IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? France has launched a web portal that allows foreign students and their employers to apply for temporary work permits online.

What does the change mean? The portal, called Work in France, is designed to ease the work authorization process for employers hiring students who require and are eligible for temporary work permits.

  • Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
  • Visas/permits affected: Temporary work permits.
  • Who is affected: Work in France is available for foreign students working on a work-study contract as well as for those in doctoral training or working as trainees in accounting or medical professions, among others. It is also available to employers of Algerian students who are subject to the Franco-Algerian agreement of Dec. 27, 1968. It is not available for students working as interns, applying for change of status or for students who do not have a residence permit.
  • Processing: Officials have said that temporary work permits will be issued within five business days in most cases, though some cases may take longer. Officials have stressed the importance of providing all required information in order to ensure timely processing.

Additional information: Foreign students are generally permitted to work up to 60 percent of France’s annual working time (generally 964 hours) without obtaining a temporary work permit. An exception to this rule requires Algerian students to obtain a temporary work permit in order to do any work. Work in France is designed to streamline the process for students who need to obtain a temporary work permit in order to work hours that exceed the threshold.

Required documentation for those using Work in France includes a passport, the work contract, proof of schooling, and documents authorizing the stay in France, e.g., a valid residence card or long-stay visa. Those with pending residence permit renewals can submit convocation to the prefecture or sub-prefecture, their old residence permit, and the receipt showing they have applied for a renewal. Students who apply on their own must provide a letter from the employer showing that the employer has authorized them to submit the application.

The service is currently available for students whose address on their residence permit or long-stay visa is within one of the following prefectures:

  • 02 – Aisne
  • 10 – Aube
  • 13 – Bouches-du-Rhône
  • 25 – Doubs
  • 33 – Gironde
  • 35 – Ille-et-vilaine
  • 36 – Indre
  • 42 – Loire
  • 45 – Loiret
  • 51 – Marne
  • 52 – Haute-marne
  • 54 – Meurthe-et-moselle
  • 55 – Meuse
  • 57 – Moselle
  • 59 – Nord
  • 60 – Oise
  • 62 – Pas-de-Calais
  • 63 – Puy-de-dôme
  • 67 – Bas-rhin
  • 68 – Haut-rhin
  • 69 – Rhône
  • 75 – Paris
  • 76 – Seine-maritime
  • 77 – Seine-et-marne
  • 78 – Yvelines
  • 80 – Somme
  • 88 – Vosges
  • 91 – Essonne
  • 92 – Hauts-de-seine
  • 93 – Seine-Saint-Denis
  • 94 – Val-de-marne
  • 95 – Val-d’oise

The service is expected to open up to more prefectures in the near future. Additional information is available in this FAQ on the Work in France site.

Analysis & Comments: The portal is designed to ease procedures for employers who hire foreign students. Employers are encouraged to work with Deloitte to determine whether students they hire require a temporary work permit and, if so, whether Work in France is a good option for them.

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