Unemployment: enrollment in France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)

Verified 10 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you look for a job, you can register at France Travail, regardless of your nationality. You must reside in France. If you have never been registered at France Travail, this is a first registration. Otherwise, it's a re-enrollment. We guide you in your approach.

1st registration

Vidéo - 1st registration at France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
Credits : Public Service (DILA)

Today, we will talk about France Travail's registration.

Why register for France Travail?

What are the requirements?

When and what steps should be taken?

Rest assured, we'll take stock right away.

Why register for France Travail?

First of all, registration with France Travail is not an obligation.

But this allows you to benefit from the status of jobseeker

and access to a range of rights and services

as an accompaniment in your professional project

for a return to employment, training,

company creation.

Unemployment benefit if you are entitled to it, financial aid according to your situation

and social protection such as pensions and health insurance.

Who can register?

To be able to register with France Travail,

you must be looking for a job, be available

to get to recruitment interviews, to your

appointment with France Travail, and of course to take a job.

Be of working age and over 16 years of age.

Live in France and have a verified identity.

If you are a foreigner,

you must hold a residence permit

which allows you to work in France and register for France Travail.

A precise list of these fixed titles and authorizations

by law is available on the Public Service website.

If you meet these conditions, registration is possible.

Whether you are unemployed, in office,

with a disability or even a student.

As for your entitlement to unemployment benefits,

they vary depending on your situation.

In order to benefit from this, you must provide proof of

first salaried professional activity.

For more information on compensation,

i invite you to consult the site francetravail.fr

Another clarification, the registration to France Travail

is completely free.

And your registration has no time limit

as long as you meet the above criteria.

When to register?

You can apply for registration

at any time as soon as you are available to conduct your job search.

If you complete an employment contract, you can register

the next day.

If you are in advance, you can register at the end of it.

You don't have to wait for the reception

all your documents to apply for registration.

Not all of them are necessary in the short term, but they facilitate seizure.

You can send them to France Travail in several times.

What documents to register?

To register, your vital card

with your social security number is essential.

Depending on your situation, you will also need to provide other documents

as an employer attestation and your last pay slips

if you've ever worked. A certificate of activity

for the self-employed, a sick leave if you are concerned, your CV

and your bank identity statement to collect your benefits.

How to register?

Registration can be done online

on the site francetravail.fr

under the heading “Register, re-register”

accessible from the home page. At the time of your registration,

to simplify your future steps,

a personal space is automatically created for you.

If you don't have Internet access, you can apply

in a France Travail agency.

Our agencies are open to the public in the morning, without appointment.

Free access computers are at your disposal for your procedures.

You can also scan your documents to be transmitted.

If you need help,

agents are present on site to accompany you.

The documents to be provided can be submitted directly online.

It is also possible to send them by post to the address

from your agency France Work assigned during your registration.

However, processing times will be longer.

Once your registration has been validated and completed,

a summons for a first interview

with your advisor is sent to you by email and to your postal address.

If it is a re-enrollment, the process is exactly the same,

but your application will already be pre-filled with the known information.

Thank you for following this two-minute episode to understand everything.

If you would like more information about registering for France Travail,

do not hesitate to visit francetravail.fr or contact 39 49.

If you are unemployed, you can register at any time.

If you have lost your job, you can register from the day after your last day at work.

To collect unemployment benefits, you must have worked a minimum period of so-called work length of affiliation.

You also have to register no later than 12 months that follow the end of your contract.

Warning  

To register, you must be available.

You can register online on the France Travail website or on site in a France Travail agency:

Online

You must create your personal space on the France Travail website:

Register at France Travail

You must fill in your personal information with:

  • Your social security number
  • Proof of address.

You can then complete your personal space with the following documents:

  • Reason for your registration
  • Diplomas and qualifications
  • RESUME if you have one
  • Bank details indicated on your bank identity statement (Rib) to receive unemployment benefit if you are entitled to it.

The registration date starts on the day of your registration via the internet.

Once your registration has been registered, your personal space is automatically created on the France Travail website.

Your France Travail personal area will then contain the following documents:

  • Certificate of registration (job seeker card)
  • Notice of Change of Situation
  • Information notice about your rights and obligations.

Within 30 days at the latest of your registration, you must attend a professional interview with your France Travail advisor.

You must make an appointment with your agency's advisor in your personal area.

You choose the date and time of your interview online.

Your employment contract of the jobseeker is prepared from this interview.

In agency

If you cannot register online, you can go to a France Travail agency to register on site.

Who shall I contact

The date of taking into account your registration begins on the day of registration by the France Travail teleadvisor.

Once your registration has been registered, your personal space is automatically created on the France Travail website.

Your France Travail personal area contains the following documents:

  • Certificate of registration (job seeker card)
  • Notice of Change of Situation
  • Information notice about your rights and obligations.

Within 30 days at the latest of your registration, you must attend a professional interview with your France Travail advisor.

You need to make an appointment with your agency's advisor.

You choose with your advisor the date and time of your interview.

Your employment contract of the jobseeker is prepared from this interview.

Re-enrollment

The process depends on the date of your previous registration:

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Previous registration made less than 6 months ago

If your previous registration is less than 6 months old, you can re-register online.

Re-enroll in France Travail

If you cannot re-register online, you can go to a France Travail agency (formerly Pôle emploi) to do so.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

To re-register, you must be available.

Your re-enrollment on the list of job seekers is validated at the time of your registration via the internet.

You are exempt from providing the documents requested during your previous registration and from traveling for a new interview.

However, if you have been engaged in a professional activity within the last 6 months, the France Travail certificate of your former employer will be required to review your rights to unemployment benefits.

Previous registration made more than 6 months ago

If your previous registration is more than 6 months old, you can re-register online.

Re-enroll in France Travail

Warning  

To re-register, you must be available.

If you cannot re-register online, you can go to a France Travail agency to do so.

Who shall I contact

Your re-enrollment on the list of job seekers is validated at the time of your registration via the internet.

You will be summoned to your agency France Travail for a new interview with your France Travail advisor.

If you have been working in the last 6 months, the France Travail certificate of your former employer will be required to review your rights to unemployment benefits.

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