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The procedure passport

French law · Prepare your case, step by step

Prepare an employer’s French work-permit file

Before applying for a French work authorisation, the employer should check whether the person's existing status already permits the proposed work. Where a separate authorisation is required, the file concerns a specific person, role and employment conditions. It does not replace every immigration step. This organiser records the checks without confirming that the person may start work.

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Fictional example · adapt to your facts

What does a worked example show?

A business plans to hire someone with a residence document but has not checked what work that document permits.

The resulting sheet
Task
Prepare an employer’s French work-permit file
Evidence to locate
Worker's passport, residence permit or visa and evidence needed to check the current right to work
Question to resolve
Who applies when an authorisation is required?

Review the document and proposed job before assuming a new authorisation is either necessary or unnecessary.

02 / Prepare my file

Which issues should I examine in my file?

  1. Is a separate work authorisation always needed?

    Read this distinction: Before applying, the employer must check whether the worker's document or status already permits work or whether a separate authorisation is required. Record what your documents establish and what remains uncertain.

  2. Who applies when an authorisation is required?

    Read this distinction: Where authorisation is required, the employer files the request for a specific worker, job and set of employment conditions. Record what your documents establish and what remains uncertain.

  3. Are work permission, visa and residence interchangeable?

    Read this distinction: A work authorisation, visa, residence permit and employer right-to-work check are related but legally distinct processes. Record what your documents establish and what remains uncertain.

A fact → a document → a check

Which situations should I distinguish?

Prepare an employer’s French work-permit file · two situations to keep separate
SituationPurposeWhat to check
Existing right under a permitCheck authorised activityDocument and proposed role
Separate authorisationPrepare an employer applicationPerson, role and conditions
Source 1

Is a separate work authorisation always needed?

Before applying, the employer must check whether the worker's document or status already permits work or whether a separate authorisation is required.

Source 1

Who applies when an authorisation is required?

Where authorisation is required, the employer files the request for a specific worker, job and set of employment conditions.

Source 1

Are work permission, visa and residence interchangeable?

A work authorisation, visa, residence permit and employer right-to-work check are related but legally distinct processes.

Source 1
01 / Prepare my file

How can I prepare this file?

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Your starting documents
The point to check

Read this distinction: Before applying, the employer must check whether the worker's document or status already permits work or whether a separate authorisation is required. Record what your documents establish and what remains uncertain.

03 / JULIE

What should I know before acting?

Is a separate work authorisation always needed?

Before applying, the employer must check whether the worker's document or status already permits work or whether a separate authorisation is required.

Source 1

Who applies when an authorisation is required?

Where authorisation is required, the employer files the request for a specific worker, job and set of employment conditions.

Source 1

Are work permission, visa and residence interchangeable?

A work authorisation, visa, residence permit and employer right-to-work check are related but legally distinct processes.

Source 1

Which documents make this file useful?

Start by locating these records: Worker's passport, residence permit or visa and evidence needed to check the current right to work; Draft contract, job description, workplace, pay and worker qualifications; Employer registration extract, social-compliance evidence and recruitment-search evidence where requested. Keep unknown or unavailable details marked as such; a checklist is not proof that a document exists.

What does the worked example demonstrate?

A business plans to hire someone with a residence document but has not checked what work that document permits. Review the document and proposed job before assuming a new authorisation is either necessary or unnecessary. This fictional example demonstrates a preparation method, not the outcome of a real case.

Which mistakes can change the analysis?

Avoid these shortcuts: Filing an unnecessary authorisation for a document that already permits work or, conversely, confusing residence rights with work rights; Starting employment before the required authorisation or check without an official document permitting work.

Source 1

Does completing the sheet submit a request?

No. The sheet organises your selected issue, available records and own notes. It sends nothing to an authority or another party, calculates no deadline and cannot suspend one. Copy the file and check the applicable procedure before acting. Review the document and proposed job before assuming a new authorisation is either necessary or unnecessary.

How can Julie help with this preparation?

Julie by AlphaDeep is an AI legal assistant for French law. Use the chosen question to discuss this task: Prepare an employer’s French work-permit file. Julie can help explain sources, examine document wording and draft a response. Check its proposals against your originals and ask the appropriate professional to review consequential choices.

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Sources consulted on 21 September 2026.

Which official sources should I check?

Which related task can I prepare next?

Prepare to correct a French civil-status recordPrepare an attestation d’accueil host fileApostille a French document for use abroad

General information about French law. This organiser does not file or send an application. Have consequential choices checked by the relevant professional.