Employees who are nationals of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are automatically entitled to pursue their activity in the same way as a French national. Algerian citizens are subject to the stipulations of the French Algerian Agreement.
Various categories of employees holding an employment contract with an employer established in France may be eligible for a multi-year “Talent” residence permit.
For foreign employees who do not meet the conditions for one of the “Talent” status, access to the French labour market remains possible thanks to the temporary residence permits:
- For employees with a limited employment contract, the residence permit “Temporary worker” allows the exercise of a salaried activity.
- For employees with a permanent employment contract, the temporary residence permits for “Employees” allows the exercice of a salaried activity.
In each situation, the employer must obtain the work permit in advance. The opposability of employment may be possible prior to the analyse of the work permit application.
As discussed in the articles on modern day HRM practices, there is a need to align organizational goals with that of the HR strategy to ensure that there is alignment of the people policies with that of the management objectives. This means that the HR department can no longer be viewed as an appendage of the firm but instead is a vital organ in ensuring organizational success.
The aims of strategic management are to provide the organization with a sense of direction and a feeling of purpose. The days when the HR manager was concerned with administrative duties is over and the current HRM practices in many industries are taken as seriously as say, the marketing and production functions.
Steps
Residing abroad
Applicants residing outside France may go to the French diplomatic consular authorities of their place of residence to apply for an “Employee” or a “Temporary worker” long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour – VLS-TS).
The French consulate delivers a VLS-TS valid for up to 12 months depending on the lenght of the employement contract. This VLS-TS authorises its holder to engage in a salaried professional activity upon arrival.
The application should be initiated online on the France-Visas website.
Once in France, employees must validate their VLS-TS online, via the dedicated platform: administration-etrangers-en-france. No application for a residence permit with the Prefecture is required during the first year of stay.
The foreign national is then asked to attend a compulsory medical examination and, or welcome visit.
Residing already in France
If applicants are already living in France under a different type of residence permit, they will need to apply to the Préfecture (office of the Prefect, the local representative of national government) in their place of residence for a change of status. The application, must include the work permit obtained by the employer.
If the applicant changes of employment or employer, the new employer must apply for a new authorization on the dedicated platform.
Subject to eligibility, the relevant party will obtain a “Employee” or “Temporary worker” residence permit valid for one year, renewable.
The request should be initiated at least two months before the previous residence permit expires.
Required Documents
Applicants can obtain a list of exact documents required for a residence permit application from the authority responsible for handling the application, either in person or via its website.
For information, hereafter the list of required documents that must be submitted with an application for a residence permit “Employee” or “Temporary worker”.
Cost
Applicants must pay a tax of €200 when the long-stay visa equivalent to resident permit (VLS-TS) is validated online. A tax stamp duty of €25 is also charged on residence permits. The payment of the tax and the stamp can be submitted online.
This administrative cost of €225 is different from the cost of the long-stay visa authorizing entry into France i.e €99.
