Work and travel in France: International Experience Canada

Ride the Parisian Métro to work in Paris, France

Lavender plants grow in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France

Fun facts about France

The Tour de France has been going on for over a century and is one of the oldest cycling races in the world.
France’s Gare du Nord is the busiest railway station in Europe with close to a billion passengers each year.
Mont Blanc in France is the highest mountain in all of Europe.

What France offers

France’s tourism and cultural heritage is exceptional. It is a mosaic of landscapes, traditions and lifestyles. One of the world’s leading tourist destinations, with 35 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites, France offers wonderful historical and natural discoveries. France is well-known for its extraordinary cuisine and is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

France has the world’s fifth-largest economy, possessing a wealth of knowledge in many fields from handicrafts to high-tech, fashion, food and agriculture. Well-known French Companies include, Danone, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Renault, Dassault and many others.

Working in France is an opportunity to discover a new environment, acquire new experience, and develop lasting connections between France and Canada.

What type of work visa do I need?

To work or study in France under the Youth Mobility Agreement, you must apply for one of the following visas:

Young Professional Development (3A visa)

Young professionals who want to gain experience in their field or to improve their knowledge of French language, culture and society through a limited work contract. This program also applies to Canadians who have been invited to take part in a duty-to-remember program in the Juno Beach or Vimy regions.

Inter-university exchanges (3B visa)

Registered post-secondary students who want to complete part of their university studies in a postsecondary institution in France as part of an inter-university agreement.

Practical Internship (3C visa)

Young Canadians who want to do an internship as part of their studies or their training. The internship conditions must be defined by a three-party internship agreement between the home institution in Canada, the host institution in France and the student.

Working Holiday Program (WHP) (3D visa)

Young Canadians who want to travel to France and work temporarily to help fund their trip.

Plan your trip

The best way to make sure your trip is the experience of a lifetime is to plan. Review our travel checklist to find out what you should know or do before travelling to and working in a foreign country.

Need help planning? One of IEC’s recognized organizations (ROs) might be able to help you find a job, transportation, and provide travel advice.

Most ROs charge a fee for their services.

More resources

Tourism France
Cultural information
Check for travel advisories
Find a job (available in French only)
Safety and travel advice for 2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Need more help planning? Contact a recognized organization.

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