France Working

Nowhere does money grow on trees (though Let’s Go ’s researchers aren’t done looking), but there are still some pretty good opportunities to earn a living and travel at the same time. As with volunteering, work opportunities tend to fall into two categories. Some travelers want long-term jobs that allow them to integrate into a community, while others seek out short-term jobs to finance the next leg of their travels. With France’s 7.2% unemployment rate, long-term jobs are hard to come by. Travelers without EU citizenship face a particular challenge when searching for a job in France: only employers who cannot find qualified workers in the EU may petition to bring in a long-term worker who is not an EU citizen. If you’re undeterred by the less-than-welcoming attitude toward foreign workers, you may want to try a job that requires English-language skills, as bilingual candidates have a better chance of finding work. Working as an au pair or teaching English are both popular long-term employment options. If you’re in the market for a short-term stint, be on the lookout for a service or agricultural job. Transitions Abroad (www.transitionsabroad.com) also offers updated online listings for work over any time span.

Many jobs in France are secured through alumni networks or personal contacts, but classified advertisements in newspapers and online are also great resources for job-hunters. Agence Nationale pour l’Emploi (www.anpe.fr) has listings for many skilled and unskilled jobs alike, while Agence pour l’Emploi de Cadres (www.apec.fr) catalogues professional job listings. Michael Page (www.michaelpage.fr) is another job recruiting agency with offices in major French cities as well as international locations. Note that working abroad often requires a special work visa.

More Visa Information. EU citizens have the right to work in France without a visa and can easily obtain a carte de séjour (residency permit) by presenting a passport, proof of employment, and other personal identification documents. Visit www.infomobil.org for a complete list of requirements. Non-EU citizens hoping to work in France for less than 90 days must apply for an Autorisation Provisoire de Travail at a local branch of Direction Départementale du Travail, de l’Emploi, et de la Formation Professionnelle (DDTEFP). A passport and proof of short-term employment are necessary to secure authorization; a short-term Schengen visa (US$62) is also sometimes required. Non-EU citizens wishing to work in France for more than 90 days must have an offer of employment authorized by the French Ministry of Labor (www.travail.gouv.fr) before applying for a long-stay visa (US$131) through their local French consulate. Within eight days of arrival in France, holders of long-stay visas must apply for a carte de séjour. International students hoping to secure a job must possess a carte de séjour d’étudiant (student residency card) and apply for an Autorisation Provisoire de Travail at a DDTEFP office. Students in France, depending on the region, are permitted to work up to 17½-20hr. per week during the academic year and full-time (35-40hr. per week) during summer and holidays. Special rules apply for au pairs and teaching assistants; see www.consulfrance-washington.org for more information.

Long-Term Work

If you’re planning on spending a substantial amount of time (more than 3 months) working in France, search for a job well in advance. International placement agencies are often the easiest way to find ...more

Short-Term Work

Believe it or not, traveling for long periods of time can be hard on the wallet. Many travelers try their hand at odd jobs for a few weeks at a time to help pay for another month or two of touring around ...more