What is the regularization of a foreigner through work?

Verified 22 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A foreigner worker, no European, in an irregular situation in France, may obtain a residence permit by exceptional admission to a residence permit salaried worker or temporary worker. This is a case-by-case regularization. The foreigner must meet the conditions of seniority of residence and work in France. He must file his application in the prefecture.

The procedure differs depending on whether or not the job is on the list of tensioned looms (occupations for which there are recruitment difficulties).

General case

If you are a foreigner no European in irregular stay in France, you can obtain a residence card salaried worker or temporary worker, subject to conditions.

Contract or promise of employment

You must have an employment contract or a promise to hire.

Seniority of residence and work in France

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You have been living in France for 5 years or more

You have to answer the following 2 conditions :

  • Proof of a length of stay in France of 5 years minimum, with exceptions
  • Proof of length of service of 8 months over the last 2 years or 30 months over the last 5 years

You have been living in France for 3 years

Exceptionally, if you have been staying since 3 years in France, you can also apply for a title if you prove that you worked for 24 months, 8 of which were in the last 12 months.

Please note

The conditions of employment are specific for a temporary foreigner or one employed in the solidarity economy or with a combination of small contracts, such as a homeworker.

Inserting

You have to speak French, at least in a basic way.

You must not pose a threat to public order, nor live in a polygamy situation in France.

A visa is not required.

The application may also be part of a collective deposit organized by a collective supporting undocumented workers (trade unions, associations, etc.).

  • Full copy of the birth certificate with the most recent entries, accompanied if necessary by the court decision ordering its transcription
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    or consular attestation with photo
    or photo ID
    or consular card with photo
    or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
  • Declaration on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
  • Form cerfa no. 15186 (completed and signed by your employer), accompanied by the requested documents
  • Any document justifying your habitual residence since your entry into France (tax notice, state medical aid certificate, etc.)
  • Proof of previous employment: salary slips, bank statements or transfers, employment certificate, attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi), income tax notice corresponding to periods of work, for example.
  • If you used a different identity to work: Proof of identity issued by your employer
  • Proof of your inclusion in the business: certificates from friendly circles, membership of associations, voluntary activity, participation in children's school activities, etc.
Where to go?
Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

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Your request is accepted

If your application is accepted, you are summoned to the prefecture for the issue of the title.

Your request is denied

If the prefect has notified you of the refusal

The decision of the prefect is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional circumstances, such refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.

You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF). You don't have to have a lawyer.

Who shall I contact
No reply from the prefect on your request

If the prefecture hasn't responded after 4 months, it's an implicit refusal.

You can then train within 2 months from such refusal :

Who shall I contact

Warning  

If your receipt reaches the end of its validity period and you do not have a response from the prefecture, it is possible that the processing time will be extended. In this case, you can obtain the renewal of your receipt. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

In case of agreement, the prefecture issues you a residence card that differs according to the type of your employment contract.

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CSD

You get a residence card temporary worker valid for the duration of the contract.

DTA

You get a residence card salaried worker valid for 1 year and renewable.

Jobs and geographies in tension

FYI  

Exceptional admission to the residence under occupations and geographical areas in tension is possible until 31 december 2026.

If you are a foreigner no European in irregular stay in France, you can obtain a residence card salaried worker or temporary worker, subject to conditions.

Employed activity in occupations and geographical areas in tension

You must be employed in the trades and geographical areas in tension at the time of your application

Seniority of residence and work in France

You have to answer under the following conditions :

  • Proof of at least 3 years of uninterrupted residence in France
  • Proof of a 12-month professional activity in the last 24 months in a trade and a geographical area in tension

Warning  

Activities carried out in the context of entrepreneurship or a liberal exercise shall not be taken into account.

Similarly, professional experience with a student or seasonal worker residence permit shall not be taken into account.

Inserting

You must be able to justify the following:

  • Social and family integration
  • Adherence to the ways of life and values of the French business and to the principles of the French Republic
  • Absence of a criminal record (absence of mention of conviction, incapacity or disqualification)

And you must not pose a threat to public order, nor live in a polygamy situation in France.

You must file a file in the prefecture of your place of residence.

We will provide you with a list of the parts to be supplied

  • Full copy of the birth certificate with the most recent entries, accompanied if necessary by the court decision ordering its transcription
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    or consular attestation with photo
    or photo ID
    or consular card with photo
    or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
  • Declaration on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
  • Form that you must complete and sign (to be collected from your prefecture or sub-prefecture). This form will be used by you to apply for a work permit yourself, without the intervention of your employer.
  • Any document justifying your habitual residence since your entry into France (tax notice, state medical aid certificate, etc.)
  • Proof of previous employment in occupations and geographical areas in tension: salary slips, bank statements or transfers, employment certificate, attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi), income tax notices corresponding to periods of work, for example
  • Proof of your inclusion in the business: certificates from friendly circles, membership of associations, voluntary activity, participation in children's school activities, etc.

If your file is complete, the prefecture issues you a receipt authorizing you to work.

Where to go?
Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

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Your request is accepted

If your application is accepted, you are summoned to the prefecture for the issue of the title.

Your request is denied

If the prefect has notified you of the refusal

The decision of the prefect is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional circumstances, such refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) setting the country to which you will be returned.

You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF). You don't have to have a lawyer.

Who shall I contact
No reply from the prefect on your request

If the prefecture hasn't responded after 4 months, it's an implicit refusal.

You can then train within 2 months from such refusal :

Who shall I contact

Warning  

If your receipt reaches the end of its validity period and you do not have a response from the prefecture, it is possible that the processing time will be extended. In this case, you can obtain the renewal of your receipt. Find out more on your prefecture's website.

In case of agreement, the prefecture issues you a residence card that differs according to the type of your employment contract.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

CSD

You get a residence card temporary worker valid for 1 year.

DTA

You get a residence card salaried worker valid for 1 year.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

    Cost: free service

    The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

    The service is available at the following times:

      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

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