France : Visa and immigration

Do I need a visa and/or work permit?

EU nationals do not need a visa or work permit but citizens of non-EU countries may be required to have these documents. Citizens of the new EU accession countries should check with the French Embassy to find out whether any restrictions apply. If you are a non-EU national, contact your embassy to find out about visa and work permit requirements.

EEA nationals working in France have the same rights as French nationals with regard to pay, working conditions, access to housing and trade union membership. Families and immediate dependents are entitled to join them and have similar rights.

How do I apply for a visa and/or work permit?

If you are an EU national, you will not need a visa for France (but citizens of the new EU accession countries should confirm this with the nearest French embassy).

If you are a non-EU national, contact the French embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, visit the French Embassy website.

If you are a non-EU national, you might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in France.

See the France-Diplomatie (French Foreign Ministry)  website for more information on visas.

How do I apply for permanent residency?

EEA nationals have up to three months from their arrival in France to apply for an EU residence permit (Carte de séjour de ressortissant de l'Union Européenne) from the Préfecture or Commissariat de Police. Check with the French Embassy or the Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration (OFII) for more details, including information on what documentation is needed in order to get a permit. If you would like to apply for permanent residence, visit Service Public - Etrangers en France for more information.