Working in Europe

Verified 02 May 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

As a French or European citizen, you have the right to work in another country of the European Economic Area (EEA), including in the public sector. However, if your profession is regulatedHowever, you may need to have your professional qualifications recognized in advance. The conditions are different depending on the profession and the length of stay.

Warning  

since Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union, or The European Economic Area (EEA).

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Regulated Profession

If you wish to practice in the host country a regulated profession temporarily, you must submit a prior written declaration.

If you need to obtain recognition of your professional qualifications, you can apply through the European Professional Card (EPC).

This is the case, for example, for the following professions: real estate agent, mountain guide, nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist. These are occupations for which you benefit from a lighter procedure.

Regulated profession involving a risk to public health or safety

Your qualification can be checked.

You can check if you need to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications and what type of application you need to submit using the online service below:

Working in Europe: whether to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications

Other situation

You do not need a work permit to work in the European Union.

For the formalities to be followed in the European country concerned, you can inquire at the competent contact point on the spot.

If you have any questions about how to work in an EU country, you can contact Europe Direct:

Who shall I contact

  • Europe Direct

    General information on the European Union (EU) and the bodies to be contacted.

    Replies in all official EU languages.

    By telephone

    00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 from any EU country.

    Open on working days from 9am to 6pm.

    Free call.

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form

If you are a professional, you can also find out from the Union des professions.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Regulated Profession

If you wish to practice a regulated profession in the host country for a long period of time, you must obtain recognition of your professional qualifications.

Depending on your profession, recognition is automatic or subject to review.

If the profession is recognized by the European Professional Card (EPC), it may benefit from a simplified procedure.

This is the case, for example, for the following professions: real estate agent, mountain guide, nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist.

Specific rules for certain professions

Specific rules apply to the recognition of professional qualifications in certain sectors. For example, lawyer, air traffic controller, pilot.

You can check if you need to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications and what type of application you need to submit using the online service below:

Working in Europe: whether to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications

Other situation

You don't need a work permit to work in the European Union.

For the formalities to be followed in the European country concerned, you can inquire at the competent contact point on the spot.

If you have any questions about how to work in an EU country, you can contact Europe Direct:

Who shall I contact

  • Europe Direct

    General information on the European Union (EU) and the bodies to be contacted.

    Replies in all official EU languages.

    By telephone

    00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 from any EU country.

    Open on working days from 9am to 6pm.

    Free call.

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form

If you are a professional, you can also find out from the Union des professions.

You can work in the public sector (companies, administrations and public bodies) of another European country.

Depending on the host country, you may need to apply for official recognition of your qualifications.

Your professional experience in France must be taken into account.

For the formalities to be followed in the European country concerned, you can inquire at the competent contact point on the spot.

Certain public service jobs, sovereign rights, may be reserved for nationals of Member States. For example, jobs in the army, police, justice, diplomacy, senior civil service.

If you have any questions about how to work in an EU country, you can contact Europe Direct:

Who shall I contact

  • Europe Direct

    General information on the European Union (EU) and the bodies to be contacted.

    Replies in all official EU languages.

    By telephone

    00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 from any EU country.

    Open on working days from 9am to 6pm.

    Free call.

    By E-mail

    Access to contact form