Can an individual employer hire a foreigner employee?
Verified 24 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
YesHowever, an individual who wishes to have an employee work at home can hire a foreigner worker. The individual must carry out checks and comply with pre-employment formalities that vary according to the nationality of the employee recruited. The foreigner may originate in a non-European country, a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino. We present you the information to remember.
Non-European countries
Warning
If the future employee is Algerian, British or the nationality of a country which has concluded a bilateral agreement with France, it is subject to special rules.
The formalities vary depending on whether the foreigner resides in France or abroad:
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The future employee already resides in France
1- Verification of the residence permit
Before hiring, the individual employer must check that the future foreigner employee has a residence permit valid.
The employer must make the request for verification of the residence permit presented, at least 2 working days prior to the date of employment.
This verification must be carried out by email or letter RAR: titleContent to the prefecture of the workplace department.
The application must be accompanied by the copy of the employee's residence permit.
This request allows the employer to ensure that the residence permit is authentic and concerns the future employee.
Prior verification is mandatory even if the job applicant already has a Social Security number or is already working with another employer.
The prefecture shall send the employer a reply in the 2 working days after receipt of his request.
If the prefecture does not provide a response within this period, the individual employer has the right to take steps related to hiring.
Please note
The individual employer is exempt from having to carry out the prior verification of the residence permit if the foreigner provides him with proof of registration on the list of job seekers issued by France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi).
2- Application for work authorization
The employer must ensure that the residence permit presented by the foreigner authorizes him to work.
If the foreigner cannot work with the residence permit it holds, the employer must apply for a work permit before we can proceed with hiring.
Once the residence permit has been verified and the work permit has been granted, the individual employer may start the hiring procedure.
The future employee does not reside in France
Before hiring, the individual employer must begin the procedure known as " of introduction ».
This procedure will allow the foreigner to enter French territory, to reside there and to exercise an employed activity there.
The employer must first apply for a work permit.
The application for a work permit is made via the Internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
If the work authorization request is accepted, the employer shall be informed thereof.
Depending on the country, theOfii: titleContent or the French consulate is responsible for organizing the arrival of the future employee in France (medical check, issuance of a long-stay visa as a residence permit, etc.).
If the visa is granted, the foreigner can come to France and work there directly for the employer making the request.
After conducting the due diligence, the employer must comply with the usual hiring formalities.
The individual does not have to pay tax to theOfii: titleContent.
Warning
The individual employer who hires a foreigner employee without a work permit may be sanctioned by the judge of a fine and a prison sentence depending on the situation.
If the employee does not have a Social Security number, the application for registration varies depending on which employer is using the universal service employment voucher (Cesu) or not:
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The employer uses the Cesu
The employee applies for registration Social Security directly with the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) of his place of residence.
To do this, he will have to provide his identity document (identity card, residence card...) and a birth certificate extract.
Other case
The employer applies for registration on the internet to declare the hiring of a family job with theUrssaf: titleContent.
The document is completed and sent by the employer to Urssaf by post or by email on the organization's website.
EEA
To work in France, the European does not need to have a residence permit or work permit.
The employer verifies that the future employee has the documents enabling him to justify his identity (identity card or passport for example).
The employer must respect the usual hiring formalities.
The individual does not have to pay tax to theOfii: titleContent.
If the employee does not have a Social Security number, the application for registration varies depending on which employer is using the universal service employment voucher (Cesu) or not:
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The employer uses the Cesu
The employee applies for registration Social Security directly with the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) of his place of residence.
To do this, he will have to provide his identity document (identity card, residence card...) and a birth certificate extract.
Other case
The employer applies for registration on the internet to declare the hiring of a family job with theUrssaf: titleContent.
The document is completed and sent by the employer to Urssaf by post or by email on the organization's website.
Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino
To work in France, the Swiss, Monegasque, Andorran or San Marino citizen does not need to have a residence permit or work permit.
France has concluded agreements with these countries or principalities.
The employer must verify that the future employee has the supporting documents allowing him to verify his identity (identity card or passport for example).
The employer must respect the usual hiring formalities.
The individual does not have to pay tax to theOfii: titleContent.
If the employee does not have a Social Security number, the application for registration varies depending on which employer is using the universal service employment voucher (Cesu) or not:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The employer uses the Cesu
The employee applies for registration Social Security directly with the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) of his place of residence.
To do this, he will have to provide his identity document (identity card, residence card...) and a birth certificate extract.
Other case
The employer applies for registration on the internet to declare the hiring of a family job with theUrssaf: titleContent.
The document is completed and sent by the employer to Urssaf by post or by email on the organization's website.
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Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
He does not respond questions on unemployment compensation and approaches to the France Labor (formerly Pôle emploi), the 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 in charge of labor.
Verification by the employer of the existence of the document authorizing the foreigner to exercise an employed activity in France
Use of foreigners not authorized to work
Categories of work authorization and authorized professional activities
Employer control of work authorizations
No tax payment at time of hiring
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