France Job Seeker Visa Application Process

France job seeker visa is a visa that can be applied by people who graduated from a nationally recognized educational institution in France with at least a master’s degree and left the country. People who want to return to France to look for a job or start a business in France must have a graduation certificate with at least a master’s degree from the schools on the list announced by the decree and apply within 4 years.

The French job seeker visa, as one of the long-term visa types of France, provides a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked with the words “Job seeker/Start a Business”; the applicant must have the French job seeker visa validated within three months of arrival in France.

Who is Eligible for a France Job Seeker Visa?

People who graduated from a nationally recognized educational institution in France with at least a master’s degree and left France can obtain a French job search visa.

Those who want to return to France to look for a job or start a business can apply for a French job seeker visa within 4 years from their graduation from the schools on the list announced by the relevant decree.

Where to Get a France Job Seeker Visa?

People who will apply for a France job search visa from Turkey can obtain a visa through authorized intermediary institutions, application centers or accredited visa agencies.

How to Get a France Visa to Seek a Job?

In order to apply for a France visa to seek employment, you must first apply online at https://france-visas.gouv.fr; it is necessary to create an account and answer the questions asked for the visa application form online. After the visa application form is filled online, a printout is taken. When the process of filling out the visa application form for seeking employment in France is completed, the requested documents and the amount of the visa fee are visible. After completing the online transactions, an appointment must be made to complete the application.

For a visa application for job search purposes in France, after an appointment is made for the delivery of documents and biometric registration through the intermediary institution VFS Global, the appointment confirmation is sent to the applicant via e-mail. At the appointment, the necessary documents are delivered, fingerprints are recorded and the visa fee and VFS Global service fee are paid if not paid online.

After completing the application for a job search visa in France, for the evaluation and finalization steps; the applicant receives an email stating that their passport has arrived at the visa application center. Applicants who want to check the status of their job search visa application in France can access the system using the invoice/receipt reference number and surname given by the visa application center.

After the finalization of the application for a job search visa in France, the applicant’s travel documents are returned to the VFS Global visa application center by the French Consulate.

What are the Required Documents for a France Job Seeker Visa?

 The documents required for a France job search visa are listed below.

• Passport: To obtain a French job search visa, you need a passport issued within a maximum of 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages and a validity period of at least 3 months beyond the expiration date of the visa. All pages of the passport containing the visa, entry and exit stamps and other writings must be scanned.
• France visa application form: The visa application form must be filled out with complete and accurate information on the website https://france-visas.gouv.fr and the printout must be signed by the applicant.
• Biometric photo : For the France job search visa application, two colour biometric photos taken within the last 6 months are required.
• Diploma: A minimum of a master’s degree from a higher education institution in France, obtained within the last 4 years, is required. The diploma must be from one of the schools published by a decree in France or from a school recognized by France as having national standards.
• Proof of previous residence permit: For a French job seeker visa, a copy of the applicant’s previous residence permit must be submitted and proof of having previously lived in France as a student must be provided.
• Proof of financial means: Those who wish to obtain a French job search visa must present a document proving that they have a monthly income at least equal to the amount of the grant paid to foreigners by the French government (615 euros) during the first year of their stay in France.
• Travel health insurance : Must have health insurance covering the entire duration of stay in France.

How to Fill Out the France Job Seeker Visa Application Form?

To fill out the France job search visa application form, you must first create an account at https://france-visas.gouv.fr.

In order to fill out the France job search visa application form, click on the “Do you need a visa?” heading at https://france-visas.gouv.fr, then select the type of France visa to be applied for from the “Visa Wizard” page according to the applicant’s country of citizenship, age, passport issuing country, passport type and duration. After filling in the information on the Visa Wizard page, on the second page, select the “Study” and “Student internship” options in the first box and click the “Submit online application” button at the bottom of the page that opens, and fill out the application form.

The France job search visa online application form image is given below.

How to Make an Appointment for a France Job Search Permit Application?

An appointment to apply for a French job search permit must be made online at VFS Global.

When making an appointment for a French job search permit application, an account must be created on the VFS Global website, the requested personal information and passport details must be filled in, and the appropriate visa center and appointment date must be selected. When making an appointment, all information must be filled in accurately and completely, and must match the passport information; these fields cannot be edited later.

How Long Does It Take to Complete a France Job Seeker Visa Application?

France job search visa applications are finalized within 15 to 60 days.

Those who hold a French job seeker visa are granted a long-term visa that acts as a residence permit and must have their French job seeker visa validated within three months from the date of entry into France.

How Long Is a France Visa for Job Searching Granted?

A France visa for job search purposes is granted for a maximum of 1 year.

How to Get a Residence Permit for Job Search in France?

The residence permit must be approved and a residence card must be obtained within 3 months from the date of entry to France by obtaining a French job search visa. The place of application to obtain a residence card for job search purposes in France varies depending on the city in which the person lives; Those who will apply in Paris must apply to the Paris Police Prefecture.

The documents that must be submitted for a residence permit by those who want to return to France for job search or who have recently graduated from France include a passport, a residence permit, 3 photographs, a residence permit or long-term visa valid for students, a graduation degree or certificate from higher education institutions equivalent to a master’s degree, a health insurance certificate, and project documents indicating that those who aim to establish a business in the field they studied will establish a company.

After applying for a residence permit for job search purposes in France, the authority to which the application is made issues a temporary residence permit application invoice called “reclaimed” until the results come.

The tax and stamp duty required for the residence permit for the French job seeker visa must be paid in the amount of 75 euros, using tax stamps that can be purchased online or in tobacco shops.

In France, the delivery of residence cards for job search purposes is made in the region where the application is made, the application is answered within 4 months, but if there is no answer at the end of 4 months, the application is rejected.

What are the rights granted to a French Employment Visa holder?

The rights granted to the holder of a French employment visa include the right to look for work, establish a business or work legally during the validity period of the residence permit.

The residence permit for a French business establishment visa, which is a long-term visa type in France, is valid for 12 months and cannot be renewed.

How to Find a Job in France?

In order to find a job in France, you can first apply from job posting sites. It is important to know French to find a job in France, and since it is difficult for those who do not know French to find even a small job, it is necessary to take a French course.

Unemployment in France is slightly above average compared to unemployment figures in EU member states. Since the unemployment rate in France is 7.1%, it has set quotas for migrant workers in certain sectors, so migrants who do not have citizenship in EU or European Free Trade Association member states must obtain a work visa in France.

Major industries in France include aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, electronics, finance, food and beverage, and tourism; major companies include AXA, BNP Paribas, Carrefour, Credit Agricole, EDF, L’Oreal, Michelin, Orange, Peugeot, Renault, Societe Generale, Total. Job opportunities and vacancies in France are mostly for STEM professionals (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), electrical, veterinary, healthcare, carpentry, construction, surveying, and information and communication (ICT) sectors.

Where are France Job Postings Posted?

French job postings can be accessed on the jobs page of the Expatica website, if the applicant is a citizen of an EU or European Free Trade Association member state, on the EURES website, if they know French, on the pole-emploi and Apec websites. There are job posting search engines called Option Carriere, Jobted and Trovit to find a job in France.

For English-speaking job postings in France, you can use the following sites: Jobs in Paris (for job postings all over France), Momji (for teaching and childcare job postings), and Next Station (for job postings requiring expertise for international careers).

For teaching jobs in France, the British Council site has information on foreign language assistant jobs in French state schools. For work in consulates and foreign organizations in France, there is a public message board with job postings on the American Library in Paris site.

What to Do After Finding a Job in France with a Job Seeker Visa?

After finding a job in France with a job seeker visa, the applicant can request a temporary residence permit as an “employee” or “temporary worker” if the person working in France has a permanent or short-term work contract and his/her salary is at least one and a half times the national minimum wage. (The employment status in France will not affect the applicant)

Persons who find work in France and are involved in a research project can apply for a researcher’s talent passport residence permit if they have a permanent or short-term work contract and have a salary of one and a half times the minimum wage.

The employment contracts of persons working in France must be approved by DIRECCTE in case of applying for a temporary residence permit as an “employee” or “temporary worker”, but this condition does not apply to the “talent passport” residence permit.