Work and travel in
France
How to
apply
Who can apply?
To work in France through the Youth Mobility Agreement, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be 18-35 years old (inclusive), and
- have a Canadian passport that’s valid for at least 6 months after arriving in France
Other requirements may apply, check France’s website for more details.
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.
Do I need a formal job or internship offer?
Yes, you need a job offer (pre-arranged contract of employment) or a formal internship offer if you apply to:
- Young Professional Development (3A visa)
- Practical Internship (3C visa)
No, you don’t need one if you apply to:
- Inter-university exchanges (3B visa)
- Working Holiday Program (WHP) (3D visa)
How long can I stay and work?
Generally, you can stay in France for a maximum of 24 months, but some restrictions apply, such as
- visas are valid for 4 to 12 months
- you can extend or change your visa as long as you are still eligible for the program
- if your stay includes either an inter-university exchange visa (3B) or a practical internship visa (3C), you can apply to extend your stay to 36 months
Start your
Adventure
About France
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.
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.
Before you leave, remember to register as a Canadian abroad to receive notifications in case of an emergency while you are abroad or of a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest.
Recognized Organizations
Need help planning? One of IEC’s recognized organizations might be able to help you find a job, transportation, and provide travel advice.
Most recognized organizations charge a fee for their services.
Find a job (available in French only)
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