Does a non-European employee who moves to France have to know French?
Verified 13 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
To be able to work in France, a non-employee European must have obtained a work authorization.
He must have sufficient knowledge of the language French or commit to learning it after its installation, if it shows the will to establish itself sustainably in France.
With some exceptions, one Republican Integration Contract (CIR) shall be concluded between the French Government and any non-European foreigner who has been admitted to stay in France and wishes to become permanently install there.
The non-European foreigner passes a knowledge test in French. This test is oral and written. It is organized by theOfii: titleContent.
Depending on the result obtained, he receives or is exempt from language training.
Please note
The employer may propose, within the framework of the skills development plan, to the employee allophone engaged in a language training course a training aimed at achieving the level A2.
The allophone employee can also use his personal training account to carry out this training.
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For information on labor law
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
He does not respond questions concerning unemployment compensation and the approach to the France Labor (formerly Job center), public servants or contract workers of the fCivil Service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or employer.
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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.
For information about the language test
French office for immigration and integration (Ofii)
Obligation to know French for foreigners employees: Article L5221-3
Employer obligations and skills development plan
Mobilization of the personal training account