Finding Jobs in France as a Foreigner: Guide to Visas, CVs, etc.

If you’re having trouble finding jobs in France as a foreigner, you’re not alone. Moving overseas and trying to navigate a new job-seeking system can be incredibly tricky.

There are new conventions, formats, websites to search through, and that’s before we even get into visas and the eligibility criteria for some of those.

Overall, it can feel overwhelming. However, there are plenty of expats who have been where you are now and successfully made the move to France.

So, we’ve created this ultimate guide for finding jobs in France as a foreigner, covering everything from visas to CVs to job-seeking websites, and more. Let’s dive in and find out more.

What Industries Are in Demand in France Right Now?

One of the key things to look at when trying to find a job in France is to find the in-demand roles. For most countries, you’ll be able to find a list of industries or even specific job roles that are in demand.

Sometimes, these are accompanied by fast-tracked or highly skilled visas, which can present a smooth path to residency in a new country.

At the moment, the industries that have a demand for workers in France are:

Healthcare
Construction and building
IT
Engineering
Agriculture

These are in addition to France’s main industries that are usually hiring pretty consistently:

Energy
Manufacturing
Tourism

If you have any experience in any of these industries or have a role that can work in a support capacity, then you have a decent chance of landing a job in France. It’s important to remember that the French workforce also contains workers from across the European Union, who don’t need a visa to work here.

That means you may need to upskill and be persistent in your job search, especially when you also need to be eligible for a work visa.

Where to Find Jobs in France

Finding jobs in France can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. Luckily, there are quite a few websites that can help you on your way. Some of the best job-seeking websites for expats in France include:

You can also sign up for recruitment agencies in France that are specifically designed for expats. This way, they’ll sift out any vacancies that won’t provide visa support or sponsorship, and be the go-between to find your ideal job.

This can be a great option for expats, as you can take advantage of the recruiter’s local knowledge.

Visas in France

The main thing you need to research before you find a job in France is your visa eligibility. This is massively important. Many visas have minimum income requirements, so you may have found a great job willing to sponsor a visa, but you might not have a high enough salary to be approved.

Capture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris at dusk with a vibrant sky, showcasing its iconic structure.

Things like that will definitely try to trip you up along the way. It’s best to look into visas first, before you waste hours and hours searching and applying for jobs in France.

Fundamentally, visas in France are split into three categories:

Short stay
Long stay requiring a residence permit
Long stay equivalent to a residence permit

They each have their own benefits and quirks, so it’s important to go through all of them. We’ll also run through the ins and outs of residence permits, so that you can plan out your next move to France seamlessly.

Short stay

As the name implies, short-stay visas are for people staying and working in France for no more than 90 days in a 180-day period. This is because, legally, you’re not allowed to work on a tourist visa-free entry in France.

This short-stay visa is ideal for training courses, secondments, work experience, or project-based work in France. However, if you’re looking to move to France on a long-term basis, this is not going to work for you.

Long stay requiring a residence permit (VLS-T)

The most common way of moving to France is by applying for a long-stay visa requiring a residence permit. This allows you to work up to 964 hours per year. You have to apply for this in your home country within three months of your arrival in France.

This visa does not require a job offer, but it does require paperwork, proof of funds, and other eligibility requirements. When you arrive in France, you have up to two months to get a residence permit.

If you’re in Paris, you can apply at the local police station, and everywhere else you’ll need to go to the prefecture or sub-prefecture in your place of residence.

Long stay equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS)

The other form of long-stay visa in France is the long-stay equivalent of a residence permit. This means that you don’t have to separately apply for a residence permit when you arrive in France.

You will have to validate your visa within the first three months of being in France, but this process is completely online and can be found here.

To be eligible for this visa, you need a job offer for a role or internship that lasts over three months. The visa lasts for up to one year, and you have to apply from your country of origin. If you need to reapply again, you may need to get a separate residence permit.

Residence Permits

If you’re coming to France without a job, you have to apply for one of two different residence permits:

Job-seeker or business creation residence permit
Employee residence permit

The job seeker or business creation permit is relatively self-explanatory. It lasts for one year and allows you to work for multiple employers during that time, as long as your health isn’t at risk, and you don’t exceed the 964 hours per year outlined in your visa. However, you can’t extend this visa – it’s a one-time only deal.

On the other hand, the employee residence permit allows you to work as an employee of a French company on a permanent employment contract. These last for a year and can be renewed up to four years in total.

How to Write a French CV

If you’re finding a job in France, you need to make sure you’re applying with a French-style resume. Many European countries follow the same CV formatting conventions, as there is free trade and working agreements across the EU, which makes life easier for hiring managers.

A few key things to note about writing a French CV:

You need to stick to just one page
It’s not uncommon to include a headshot photo
You need to tailor it to the individual role
All experience needs to be in reverse chronological order
Include your contact details at the top

While some of those things might be second nature, a couple of those aspects may seem bizarre to US expats. Including personal information and photos isn’t done in US resumes, as there is often anonymity for applications; however, in Europe, that’s not the case.

If you don’t have contact information on your French CV, the hiring manager won’t be able to contact you. It’s as simple as that.

Some European CVs allow two pages, but one page is always preferable, and is the standard in France. You’ll have a cover letter to go with your CV, so you can expand more there.

So, it’s best to keep your CV concise with bullet points and no extraneous detail. Keep to the point!

If you need help, use the CV builder directly in the Ausland app. It’ll help you with templates and formatting, so that you can focus on the content that matters!

How to Write a French Cover Letter

To go with your French CV, you need to write a cover letter. This is where you can share your suitability for the role, why you’re the ideal candidate, and why you want to work for this company in particular.

A French cover letter uses standard letter-writing conventions, such as including your address and the address of the company, the date of the letter, and a subject line. This subject line usually reads, “RE: Application for X role and company Y”.

Beneath that, in the main body of the cover letter, you need to be precise and clear. Tell the recruiter how your experience ticks each box on the job description, and why you’re going to be the best fit for this company.

Make sure you name the company in this section, so that they know it’s not copied and pasted!

Think of the job description like a mark scheme for an exam. You want to go through each bullet and find a piece of work or life experience that shows you can perform that competency.

Tips for Writing French CVs and Cover Letters

There are a few general tips and tricks that you need to consider when writing your French CVs and cover letters. As a general rule of thumb, you write your CV in the language of the job you’re applying for.

So, if it’s a French-speaking job, your CV should be in French; if it’s an English-speaking role, it should be in English.

If you cannot speak French to a level that’s workforce-ready, do not translate your CV or resume into French. It’s massively misleading and will make recruiters think that your language abilities are more competent than they are. It’ll waste both your time and theirs.

If the CV and cover letter are for an English-speaking role, it’s best to use UK English, rather than US English. The exception to the rule is if it’s a US company with a French headquarters, or otherwise stated in the job description.

UK English is the preferred form of English across most of Europe, and you’ll find a lot of spelling differences and varying turns of phrase.

In terms of formatting, the standards for both the CV and cover letter are a font like Arial or Times New Roman in size 11-12. Ensure that your paragraphs are relatively short and easy to digest to give maximum clarity and impact.

Tips for Finding Jobs in France as a Foreigner

Of course, there are some definite quirks to finding jobs in France as a foreigner. Some of them have a bigger impact than others, and some are just useful to know about as possible shortcuts.

So, let’s dive in and get into our expert tips for finding overseas jobs in France.

Language skills

If you’re going to live and work in France, it’ll go a long way if you can speak French. Regardless of the example that Emily in Paris sets, most companies in France exclusively speak French.

The French national flag waving against a bright blue sky, symbolizing liberty and national pride.

Of course, there are plenty of international companies and US or UK-based companies in France, but by and large, you’ll need French language skills to help you find a job in France. Get on a language learning app or enroll in a local language school now!

Prepare for culture shocks

As with any international move, you’re going to experience some culture shocks when you first move to France. This amazing nation definitely has a laissez-faire attitude when it comes to service, which can be annoying for some US expats.

A meal, even lunch, is designed to take hours, and you shouldn’t expect constant check-backs from waiters like you would in the States.

To help mitigate some of the culture shocks, join some of the expat groups on Facebook and on other social media sites. This can help keep homesickness at bay, and you’ll be able to ask questions of people who’ve been in the same boat as you.

Look for intra-company vacancies

When finding a job in France, one of the easiest ways to move is to get an internal transfer. If you work for an international company with sites in France, you can put in for an appropriate transfer.

While this isn’t always possible, if you can, it’s one of the most seamless move abroad processes.

You might also be able to get a relocation package, depending on your company, which can include visa and accommodation assistance to get you started.

Check out US companies with French headquarters

If you don’t currently work for a US company but want an English-speaking job in France, check out the US companies that have French headquarters. Some of the popular brands include:

Google
Amazon
Microsoft
Snap
Comcast
Disney Resorts
Johnson & Johnson
IBM
PayPal

France has plenty of US company headquarters, as well as UK brands, which also have predominantly English-speaking roles. Of course, having French abilities will still help when finding a job in France and when trying to live day to day in the country.

Don’t just stick to Paris

The temptation when trying to find a job in France is to stick to the capital city, Paris. While this is the biggest city with the most jobs and the most expats, it’s also super expensive and competitive. Almost every expat moving to France wants to live in or around Paris.

It’s the same around Europe with expats fixating on London, Berlin, Rome, or Stockholm. There are plenty of other major cities around France that offer lower costs of living, while having all the amenities that cities are known for.

You can check out cities like:

Nice
Marseille
Lyon
Toulouse
Rennes
Grenoble
Bordeaux
Montpellier

Getting your documents translated and verified

When finding a job in France, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to get your documents translated into French. This could be for visa paperwork or if your job requires certain certifications.

This is to make sure you’re qualified and that your certificates and diplomas are legitimate before setting you loose on the French public.

To get your documents verified and translated, head to The French Information Center for Academic Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. You’ll need your ID, the original diploma certificates, your academic transcripts, and a sworn translation in French. These sworn translations can cost anywhere from €35 to €70 per page.

To get your qualifications verified and recognized, you’ll also need to pay a €20 processing fee. However, this then gives you a comparable set of qualifications to the French standards.

This makes it easier for you to find a job in France as hiring managers know that your qualifications are legitimate and verified to a standard.

FAQs About Finding Jobs in France as a Foreigner

Finally, let’s round out this guide to finding a job in France as a foreigner with a few frequently asked questions. From French working culture to average salaries, let’s get into it.

Do I need to speak French to work in France?

Realistically, yes, you need to speak French to work in France. While there are English-speaking jobs in France, they are few and far between. Having proficiency in both languages will help you maintain a competitive edge in the job market.

There are plenty of international companies with English-speaking roles, so it’s not absolutely necessary to be able to speak French. However, if you’re moving to France, it’s worth knowing French just to be able to live your life and deal with daily bureaucracy.

What’s the average salary in France?

According to Relocate.me, the average salary in France (in 2023, due to delayed numbers being released) was €40,000 per year gross. That went up to €54,100 in the capital, Paris.

In terms of monthly takeaways, the average for France as a whole works out at €2,574 per month net (so after taxes).

While this doesn’t sound like a lot, the cost of living in much of France is lower than in the US and UK. Even in Paris, the monthly takeaway after taxes works out to €3,400, on average.

What’s the average work week in France?

There may be many jokes out there about the short French workweek, but the hours are pretty strictly mandated. A full-time employee can work a maximum of 35 hours per week or 151.67 hours per month.

In terms of “actual working time”, which includes overtime and hourly workers, you cannot work over 48 hours in a single week, or an average of 44 hours per week over the course of 12 weeks.

That is stated clearly in French employment law. If you are a shift worker, you also cannot work longer than 10 hours in a row.

These are designed to protect workers from burnout and allow for work-life balance. So, while the wages may be lower than in the US, you’re working a lot fewer hours, giving you more time to actively enjoy your life.

Is the French job market good right now?

As with much of the world, the French job market isn’t amazing right now. There are recessions in place all around the world, and the post-COVID bounce-back has been slow in France, especially in manufacturing, which is one of the country’s key industries.

Youth unemployment has been especially affected and is something that the French government is looking into. There has also been some political instability of late in France, which has meant economic insecurity in many markets. In turn, businesses aren’t risking spending money on recruitment and growth right now, just in case.

However, growth industries like technology and renewable energy are still showing vacancies. While there are some niche skillsets for some of these roles, there are also plenty of support roles with transferable skills to take advantage of.

What’s the cost of living like in Paris?

The cost of living in Paris is notoriously high. Even if you can find a deal, the sizes of apartments in the city can be minuscule, on par with global cities like New York, London, and Tokyo.

Rent for a single person in the city center of Paris is €1,401.94 per month, on average. A three-bed apartment outside of the city center rises to €2,018.18 per month, on average.

Excluding rent, the estimated monthly outgoings for a single person in Paris are €1,053.90, while a family of four can expect to spend €3,723.9 per month.

So, in total, the monthly outgoings for a single person in the city center of Paris average out at €2,455.84 per month, and for a family living outside the city center, it would work out at €5,742.08 per month.

Compared to Nice, on the French Riviera, the cost of living in Paris is 14.6% higher (including rent) than in Nice.

That is because rent prices in Paris are 41.1% higher than in Nice; however, restaurant prices in Nice are 11.7% higher than in Paris, so there are financial benefits to the capital as well, if you like to eat out a lot.