France Work Permits From UAE – Immigration Lawyer Advice & Application Support

France Work Visa Options: Which One Do You Need?

France has different professional visa and residence routes depending on the activity, employment arrangement and intended duration of stay.

Where work authorisation is required, the employer generally obtains it before the employee applies for the relevant visa, using the approved authorisation as part of the visa process.

The employer generally applies for required work authorisation, while the employee normally completes the visa application and pays the applicable visa and service fees. Work visa types include:

Short-Stay Work Visa for France

Short-stay visas may apply to professional activities lasting up to 90 days, with work-authorisation requirements depending on the specific activity and applicable exemption. A short-stay visa generally permits the period of stay stated on the visa, subject to the applicable 90-days-in-180-days Schengen limit and the conditions of the specific visa. Typically a short stay visa for work will stipulate the exact allowed duration of stay, equivalent to that of the work assignment.

Processing times vary by visa type and application; France-Visas notes that additional checks or consultation with French authorities can extend processing times. UAE applicants should check the France-Visas UAE guidance for the permitted application window and appointment timing for their specific visa type.

Temporary Work Visa

For certain temporary assignments exceeding 90 days, the applicant may receive a long-stay visa bearing the ‘travailleur temporaire’ designation, subject to the relevant route requirements. The temporary-worker route covers specific employment situations and its duration depends on the contract and applicable immigration category rather than a single three-to-twelve-month rule.

Again, this type of work visa is considered a fast-track option but should be applied for no sooner than three months before the intended arrival in France.

To apply for a short stay work visa or a traveilleur temporaire, the application must include the following supporting documents:

• A valid passport meeting the validity requirements applicable to the applicant’s nationality and visa category.
• Recent passport photographs meeting the French visa photo requirements.
• The employment contract or other professional documentation required for the applicant’s specific visa and work route.
• Any health insurance or other supporting documents required by the applicant’s specific France-Visas category.
• Proof of accommodation (usually a hotel reservation, but if the employer provides accommodation, details of this)
• Proof of onward or return travel may be required for certain short-stay applications, depending on the visa category.

Long Stay Work Visa

A long-stay visa is generally required for stays in France exceeding 90 days, although the exact visa and residence document depend on the purpose and duration of the stay. Long-stay work visas and residence documents vary according to the employment route, including salaried employment, temporary work, talent and intra-group mobility.

Long-stay applications require documents specific to the applicant’s professional and immigration circumstances, and French authorities may request additional evidence where necessary. However, the following documents are considered standard:

• A valid passport meeting the validity requirements applicable to the applicant’s visa and nationality.
• 3x standardised passport photos
• A signed employment contract for the assignment giving details of the dates for its completion, the relevant role of the applicant and the place of work
• French ‘extrait kbis’ corporate documents including organisational charts demonstrating the French brand of the international organisation or the relationship between a French third party and the employer
• Any employer or social-security documents specifically required for the applicant’s visa or work-authorisation route.
• Provide the insurance or other supporting documents required for your specific French visa category, as identified by the France-Visas visa wizard.
• Proof of accommodation (a hotel reservation, details of employer-provided accommodation, or a rental agreement)

Processing times vary depending on the visa category, nationality, application centre and whether additional checks or documents are required.

Other France Work Visa Options

Where an employer requires an employee to work on a voluntary basis, or intends to hire a new employee fresh from studies in a relevant role in France, they may be able to apply for a special case work visa.

Application requirements for this type of work visa depends on the individual circumstances of each case and so there are no set criteria. It is always recommended in these instances that companies seek specialist advice – such as that from Total Law, who are contactable on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

France EU Blue Card Requirements

The French EU Blue Card is a residence route for highly qualified workers that authorises residence and employment in France.

In France, the Talent – European Blue Card residence card authorises residence and work, with its duration determined by the employment contract and applicable rules.

The EU Blue Card is an EU residence route, but it does not give unrestricted permission to work in every EU member state; moving to another member state requires meeting that country’s mobility rules.

To be eligible for an EU Blue Card, the worker must:

• an employment contract of at least one year;
• a qualification representing at least three years of higher education or five years of comparable professional experience;
• salary of at least €59,373 gross annually under the current reference threshold.

The EU Blue Card can provide mobility rights within the EU, but moving to another Member State remains subject to that country’s applicable mobility rules.

Intra-Group Mobility and Expatriate Employee Route

Where an employee is transferred within an international group, the appropriate intra-group mobility or Talent route depends on the assignment, employment relationship and applicable eligibility conditions.

The applicable intra-group mobility route has its own requirements concerning the employee’s group relationship, employment history, French assignment and salary.

The duration of an intra-group mobility status depends on the applicable route, assignment and statutory maximums rather than one universal three-year validity period.

Exceptional Economic Contribution Route

Exceptional economic contribution routes are specialist talent and investment categories with their own statutory eligibility conditions; applicants should be assessed against the current French immigration rules. A representative of the company will be eligible for this work permit, which is valid for a period of up to 10 years and is also valid as a residence permit. The spouse and dependents of the permit holder are also covered by this work permit – making it another attractive offer for businesses looking to recruit specific talent for such a post.

France Researcher and Scientist Visa

The Talent–Researcher route applies to eligible researchers whose research activity and hosting arrangements satisfy the applicable French requirements. The permit holder must be in France to carry out research work at at least a university level.

The applicant must undertake qualifying research activity in France under the conditions applicable to the researcher residence route.

The duration of the researcher residence status depends on the research project, hosting arrangements and applicable immigration rules.

Seasonal Worker Visa for France

France has a specific residence route for seasonal workers, subject to the conditions governing seasonal employment and residence.

The worker must meet the conditions for seasonal employment, which is generally limited to six months of work in any twelve-month period and may be renewed subject to the applicable rules.

Research and Study-Based Work Options

A non-EU student in France may generally work within the authorised student-work limit, while additional work authorisation may be required in certain circumstances.

Eligible foreign students may work up to 964 hours per year during the relevant period, subject to the conditions attached to their student status.

France Work Permit Application Process From UAE

Employers from the UAE or looking to move Emirati employees to France to be posted into employment need to apply for and obtain a work visa, work permit and residence permit. There are several steps to doing so, for which the employer is responsible.

The exact visa application process varies dependent on the employer and employee circumstances, but the following can be considered a standard application procedure.

It is always recommended that businesses appoint a legal representative for the visa, work permit and residence permit application process. Posting employees to France also involves numerous legal responsibilities pertaining to the employment contract and working conditions once the employees are in the country on assignment.

For guidance and support on the entire process to ensure everything is above board, completely legal and up to industry best practice, contact Total Law on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

Step 1: Check Whether the Assignment Is a Posted-Worker Case

For a genuine posted-worker assignment, the foreign employer may need to submit a prior posting declaration through the SIPSI system before the assignment begins, subject to applicable exemptions. This declaration is known as a ‘SIPSI declaration’ and consists simply of an online form detailing the employee’s information, the employer’s corporate information and an outline of the work to be completed in France.

This declaration has to be made ahead of the employee arriving in France. If it has not been, the employee can expect to be delayed upon their arrival and in their ability to start work, and the employer can expect to be liable to pay a large administration fine.

Step 2: Obtain the Required Work Authorisation and Apply for the Visa

The relevant work visa class should be applied for by the employer. Once the employer has filed the application, the employee will be contacted to provide their own information and submit the relevant personal supporting documents.

In most cases, the applicant employee will need to attend an in-person interview at their local French Consulate or Embassy. In the UAE, this will either be at the Embassy of France in Abu Dhabi (found at Etihad Towers, Office Tower #3, Corniche W St, Abu Dhabi) or at the French Consulate General in Dubai (found at Habtoor Business Tower, 32nd floor, Dubai). These interviews are pre-booked and the employer can choose whether or not to send a company representative along with the employee.

Step 3: Validate Your Long-Stay Visa After Arrival

Depending on the visa class granted, the employee may need to validate their visa online. This notifies the French immigration authorities of their intention to travel imminently and ensures that the visa flags up as ‘live’ on the relevant systems upon the employee’s arrival in France.

Step 4: Enter France and Complete Any Required Residence Formalities

Once the work visa has been validated (if required), the employee is free to travel to France. Their details may need to be checked upon arrival in France, but in most cases will not be subject to any further checks at the border.

Depending on the requirements of the work visa, the employee or employer may need to then apply in-person at the local prefecture (police station) for a work permit and/or residence permit. If this is the case, such a requirement will be stipulated on the visa documentation so that those involved may be aware well ahead of any arrival in the country.

For a French work visa and/or work permit, the employer is responsible for the payment of any relevant visa application fees. There may be indirect costs to the employee during the visa application process such as money spent on printing and copying. It is for the employer and employee to decide jointly whether such sums may be claimed in expenses.