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
Young professionals
Last updated
January 19 2012

The young professionals provision, implemented under bilateral agreements between France and the signatory countries, aims to allow youth, already involved in careers, to expand their professional, linguistic, and cultural knowledge through international mobility and to acquire new skills through work experience in a company established in France, to help improve their career prospects upon return to their country of origin.

Beneficiaries

Youthaged 18 to 35 (40 years old for Benin), who areeither:

  • by a bilateral agreement on exchanges for young professionals (Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, United States, Gabon, Morocco, New Zealand, Romania, Senegal, Tunisia), or
  • by an agreement on the co-operative management of immigration flows (Benin, Cape Verde, Congo, Mauritius, Russia, Senegal, Tunisia).

Note: agreements are currently being ratified: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Lebanon, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia

Categories not affected

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

Nationals of the Swiss Confederation.
Algerian nationals governed by the Franco-Algerian agreement dated December 27, 1968.
Nationals of third party countries other than those listed under “beneficiaries”.

Conditions for issue

  • The employment situation is not applicable.
  • Sufficient knowledge of the French language.
  • Degree corresponding to the required professional qualifications or equivalentprofessional experience.
  • Initial employment contract of a minimum duration of 3 months to less than 12 months renewable up to 18 months. Commitment by the recipient to return to his or her country of origin after the authorised work period.

Exception(s)

  • Minimum contract duration extended to 6 months by some agreements: Benin.
  • Maximum contract duration extended to 24 months by some agreements: Tunisia (with return plan).
 

Conditions for issue

No family reunification.

Families may apply for, without guarantee of acceptance, a short stay visa or 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).

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 of 3 to less than 12 months (See the sheet on the VLS-TS). Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract.

Permit issued to the family

n/a

Procedure to follow

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  • First issue

    Application elements

    By the young professional:
     
    • application file with an ID photo, 
    • photocopy of diploma(s) and/or internship certificates and/or work certificates
    • return to country of origin commitment
    • passport photocopy (first 6 pages)
    • letter of motivation accompanied, if appropriate, by a personalised CVCurriculum Vitae. Download all the forms.
     
    By the employer:
     
    • simplified “young professionals” work contract, CERFA form n°136500*2 and appendix,
    • authorisation to carry out the requested activity in France if this is a regulated  profession

     

    Potential additional documents

    Franco-American Agreements

    OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration-AIPT

    • a pre-printed form entitled "Reserved Application for Americans", to be completed in English by the young professional,
    • cheque for 400 USD for administrative fees made payable to the AIPT.

     

    OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration-FACC

    • cheque for 150 USD for administrative fees made payable to the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration.


     

    Application submission

    File submitted directly by the employer to the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration local office (DTRegional Office) for the place of employment which is the national one-stop office for this procedure. (see the DT adress and RE adress) (see the sheet one-stop office)

    Application evaluation

     

    The OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration sends the file to the DIRECCTERegional directorate for companies, competition, consumption, work and employment for the place of employment to request work authorisation. If this is accepted, the file is sent to the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration (local office (DTRegional Office) or representation abroad (REForeign office), according to nationality), which sends a copy to the employer for information. An electronic copy is also sent to the French Consulate for the country in question, so that the VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit temporary long stay visa can be issued with the note "temporary worker" (see the VLS TS sheet).

    The young professional can work as soon as they arrive in France in possession of their VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit temporary long stay visa and targeted work contract.

     

    Medical examination

    The required medical examination, if it did not already take place in the country of origin (Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal ), will be scheduled by the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration, by appointment, within 3 months following the arrival of the young professional in France. 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 for the long stay visa to allow the stay in France (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).

    Issuance of the residence permit

    Consulate for a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit.

    Préfecture of the place of residence for renewal.

  • Renewal

    Display

    Application elements

    •  initial work contract

    Potential additional documents

    1°) Extension with the same employer

    • amendment to the initial work contract dated and signed by both parties, specifying the lenght of extension requested and if the working conditions are the same or have been developed
    • copy of the VLS TS temporary long stay visa slip attached to the passport
    • copies of the last 3 payslips

     

    2°) Extension with a different employer (within the limits of the maximum authorised stay)

    • new ”young professionals” work contract, CERFACentre for the Registration and Revision of Administrative Forms n°136500*2 and appendix n°13662*63

    Application submission

    OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration local office (DTRegional Office) for the place of employment.

    Application evaluation

    The OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration local office (DTRegional Office) sends the file to the DIRECCTERegional directorate for companies, competition, consumption, work and employment for the place of employment to request work authorisation. If this is accepted, a copy of the amendment in question is sent to the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration local office (DTRegional Office).

    The visa is valid as work authorisation.

    Issuance of the residence permit

    The Préfecture sends the temporary residence permit with the note “temporary worker” when the renewal takes place.

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:

    €72.

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for issuance

     Exempt

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for renewal

    €87

  • Taxes due by the spouse

Reference documents

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Argentina

Benin

Bulgaria

Canada

Cape Verde

Congo

Gabon

Mauritius

Morocco

New-Zealand

  • décret n° 83-1011 du 23 novembre 1983 portant publication de l’accord sous forme d’échange de lettres entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Zélande, pour l’échange de stagiaires agricoles du 10 août 1983

Tunisia

Romania


Russia

Senegal

 

United States

 General documents

 

 

 

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

 

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