France guide · OuiJob

Working in France: the complete guide for foreign workers

Q: Do I have to pay to be supported by OuiJob?

No. Support is 100% free for the candidate , in line with article L5321-3 of the French Labour Code, which prohibits charging a jobseeker for a placement operation. The service is funded by partner employers in France.

Q: Who requests the work authorisation, me or the employer?

The French employer files the work-authorisation request with the DREETS, before your visa application at the consulate. Details are in our work visa guide .

To work legally in France when you come from a non-EU country, you need a job in an occupation open to foreign hiring, a work authorisation requested by the employer, then a work visa. OuiJob gathers the whole process here — free of charge for the candidate.

In short: the 3 conditions to work in France

Working in France as a non-EU foreigner rests on three cumulative conditions: (1) a job offer or contract from an employer based in France, (2) a work authorisation that this employer requests from the administration (DREETS), and (3) a long-stay visa acting as a “salaried worker” or “temporary worker” residence permit issued by the consulate in your country.

The process is far easier when the job is among the shortage occupations of the 21 May 2025 decree: the employment situation is then not held against you. The work visa procedure details every step, from the employer filing to validating the VLS-TS on arrival.

The main routes to work in France

Four routes cover most situations. Choose the one that fits your project, then follow the dedicated guide.

Route	For whom	Typical duration	Entry point
Work visa (permanent/fixed-term)	Lasting employment in France	1 year, renewable	Work visa procedure
Seasonal worker	Farming, grape harvest	6 months/year max (3-year card)	Seasonal farm work
Shortage occupation	Sectors that are hiring	Simplified procedure	Official 2025 list
Free support	All candidates	Before / during / after	Our free service

Special cases: Algerians fall under the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement (residence certificate); Tunisians under the young professionals agreement.

The whole “Working in France” guide at a glance

Pick your entry point: the procedure and our support, the sector that is hiring, or the guide for your country of origin.

Procedure & support

Sectors that are hiring

By country of origin

Shortage occupations by region

Frequently asked questions

Questions fréquentes

Do I have to pay to be supported by OuiJob?

No. Support is 100% free for the candidate, in line with article L5321-3 of the French Labour Code, which prohibits charging a jobseeker for a placement operation. The service is funded by partner employers in France.

Which jobs hire the most foreigners in France?

Construction (masons, roofers, machine operators), seasonal farming, road transport (HGV drivers), hospitality and healthcare top the 2025 shortage occupations. For these roles, the work authorisation is facilitated.

Who requests the work authorisation, me or the employer?

The French employer files the work-authorisation request with the DREETS, before your visa application at the consulate. Details are in our work visa guide.

Sources & transparence

Légifrance — decree of 21 May 2025 (shortage occupations) — official list of shortage occupations by region(vérifié le 08/06/2026)
France-Visas — official French visa website — visa types and application procedure(vérifié le 08/06/2026)
Service-Public.fr — working in France (foreign national) — work authorisation and salaried residence permits(vérifié le 08/06/2026)

Page mise à jour le 8 juin 2026 — relue par Maître Crudo, Avocat au barreau d'Aix-en-Provence. Pour toute évolution réglementaire postérieure, vérifiez les sources primaires officielles.