What is the France Standard Work Permit?
The Standard Work Permit (Autorisation de Travail / Salarié) is France's main route for non-EU workers in roles that do not qualify for the Talent scheme or EU Blue Card. The employer must obtain a work authorisation from the Direction Régionale de l'Économie, de l'Emploi, du Travail et des Solidarités (DREETS) by demonstrating that the role could not be filled locally, unless the role is on the shortage occupations list (métiers en tension), which exempts it from the labour market test. The permit is valid for 1 year, renewable. After 5 years, permanent residence can be applied for.
Note: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet one requirement for the French Standard Work Permit: a qualifying job offer. If an employer offers a role and confirms they will sponsor the work authorisation, the job already satisfies the salary and occupation requirements. The employer handles the labour market test.
You cannot apply without a job offer from a French employer. The employment contract must comply with French labour law and the applicable collective agreement (convention collective). The salary must meet at least the SMIC (Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance) of €21,876 gross per year (national minimum). The employer must obtain a work authorisation from the DREETS before the visa can be applied for.
2026 salary requirements
The Standard Work Permit has no visa-specific salary threshold beyond France's national minimum wage (SMIC). The salary must also meet the applicable collective agreement for the sector and role. If the salary exceeds €39,582, the Talent — Qualified Employee route may be available, which skips the labour market test and offers a 4-year permit.
What you need to apply
The French Standard Work Permit is a two-stage process. Stage 1 is the work authorisation (autorisation de travail), filed by the employer through the ANEF portal. Stage 2 is the visa (VLS-TS), applied for by the candidate at the French consulate after the work authorisation is granted. The documents below cover both stages — each item notes which stage it belongs to and who provides it.
If you do not have any of the documents below, you can read the FAQs section below for further guidance.
Most common delay: The labour market test. If the employer's advertising is found to be insufficient by the DREETS (too short, wrong platform, inadequate justification for rejecting EU candidates), the application is refused. The employer must repeat the test, adding 3–4 weeks. Roles on the shortage list avoid this entirely.
What to expect, step by step
From the employer deciding to hire to the candidate starting work in France typically takes 3–5 months. The labour market test (3 weeks) and DREETS processing (up to 2 months) account for most of the time. Roles on the shortage list skip the test and process faster.
The employer advertises the vacancy on France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) or APEC for at least 3 consecutive weeks. If no suitable French or EU candidate is found, the employer can proceed with the work authorisation application. If the role is on the shortage occupations list (métiers en tension), this step is skipped. If your employer had already advertised the vacancy before interviewing you, this step does not need to be repeated.
The employer submits the work authorisation application through the ANEF portal, including the signed contract, job description, company registration documents, and labour market test results
The DREETS reviews the application. Processing takes up to 2 months. The DREETS may request additional information. Once approved, the decision is transmitted to the French consulate.
Once the work authorisation is granted, the candidate applies for a VLS-TS "Salarié" visa at the French consulate through the France-Visas portal. The visa fee is €99. Processing varies by consulate.
Travel to France. Within 3 months of arrival, validate the VLS-TS online through the ANEF portal. The validated visa acts as a 1-year residence permit. Register with the préfecture for the carte de séjour before the visa expires.
Frequently asked questions
A new work authorisation must be requested for each new employment contract, even if the current permit is still valid. The new employer must go through the full DREETS process, including the labour market test (unless exempt). You should not start working for the new employer until the new authorisation is approved.
Not immediately. Family reunification (regroupement familial) requires 18 months of legal residence in France and proof of adequate income and housing. This is significantly slower than the Talent route, where family members can join from day one with Talent — Family permits and unrestricted work rights. After family reunification, the spouse can apply for their own work authorisation.
A list of occupations identified by the French government as difficult to fill locally. Roles on this list are exempt from the labour market test, which saves 3–4 weeks. The current list covers 19 broad occupation categories, including IT, healthcare, construction, hospitality, engineering, and green energy. The list is published by the Ministry of Labour and remains in force until at least the end of 2026. Unlike Spain's quarterly provincial list, France's list is national.
Budget €300–€600 for the candidate. The work authorisation application itself is free for the candidate. The VLS-TS visa fee is €99. The residence card fee (carte de séjour) is approximately €225 (changing to ~€150 + up to €350 from May 2026). Add sworn translations and apostilles. The employer pays the immigration tax (55% of the first monthly gross salary, capped at €2,506.67) — this cannot be passed to the candidate.
Three main differences. First, no labour market test for the Talent route — the employer does not need to advertise or justify the hire. Second, permit duration: Talent is up to 4 years vs. 1 year for the standard permit. Third, family rights: Talent holders' families get immediate work rights; standard permit holders wait 18 months for family reunification. The trade-off: the Talent route requires €39,582 salary and a master's degree or equivalent. If the role pays less or the candidate does not hold a qualifying degree, the standard work permit is the available route.
Not for the work authorisation or visa. However, French language and integration requirements apply for permit renewal and for long-term residence applications. Outside multinational workplaces and tourist-facing roles, French is the working language. Government offices, legal processes, and most employers operate exclusively in French. Starting French lessons before or immediately after arrival is strongly recommended.
Find visa-sponsored jobs in France
You cannot apply for the Standard Work Permit without a qualifying job offer. Every job listed on Workbeyond is from an employer who sponsors international workers in France. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city, and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.