Medical exam exemptions announced

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? France has announced that several work permit categories are now exempt from medical exams on arrival.

What does the change mean? Five categories of foreign workers and their family members will not have to attend a medical exam after arriving in France.

• Implementation timeframe: The change was announced Aug. 18.
• Visas/permits affected: Intracompany transfers, skills and talents, artistic and cultural, scientists and researchers, and EU Blue Card.
• Who is affected: Foreign nationals and family members in the above categories.
• Impact on processing times: This change will ease the process for assignees and the government and is likely to shorten the processing time.

Background: In ruling No. 2014-921, on Aug. 18, the Office Francais de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII) announced that, effective immediately, foreign nationals holding the following work permits no longer need to undergo medical exams after arriving in France:

1. Intracompany transfers and their family members.
2. Skills and Talents and their family members.
3. Family members of European Union Blue Card holders (EU Blue Card holders themselves are already exempt).
4. Scientists and researchers and their family members.
5. Artistic and Cultural visa holders and their family members.

BAL Analysis: Elimination of the medical exam upon arrival will ease an administrative hassle for foreign assignees and their family members.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in France. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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