Many people find the idea of working in France compelling. At the time of writing, France is a member of the G7 and G8 powers and has maintained a strong economy with an unemployment rate of only 9%. Alongside the work/life balance, there are many reasons you may choose to work in France. However, there are now new post-Brexit regulations and requirements for UK citizens to work in France. In particular, there is now a requirement for a work permit. In order to apply for one, you’ll need to submit a number of legalised documents.
Work permits in France vary depending on the region you intend to work in. There are two variations:
- A mainland work permit – if you intend to work in mainland France alone. This work permit would not be valid in France’s overseas territories.
- A work permit for the regions of Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte and Reunion is classed as an overseas working permit and would only be valid in the respective department. If you then want to work in mainland France, you would need a new permit for mainland France.
It should be noted that if you were a resident in France before the 1st January, 2021 and started professional activity in France before that date, you have a right to work without a visa or permit, under the withdrawal agreement. This means that if you have a withdrawal agreement residence permit (WARP), or if you applied for one prior to the above date, you do not need a work permit in France.
If you began residing in France from the 1st January, 2021 and begin working, you will be required to have a work permit.
In order to apply for your work permit in France, you will need the following documents:
- A completed French working permit application,
- Your valid passport,
- Proof of financial means,
- Certificate of criminal record,
- Proof of paid French working permit fee,
- Proof of qualifications,
- Recent photograph of yourself in the past three months,
Depending on the nature of employment, you may be required by your employer in France to provide further documents. It is always best to confirm with your employer which documents you might need. In many cases, these documents will then need to be translated into French. It is also usually necessary to have your documents notarised and apostilled in order for them to be accepted in France.
Notarisation is a necessary process for documents that do not bear the wet-ink signature of a UK public official or the seal of a UK public authority. For example, a passport copy would need to be notarised before it can be apostilled at the UK FCDO legalisation office. An ACRO police certificate, however, can be directly apostilled without prior notarisation.
We can offer virtual notarisation appointments for those who are unable and unwilling to make the trip to our offices, with speedy turnaround times for each step of legalisation. We can have your documents notarised, apostilled and shipped to France in 2 working days.
At Pardus Bloom, we understand how overwhelming this process can be. As a bespoke concierge service that specialises in Hague apostilles and legalisation services, we aim to make your life that little bit easier. We are able to have everything completed for you, including certification/notarisation and translation (where necessary) of the documents, express apostilles and shipping. This will enable a faster and more efficient processing of documents to help you ensure you have everything you need for a smooth move.
Contact us today via email at enquiries@pardusbloom.com or by phone on 020 3839 9090.