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Work permits in France: When is the employer required to apply?

by Novame Stratégie | Mar 19, 2026

Autorisation de travail

You've found the right candidate, the recruitment is moving forward — and then the question comes up: do you need to apply for a work permit?

This is often where companies lose time. Between the employee's nationality, visa type or residence permit, status change, or new application from abroad, the answer isn't always straightforward.

Yet a misreading of the file can delay the hire or jeopardise the employee's start date.

In France, any employer wishing to hire a foreign national must first verify whether that person is authorised to work.

In some cases, the employer must submit a work permit application themselves. In others, they are exempt — because the employee already holds a document that grants them the right to work.

The principle: the employer must verify whether the employee can work in France

Avant toute embauche, l’employeur doit s’assurer que le salarié étranger a le droit de travailler en France. Cette vérification concerne l’existence du titre ou de l’autorisation permettant l’emploi salarié. L'employeur a l'obligation de procéder à cette vérification au moins 2 working days before the hire takes effect, auprès des autorités compétentes. Autrement dit : avant même de parler signature du contrat de travail, ou prise de poste, il faut trancher une question simple en apparence mais décisive en pratique : le document détenu par le salarié permet-il de travailler, ou faut-il une autorisation de travail complémentaire ?

When is the employer required to apply for a work permit?

The general rule is as follows: when a company wishes to hire a non-European foreign national, it must first obtain a work permit — unless the employee already holds a visa or residence permit that authorises them to work without any additional steps. In practice, the employer is generally required to submit an application when:
  • La situation nécessite une autorisation préalable dans le cadre d’une embauche depuis l'étranger, d'un recrutement ou d'un changement de statut en France.
  • The employee does not yet hold a document authorising them to work in France (e.g. a foreign student).
  • The document held does not cover the intended salaried activity.
The application is submitted online, whether the employee is already in France or residing abroad. Under the French Labour Code, the application is sent via an online service to the relevant prefect.

When is the employer exempt from applying?

Les visas ou titres de séjour dispensés d'autorisation de travail de fait

The employer does not need to apply for a work permit if the employee already holds a document that grants them the right to work.

C’est par exemple le cas, de certains VLS-TS ou cartes de séjour “vie privée et familiale”, les titres "Recherche d'emploi création d'entreprise" ou encore les cartes "résident" qui permettent de travailler sans demande complémentaire de l’employeur. (Liste non-exhaustive) 

Les visas ou titres de séjour Talent

Certaines cartes de séjour “Talent” dispensent également l’employeur de demander une autorisation de travail.

Il s'agit notamment des titres de séjour talent-salarié qualifié, talent-carte bleue européenne, ou encore certaines autres cartes talent ouvrant droit à l’activité salariée.

recrutement autorisation de travail

Nationals benefiting from freedom of movement

Finally, a work permit is not required for nationals benefiting from freedom of movement — including individuals from the EEA, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, or San Marino.

Important: do not confuse residence permit with the right to work

This is a common mistake. An employee may be legally resident in France without being authorised to take up the intended employment. Conversely, some permits directly grant the right to work and exempt the employer from any additional application. The answer therefore depends on the exact document held by the employee and the nature of the role being offered. This is also why the reasoning "they already have a permit, so we're good" can be dangerous. In professional immigration matters, several elements must be verified — including the mention on the permit, the employment framework, and, where applicable, the relevant procedure — before confirming a start date.
Points de vigilance pour autorisation de travail

Which situations require particular attention?

Certain cases call for extra vigilance:

  • Employees already in France holding a status that does not automatically grant the right to the intended employment
  • Status change situations
  • Hires from abroad
  • Minors aged 16 to 18, for whom a work permit is mandatory — including apprenticeship and professionalisation contracts
  • Certain foreign nationals who, by virtue of their nationality, are subject to a specific framework (bilateral agreement or treaty)

What conditions does the administration review?

A work permit is not granted automatically. It is issued when the application meets a set of cumulative conditions relating, in particular, to the role being offered, the employer, the occupation, the required level of qualification, and the salary.

The French Labour Code notably requires that the proposed salary comply with the minimum wage (SMIC) — or, if more favourable, with the minimum pay set out in the applicable collective agreement. It also provides for grounds for refusal linked, for example, to certain criminal convictions or serious administrative sanctions against the employer, the client company, the user company, or the host company.

Key takeaways

The employer must apply for a work permit when hiring a foreign national who does not already hold a document authorising them to work in France for the intended role. However, the employer is exempt in several situations — notably when the employee holds certain permits or visas that directly grant the right to work, or when the employee falls under a freedom of movement regime. The key factor is therefore not simply the employee's nationality. The real question is: what document do they hold, what does it specifically allow, and what procedure must the employer initiate before the hire?

If you are recruiting a foreign national, it is best to verify the correct procedure before moving forward.
A misreading of the file costs time. A proper assessment, on the other hand, allows you to secure every step that follows.

Have a question about whether a work permit is required?
I can help you assess the situation and identify the right procedure.

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