Political System: Republic
Capital City: Paris
Total Area: 670 922 km²
Population: 66m
Currency: Euro
Introduction
France is at the western edge of Europe. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (to the west) and the Mediterranean Sea (south), its major neighbors are Germany, Italy and Spain. Great Britain is across "The English Channel" known to the French as "La Manche" (the Sleeve).
The country is mostly flat plains in the north and west, mountains east (Alps) and south (Pyrenees). The highest point is Mont Blanc at 4,807m. The French can ski in winter and go to the beach in summer.
Economy: France is one of the 27 European Union countries. Gross Domestic Product is $2.867 trillion making it the ninth world economy.
GDP by sector: Services at 78%, Industry 20% and Agriculture 2%.
France is the most visited country in the world with 75 million foreign tourists every year. Major economic issues: tax burden (50% of GDP) is the highest in Europe; unemployment has been close to 10% for decades;
Climate: Climate is cool in winter with temperatures below freezing 25 days a year and mild in summer. In Paris, the capital, average temperature in winter is 5° Centigrade and 18° C in summer. South, in Nice on the Mediterranean, winter is 10° C and summer 23° C. Rain is frequent except in the south were droughts can occur.
Religion: 85% of the population is Catholic and only 10% actually go to Church.
Legislation: contracts are legally binding unless they are contrary to current legislation. Labor laws are very extensive. They define, for example, the work week (35h/week), annual leave (minimum 5 weeks).
We offer the following services in France
- Business visas
- Work permits
- Resident permits
- Professional cards
Business Visa (Click here for more information)
All other nationalities will have to produce a number of documents to the French Consulate of their actual place of residence to obtain a business visa to enter the country.
The processing time can vary from one consulate to another.
The application needs to be made while still abroad and it also requires a personal visit to the French consulate. We can help you on your way by providing procedural information, contacting the consulate to obtain further information and helping with the application preparation and the appointment.
Work Permits (Click here for more information)
Local hire
Applicable for a company based in France, wishing to hire a non EU national under a French local work contract. Except in some specific cases, a job advert must be published to prove that no authorized employee in France is suitable for the job.
French labor rules must be respected, including the French minimum guaranteed wage.
The advantage is that there is no limit to the length of the work contract.
Foreign Service provider
Designed for a non-EU employee assigned in France by the foreign home company. The process relies on the existence of a commercial contract between the foreign provider and the French client.
Intra-group transfer
To be granted such a status, the employee must comply with several conditions (3 months of services in the group, minimum salary of 1.5 SMIC - French minimum guaranteed wage – assignment maximum 3 years renewable once).
There are 2 main advantages to this process, no French employment preference so no need to publish a job advert and possibility to keep payment of social contributions in the original country if a social agreement has been signed between both countries.
For all of the applications the main steps remain the same: the employer lodges a detailed application at the French Labor office. Upon acceptance the assignee can apply for an entry visa at the French Consulate and then travel to France and start to work.
Our Service
We help you define the right process and then provide procedural information. We coordinate the collection of all documents and we represent the employer in the preparation and filing of the application. We also ensure the follow-up with the different administration until delivery of the work authorization.
Residence Permits (Click here for more information)
Employees on local hire and service providers do not need to apply for a resident permit in France the first year of their residence. The French consulate should grant them with a VLSTS = visa valid 1 year as a resident permits.
For others, after having got their medical certificate, they must submit a complete file at the Prefecture. First, they get a temporary resident permit valid 3 months. Then, a biometrical resident permit is issued and valid for a period of 1 to 3 years.
Children have no resident permit in France but must have a travel document to travel out and return to France. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to apply for DCEM (travel document for minor).
The responsible OFII and Prefecture are determined according to their place of residence in France. Each of these administrations follows its own requirements.
Our Service
We set up the medical examination appointment and provide list of required documents. We advise you whether you need to apply for a resident permit or not. We prepare the resident permit application by gathering all requested documents and we accompany you at the Prefecture to submit the application and pick up your resident permit.
Professional Cards (Click here for more information)
The status will mainly depend whether you are living abroad or if you already are living in France and it will be link to the nature of your project. In all cases, be prepared to provide documents proving that the business activity adds value for the French market, and that the applicant is qualified to manage the business.
If you are already holding a resident permit in France, you might be allowed to set up your company with very few formalities.
After a detailed due diligence, we will assist you in preparing the file and lodge the application at the right administration (French Consulate / Prefecture)