FranceWork

France work visa (salarié)

Long-stay visa « salarié » / « travailleur temporaire »

In short

Employees hired by a French employer need a work authorisation that the employer requests online before entry, then a VLS-TS "salarié" (permanent contract) or "travailleur temporaire" (fixed-term contract) visa. The visa is validated online for EUR 300; a four-year card can follow if you keep the job, subject to A2 French and the civic exam.

Apply on France-Visas (official visa portal) checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Validity
First year on the VLS-TS; then a four-year multi-year card for permanent employees still in the job, or a card matching the fixed-term contract.
Fee
€99Standard long-stay visa fee in the official France-Visas fee table. VLS-TS validation tax EUR 300.
Work
The job covered by the work authorisation.
Family
Family reunification through OFII after 18 months of residence.
Path to permanent residence
10-year resident card or EU long-term resident card after five years, with B1 French and the civic exam.
Where to apply
Employer applies online for the work authorisation; then France-Visas and the French consulate or its visa centre in your country of residence.

Fees

The VLS-TS validation tax is EUR 300 on top of the visa fee. The first card costs EUR 350 (EUR 300 tax and EUR 50 stamp duty), the renewal EUR 250, and a late application adds EUR 180.

Work authorisation first

For a worker living abroad, the French employer must request the work authorisation online before you enter France. Once it is granted, you apply for the long-stay visa: "salarié" for a permanent contract (CDI) or "travailleur temporaire" for a fixed-term contract (CDD).

  1. Your French employer applies online for the work authorisation and sends you the approval.
  2. Create your long-stay application on France-Visas, choosing the "salaried employee" purpose, and print the form and receipt.
  3. Book an appointment with the French consulate or the visa application centre it uses in your country of residence, and attend in person with originals and copies.
  4. Pay the visa fee and give fingerprints; the consulate decides on the long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS).
  5. Within three months of arriving in France, validate the VLS-TS online on the ANEF website and pay the residence tax.
  6. Attend the OFII appointments if you are summoned (medical visit, integration contract where applicable).
  7. Apply online for the residence card between four and two months before the VLS-TS expires.

After arrival: VLS-TS, OFII and residence card

Validate the VLS-TS online on the ANEF website within three months of arrival and pay the residence tax; without validation you are not lawfully resident and cannot travel back to France after leaving. OFII may summon you for a medical visit. Apply online for the next card between four and two months before the visa expires.

Renewal and the 2026 integration rules

If you are still in the job, renewal leads to a four-year multi-year card. For a first multi-year card you must now have A2 French, pass the civic exam and have followed the republican integration contract, unless you are over 65. If you lose your job and receive unemployment benefits, a new one-year card can be issued.

Refusals and appeals

If the prefecture has not answered a card application after four months, it counts as an implicit refusal; you then have two months to file an administrative appeal with the prefect or the Interior Minister and/or a court appeal before the administrative court, and a lawyer is not compulsory. An explicit refusal usually comes with an obligation to leave France, which can be challenged in court within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on its type. The prefecture can also refuse a card after document fraud, serious offences, violence against public officials or failure to respect an earlier order to leave.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • France-Visas long-stay form and receipt, signed
  • Passport valid for the stay, issued less than 10 years ago, with copies
  • Recent ICAO-standard photo and proof of legal residence in the country where you apply

Travel

  • Proof of accommodation

Work

  • Approved work authorisation obtained by the employer
  • Employment contract

Study

  • Diplomas and proof of experience

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for the work permit myself?

No, the employer requests the work authorisation online.

Is French required?

For the first multi-year card, A2 French and the civic exam are now required.

Can I start working as soon as I arrive?

Yes. With the work authorisation and the VLS-TS you can work from your arrival in France.

How long is a "travailleur temporaire" card renewed for?

For the remaining length of the fixed-term contract or of a new one, so the renewal can exceed one year.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for France

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: VLS-TS from four months to one year; then a one-year card, followed by a multi-year card for the rest of the degree.
  • Researcher visa Validity: Length of the hosting agreement, up to four years.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Company internship: six months initially; continuing training: 12 months, renewable once up to 18 months.

Work

  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Length of the contract, up to four years.
  • EU Blue Card Validity: Contracts of two years or more: length of the contract up to four years; shorter contracts: contract plus three months, up to two years.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the assignment, up to three years, minus time already spent on the visa; not renewable.

Family

  • Family reunification visa Processing time: The mayor checks resources and housing within two months; the prefect decides within six months of the complete file reaching OFII (silence means refusal).
  • Spouse and partner visa Validity: VLS-TS valid one year; then a multi-year card of two to four years.

Residence

  • Retirement visa Validity: VLS-TS for the first year, then a renewable one-year card.
  • Permanent residence Validity: 10 years, renewable. The EU card lapses after more than three consecutive years outside the EU or six years outside France; the ordinary resident card after more than three consecutive years outside France.

Protection

France visa guide