In brief
  • The Monitoring Committee meetings for the various bilateral agreements signed by France (Mauritius, Congo, Balkans) are soon to be held.
  • Notification by the French authorities of the extension of the transitional period for workers from Romania and Bulgaria until 31 December 2013
Executive or high level managers
Last updated
January 19 2012

This simplified procedure aims to facilitate the process of entry into France for executives and high level managers with salaries greater than or equal to 5,000 euros monthlies, recruited by a French company that is part of an international group to promote intra-group mobility.
With 2 advantages: a single contact (OFII) and short waiting periods.
For employees on assignment benefiting from this provision (see the sheet on Employees on assignment).

Beneficiaries

Foreign nationals of third countries.

Executives whose responsibilities involve broad decision-making and schedule autonomy, and who are compensated at the highest levels of the existing compensation system,
High level managers receiving monthly compensation greater than or equal to 5,000 euros gross.

Categories not affected

Nationals of the European Union (except Bulgaria and Romania) or of the other member States of the EEAEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway).

Nationals of the Swiss Confederation.

Conditions for issue

  • the employment situation is not applicable.
  • Be employed by a French company belonging to an international group for at least 6 months.
  • For high level managers, receive gross monthly compensation greater than or equal to 5,000 euros.

Exception(s)

n/a

Conditions for issue

  • Families may solicit, without guarantee of acceptance, the issuance of a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "visitors" from the Consulate of their place of residence (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).
  • Families may benefit from the accompanying family procedure.

Families must enter France within 10 months from the date the worker's employment contract is signed by the DIRECCTERegional directorate for companies, competition, consumption, work and employment. Beyond this deadline, a "visitor" visa and a residence permit must be solicited according to common law.

 

Permit issued to the worker

  • Long Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit (VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit) for "temporary workers" for employment contracts with a duration longer than 3 months and less than 12 months or for "employees" for employment contracts of 12 months or longer, the first year (See the sheet on the VLS-TS). Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract for temporary workers.
  • Temporary Residence Permit for "employees" upon renewal.
  • Temporary Residence Permit for "temporary workers" upon renewal.

Workers may also obtain a temporary residence permit bearing the notice "employee on assignment" if they meet the conditions for the issue of this permit. Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract. 

Permit issued to the family

Depending upon the case:

 

  • VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "visitors" for the first year (see the sheet on the VLS-TS). This visa does not give authorisation to work. Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract,
  • Temporary residence permit for "visitors" upon renewal,
  • The provision « Accompanying family members » simplifies the entry and residence formalities for families, as the application is filed directly with the competent DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration, along with the worker's entry application. Spouses may obtain a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "visitors" the first year. Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract. Temporary Residence Permit for "visitors" upon renewal.
  • If the spouse is offered an employment contract, he or she must apply for a status change with the Prefecture in order to obtain a temporary residence permit granting authorisation to work. The employment situation is not applicable for gross monthly compensation of at least €2,000,
  • If the manager holds a temporary residence permit for "employees on assignment" his or herspouse may be issued a temporary residence permit for "families and partners" after themanager on assignment has been present in France for 6 months (or immediately if the executive or high level manager on assignment can establish upon arrival that his or her presence in France will be for a duration of at least 6 months). Family members are not required to sign a CAIReception and integration contract (to find out more, visit the OFII web-site).

 

Procedure to follow

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  • First issue

    Application elements

    • company bylaws,
    • Kbis extracts and an updated account certification from the URSSAF (must be provided annually),
    • proof that the worker has belonged to the group for at least 6 months,
    • CERFA employment contract no. 13653*03 and its appendix (or 13652*02 for employees on assignment) signed by the employer and the worker,
    • detailed employment contract signed with a manager,
    • copy of the interested party's passport.

    Potential additional documents

    If the manager will be accompanied by his or her family:

     

    • marriage licence or family record,
    • full copies of children's birth certificates,
    • where applicable, divorce decree ruling on child custody and authorisation for the parent who does not have custody to leave the country,
    • accompanying family information sheet.

     

    Application submission

    The competent DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration for the location where the company is established.

    The applicant and his or her family must apply for visas from the Consulate of France in their place of residence.

    Application evaluation

    The DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration will submit the application to the competent DIRECCTERegional directorate for companies, competition, consumption, work and employment for the location where the company is established for evaluation and signature within 10 days.
    The DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration will then electronically transmit it to the Consulate involved.
    For issuance of a temporary residence permit for "temporary workers" or "employees", the Consulate of France abroad will issue the interested party a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).
    Upon arrival in France, employees may work as long as they are in possession of their VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit and signed employment contract.
    For the issuance of a residence permit for "employees on assignment", the Consulate of France abroad will issue the interested party a visa. The latter must solicit his or her residence permit upon arrival in France.
     

    Average evaluation time: less than one month. 

    Medical examination

    The required medical examination, if it did not already take place in the country of origin (Cameroon, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Turkey), will be organised by the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration, by appointment, within 3 months following the arrival of the worker in France.

    For a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "temporary workers" or "employees", the DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration will then attest, in the interested party's passport, to the accomplishment of the formalities required in order for the long stay visa to authorise the stay in France (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).

    Issuance of the residence permit

    Prefecture.

    For the temporary residence permit for "temporary workers" or "employees", workers in possession of their VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit do not need to solicit a residence permit the first year.
    For a residence permit for "employees on assignment", the worker must solicit his or her permit from the Prefecture for his or her place of residence.

  • Renewal

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    Application elements

    • Kbis extract
    • updated certification of accounts from the URSSAF
    • proof that the worker has belonged to the group for at least 6 months,
    • CERFACentre for the Registration and Revision of Administrative Forms employment contract no. 13653*01 (or 13652*01 for employees on assignment) signed by the employer and the worker,
    • detailed employment contract signed with a manager,
    • copy of the interested party's passport.

     

    Potential additional documents

    n/a

    Application submission

    Prefecture for the place of residence, 2 months before the expiration of the VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit.

    Application evaluation

     Prefecture.

    Issuance of the residence permit

     Prefecture.

Taxes to pay

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  • Taxes due by the employer

    For an employment contract of a  duration of longer than 3 months and less than 12 months:

    €300 for salaries greater than 1.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage,
    For an employment contract of a duration of 12 months or longer:
    50% of the gross monthly salary up to 2.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage.

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for issuance

    Exempt for an employment contract lasting more than 3 months and less than 12 months

    €349 for a contract of 12 months or more

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for renewal

    87 €

  • Taxes due by the spouse

    349 €

Reference documents

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The Official Journal (JORF), CESEDA may be consulted at the www.legifrance.gouv.fr web-site.

 

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