The French Government Accepting Work Permits From Foreign Workers Via Online Service

The French administration has declared the launch of an online portal for work permits for foreign workers, facilitating the process for non-EU citizens aspiring to get a job in the country.

This platform has become functional on April 6, 2021.

According to France’s employment regulations, An employer in France who wishes to recruit a non-EU national which now includes Brits as well as Americans, Canadians, Australians, etc should appeal for a work permit for certain job categories.

Online portals for a work permit

Ministry of Interior expressed, remarking on the online portals announcement, that a new era in the modernization of foreign nationals’ work application process has begun.

The applications will be reviewed by six inter-regional programs created when this task was shifted to the Ministry of the Interior as part of the reformation of the regional organization of the State. A seventh national platform is devoted to processing applications for seasonal workers.

It has generally put non-EU workers at a loss since companies often prefer to avoid the distant bureaucratic procedure if there is an evenly qualified EU candidate for the position.

With the recent changes, the process has become more candid for employers concerning work permit applications.

Who requires a work permit?

Both permanent and temporary contracts require a work permit, for anyone who does not have the passport of an EU or Schengen zone nation.

Seasonal work such as people working the ski season, in holiday camps, or harvesting, as well as for students who wish to work during their studies requires a permit.

Also, If an individual has more than one employer, each employer needs to apply for a work permit. Though, there are some exceptions to the permit requirement include the following category of people:

• work at a sport, scientific or cultural event
• work at a seminar or an exhibition
• the production and broadcast of cinematographic and audiovisual works for example concerts
• modeling
• domestic and personal service workers, working in France while their private employers stay in the country.
• offering an audit or expertise in IT, management, finance, insurance, architecture, and engineering, following an agreement or intra-company transfer agreement.
• occasional teaching activities by proposed lecturers

Work permits are not similar to visas.

Work permits are standard for French companies wishing to employ a non-EU citizen and require the company to justify why an EU citizen cannot do the job. Not all kinds of work need a work permit. It is up to the employer to apply for a work permit.

Visas are appealed for by the employee, they differ depending on the type of work and the time of stay, but they all need to be appealed for in advance of the journey from your home country. Some visas require a work agreement or evidence of work.

Additionally, on April 7, overseas students studying in France will be able to submit digital prints of their supporting documents required to complete their visa application online. This trait will be available only to long-term student visa aspirants.

Earlier this month, Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated that they would begin a Visa Application Centre in Minsk for Belarusian citizens preferring to apply for seasonal work in Finland.