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Can a foreigner work in the French civil service?

Verified 25 November 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, you can join the French civil service through a competition, secondment or contract. To do this, you must meet certain access conditions. These access conditions differ depending on whether you are a European or a non-European foreigner.

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You're European

Access by contest

You can spend a competition to enter the French civil service.

Your diplomas, training, experience in another EU countryEEE: titleContent may be admitted as equivalent to the diploma or training or experience required to stand in the competition.

You should check with the competition's organizing authority to find out if your degree, training or experience is admitted.

To be eligible to enter the contest, you must complete the same conditions as a french citizen (e.g. voting rights, suitability).

If you pass the contest, you have access to the corps, job frames public service. However, you can't get a job said of sovereignty or a post involving direct or indirect participation in the exercise of powers of public authority. These are generally jobs in the diplomatic services, the armed forces, the police and security forces, the judiciary and tax administration.

Detach Access

Yes, you can access the French public service by detachment track. This is the case if you are an official of a member country of the European Union or any other country party to the agreement on theEEE: titleContent.

You have access to corps, job frames of the public service that corresponds to the duties you have previously held. However, you can't have a job said of sovereignty or a post involving direct or indirect participation in the exercise of powers of public authority. These are generally jobs in the diplomatic services, the armed forces, the police and security forces, the judiciary and tax administration.

To be seconded to the French civil service, you must complete the same conditions as a french citizen (e.g. right to vote, no conviction).

FYI  

when you are seconded, you are paid by your host french administration. You benefit from the social protection and pension schemes applicable to the functions you hold in this administration.

Contract Access

Yes, you can be recruited by contract (CSD: titleContent or DTA: titleContent) as a contractor of the French civil service.

You must complete the same conditions as a french citizen (e.g. right to vote, no conviction).

You are a non-European foreigner

You can be recruited by contract (CSD: titleContent or DTA: titleContent) as a contractor of the French civil service.

You must complete the same conditions as a french citizen (e.g. right to vote, no conviction).

You can't have a job said of sovereignty or a post involving direct or indirect participation in the exercise of powers of public authority. These are generally jobs in the diplomatic services, the armed forces, the police and security forces, the judiciary and tax administration.

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