FranceWork residence permit

Work visa in France

A programme for foreign nationals employed in France under a contract. There are two categories: employees on an open-ended contract (CDI) and temporary workers on a fixed-term contract (CDD). A prior work permit obtained by the employer is required. The visa is issued as a VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour), which has to be validated after arrival in France.

Visa term

For the term of the contract; renewed on new grounds

Threshold

The salary under the contract (the minimum depends on the position)

Work

Yes, within the approved grounds, sometimes with a specific employer

Residence

Genuine residence while the employment grounds still hold

Source: service-public.gouv.fr — “salarié” and “travailleur temporaire” cards

Two types of employment contract

The procedure for obtaining the residence card depends on the type of your contract. Look at both options to work out which route suits you.

Employee (CDI)

An open-ended contract
The card is issued for 1 year, and can then be renewed for 4 years
Evidence of stable employment and compliance with the integration requirements is needed

Temporary worker (CDD)

A fixed-term contract
The card is valid for the period of the contract (which may be longer than 1 year)
Suits seasonal work or projects with a defined term

When the programme is not a fit

You are an EU or EEA national

You do not need a visa; a registration certificate is enough

You work without a formal contract

You have to conclude an official contract with an employer registered with the tax service

You do not have a work permit obtained by the employer

The employer has to request the permit before you arrive

What it costs

Validating the VLS-TS on arrivalA mandatory tax, payable within 3 months of arrival	300 EUR
First carte de séjour (fee)The administrative fee for issuing the card	50 EUR
First carte de séjour (tax)The state tax, included in the total of €350 for the first card	300 EUR
Renewing the cardIncludes the €200 tax and the €50 fee	250 EUR
Regularisation for filing after the deadlineAn extra charge for missing the filing deadline	+180 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Regularisation for filing after the deadline” adds 180 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	900–1 080 EUR

Paid separately

Charge for the certificate of residence — Issued by the mairie on the basis of official residence
Medical examination (OFII) — Provided by the French health service when the card is issued

Documents to gather

The documents have to be collected before the application is filed with the prefecture. Some are required for the initial application, others on renewal.

Passport (the original and copies of the main pages with personal details, validity dates, stamps and visas)
Three photographs in 4×6 cm format
Certificate of residence (no more than 6 months old)
The VLS-TS visa issued by the consulate
Work permit (from the French administration, at the employer's request)
Employment certificate or employer's declaration (confirming the employment contract)
A signed undertaking to respect the principles of the Republic
OFII medical certificate (provided when the card is issued)
On renewal: income certificates for the past 12 months, and updated confirmation of employment

How the process runs

The procedure for obtaining the work visa runs through several stages, from the employer's request for a work permit to receiving the residence card.

1
The employer requests a work permit
Before the employee arrives
The employer files an online request for a work permit (autorisation de travail) with the French administration. This is a precondition for issuing the visa.
2
Receiving the VLS-TS at the consulate
After the permit is approved
On the basis of the approved permit, the consulate issues the foreign national a VLS-TS visa (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour). The visa works as a temporary residence document.
3
Validating the VLS-TS after arrival
Within 3 months of arrival
The foreign national has to validate the VLS-TS at the local prefecture and pay the state tax of €300. Without validation the visa loses its force.
4
Filing the application for the carte de séjour
No later than 2 months before the VLS-TS expires
The applicant files the full document pack with the prefecture. The application should be filed in good time, and no later than 2 months before the current status expires.
5
Consideration by the administration
Up to 4 months
The prefecture considers the application within a maximum of 4 months. If no answer is received within that period, it counts as an implied refusal and the applicant may lodge an appeal.
6
Receiving the carte de séjour
After approval
If the decision is positive, the residence card is issued. The first card is valid for 1 year. On renewal, and once the integration requirements are met (French at level A2, the civics exam), the card may be issued for 4 years.
7
Lodging an appeal (if refused)
Within 2 months of the refusal
If the application is rejected, or there is no answer within 4 months, the applicant may lodge an administrative appeal within 2 months.

Renewal and the grace period

The card can be renewed 2 months before it expires. The first renewal (the move to the 4-year pluriannuelle card) requires evidence of French at level A2 and passing the civics exam. Income certificates for the past 12 months and confirmation of current employment also have to be provided. Renewal costs €250.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Work visa	Subsidiary protection	Exceptional regularisation
Visa term	For the term of the contract; renewed on new grounds	A temporary residence permit for 1 year, renewable (1-4 years)	Usually a temporary card for 1 year, renewed while the criteria are still met
Grounds	Employment	Threat to life	Work / family ties
Money	The salary under the contract (the minimum depends on the position)	There are no financial requirements; the same material support	There are no direct thresholds; for AES par le travail — stable income (from the SMIC)
Work	Yes, within the approved grounds, sometimes with a specific employer	A full right to work once the titre de séjour is issued	Depends on the card: with salarié or VPF, usually a full right
Residence	Genuine residence while the employment grounds still hold	Permanent residence in France	You have to live in France more or less continuously

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After several years — long-term statuses, then a carte de résident

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation under the general rules

Frequently asked questions about Work visa

What does obtaining the residence card as a worker cost in total?

The full cost has three components: validating the VLS-TS (€300), the fee for the card (€50) and the tax on the first card (€300). That comes to €650 in total. On renewal the card costs €250.

How long does the application for the card take to consider?

The administration is obliged to answer within 4 months of the application being filed. If there is no answer within that period, it counts as an implied refusal and the applicant has the right to lodge an appeal within 2 months.

Can the renewal application be filed once the card has expired?

The application has to be filed no later than 2 months before the card expires. If you file after that deadline, you will have to pay an extra charge of €180 for regularisation.

How long is the first carte de séjour valid for?

The first card is issued for 1 year. After the first renewal, once the integration conditions are met (including French at level A2 and passing the civics exam), the card may be renewed for 4 years.

Other ways to move to France

Every route in one list — migration programmes: France.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.