months.
- Transit visa (visa de transit aéroportuaire) Nationals of some countries transiting France from one country to another must present this kind of visa. Be aware, processing times can be long, so apply well in advance.
Formalities for visa applicationsVisas are never issued in France, so they must be applied for in your home or another country. If you are required to have a visa, do not attempt to enter France as you are likely to be refused entry. Generally, you should apply for your visa 8-12 weeks before your planned date of arrival in France - check with the issuing authorities (such as your local French Embassy or Consulate) for likely delays.
Long-stay and other specific visas are normally issued in your country of residence. A short-stay visa can be issued by any Schengen country (in principle, you should get the visa from the authorities of the main destination country).
Up-to-date information about visa requirements is available on the official website of the French Ministry of Interior:www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/venir/visas (in French, English and Spanish). The site is well organised. Based on the country of residency, your nationality and length and purpose of stay it gives all important information, such as:
- Visas requirments, types and issuing conditions (such as valid passport, health insurance, proof of sufficient sources, proof of preliminary entry to the education institution in case of students, etc.)
- documentation required for an application and where to apply (with address and phone/fax numbers), which is usually the Consular section of the French Embassy in the country of residence
- cost of the visa
Finding a job
Where to look for jobs in France
Looking for work can be a frustrating and difficult task in France. As in most places, many hires are made through personal connections and alumni networks. Effective networking is a great way to find out about opportunities and 'get a foot in the door'.
The traditional routes of newspapers, Internet and employment agencies are used frequently in France, but many jobs are got on the basis of relationships and contacts. Often vacant positions are not advertised publicly, but filled by people who have contacts within the company.
Our advice is to take advantage of every possible contact that you have, from friends, colleagues and classmates. Even the most casual acquaintances can sometimes point you towards a potential job lead. Persistence and confidence are vital ingredients to a successful job search.
The French administration has a large network of agencies for employment. The most important are:
- ANPE, the French national agency for employment (Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi). It has a large number of offices across the country. They offer manual and unskilled jobs - you can see adverts online at www.anpe.fr (in French only).
- APEC, the French national agency for employment of professionals and executives (Agence pour l'Emploi de Cadres) -www.apec.fr .
We have included a number of other useful job-related websites in our directory.
The job market
Work opportunities in France
Like in many European countries, in France the majority of the workforce is now employed in the services sector. Of the remainder, around 27% is employed in industry and 5% in agriculture.
There are around 700,000 EU and 800,000 non-EU immigrants working in France. About 44% of the workforce is made up of women. Unemployment is running between 9 and 11% (with approx. 4% long-term unemployment). Structural unemployment is mainly due to the decline in many manufacturing and industrial sectors, as high labour costs make them uncompetitive.
France has a generous system of social security which is supported by high taxation. In addition, there are mandated holidays and minimum wage constraints. In many enterprises, in particular public and ex-public sector organisations, there is an adversarial employer/employee relationship which can make change difficult, especially when workforce numbers are reduced.
Union membership and working hoursAlthough France has much lower union membership that in the past, strikes hitting public sector and transport are still a common occurrence. This regime is blamed by many for the lack of job-creation and for producing a rigid labour market.
Several years ago, the 35-hour week was introduced to increase the total number of jobs. This is mandatory in some sectors and types of companies, although it looks like the current administration is relaxing rules and dismantling parts of the legislation. The shorter working week seems to have had little impact on creating new jobs.
Jobs for foreigners
Au pairing, language teaching and other jobs
It isn't easy to find a "normal" job as a foreigner in France, but there are some jobs that allow you to finance your stay in the country.
Au pairingAn 'au pair' is hired to look after children. The usual deal is free accommodation, food and a small allowance in return for looking after the kids and sometimes helping with other household chores. The main advantage is learning the language as you will be in contact with it daily and can use your time off to meet people.
There are no standard conditions for au pairing, so make sure you clearly discuss what you will be expected to do in advance - there are stories of families expecting their au pair to act more like a domestic servant.
Normally, a formal childcare qualification is not required and an au pair should not be responsible for kids under the age of two years. Families that will accept a boy are rare, experience with children is usually required and due to visa issues, EU citizens usually have an advantage. Length of service is a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 3 years.
Typical responsibilities and requirements
- speak enough of the language for basic communication from the beginning with the kids
- getting up on time to get kids ready for kindergarten/school and taking them
- playing with the children
- organising and giving them their meals
- tidying up their rooms and play areas
- baby-sitting some evenings
Typical responsibilities of the family
- giving duties to a maximum of 25-35 hours per week
- giving a minimum of 2 days (2 x 24 hours) off during the week
- not to treat the au pair like an unpaid domestic servant
- providing an individual bedroom
- paying a weekly allowance (typically around €60)
- registering the au pair with the family doctor
- registering the au pair on the house insurance.
The following organisations put together families and au pairs - they will usually charge a registration fee to the family and/or the au pair:
- IAPA (International Au Pair Association): www.iapa.org
- IAPO (International Au Pair Organisation): www.au-pair.org
- AFJE (Accueil Familial des Jeunes Etrangers): www.afje-paris.org
- AuPair Search: www.aupairsearch.com
Foreign language teachingTeaching your native tongue as a foreign language is one area where you have a distinct advantage in the job market. English, German and Spanish are languages in high demand. Getting employed in the French public education system is very difficult as specific French qualifications are usually required and the selection itself is made though complicated competition process (French nationality can be compulsory).
However, there are many language schools and training agencies that readily employ foreigners. Some do not even require a teaching qualification (such as a TEFL for English), but this depends on the institution. Having a degree or qualification will give you an advantage. No qualification is required for private tuition.
Teaching is not highly paid with rates varying widely. Private tuition is typically billed at €15-20/hour, but you have to take into account managing your students, scheduling and traveling time. Look at notice boards in language schools and universities for teaching opportunities, or have a look at our notice board in the job section.
Seasonal agricultural jobsIt's estimated that more than 120,000 foreigners come to France every year to help with seasonal and labour-intensive work, such a grape and fruit picking. The grape season is 4 to 5 weeks in September/October (depending on the weather and region), other fruit seasons run from May until early November.
It's relatively easy to get a temporary work permit to do this legally (the employment is also often done illegally). The work is hard and wages are low. Many people come back year after year to the same places, so it can be difficult to get a job.
Tourist industryIn the Summer season there are many opportunities in the tourist industry. Finding temporary work in August, especially in Paris and other places packed with tourists, tends to be easier as most French people go on holidays, too. Hotels, restaurants and other food services are the most common places of employment.
Depending on experience and qualifications, jobs include: cleaner, waiter/waitress, cook, cashier and receptionist. The easiest place to find a job are fast food chains like McDonald's, Quick, etc., as they usually tend to be desperate for staff. Your languages skills can help you in this industry, giving you a competitive advantage over French people. In Winter, job opportunities are concentrated in the ski resorts in the Alps and Pyrenees.
Student internshipsStudent internships (stage d'études) or training assignments are not legally regarded as jobs, so a work permit (ATP) is not required. You retain your status as a student throughout the internship. A training agreement (convention de stage) between your academic institution, the company and you should be completed. This defines what you will be doing, working hours and conditions, in addition to any remuneration (allowances, subsidies for transport or meals, etc.).
