Through the law of 24 July 2006, France wished to reorganise professional immigration in order to meet the real recruitment needs existing in certain job areas. Nevertheless, in receiving foreign nationals with values which promote dynamism and job creation within the national employment market, the aim was also to preserve the interests of the country of origin and contribute to their development. Moreover, several countries signed concerted migratory flow management agreements with France to promote privileged exchanges.

In addition to the traditional procedures, some of which were reviewed with simplification in mind, new systems were introduced which were adapted to these issues, such as “skills and talent” and “project-based employee” resident permits, valid for three years.

The need to adapt professional immigration to the development and changes experienced within the employment market in France was also apparent.

Taking account of the world economic crisis, the government’s new directions aimed to promote the professional integration of French or foreign jobseekers and to control access to professional immigration.

A new, reduced list of 14 so-called “shortage” professions open to immigration was published in August 2011.

These provisions do not interest nationals of the European Union (with the exception of Bulgaria and Romania) or of assimilated countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, Saint-Martin).