Foreigner in France: multi-year residence card - seasonal worker
Verified 12 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are a non-European foreigner and wish to stay in France as a seasonal worker, you can obtain a multi-year residence card seasonal workerunder certain conditions. It is valid for 3 years maximum and is renewable. You cannot apply for family reunification for your spouse and children with this residence card. We present you the information to know.
Warning
Other rules apply if you are Algerian.
You are affected if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are a non-European foreigner
- You come to France for seasonal work not exceeding a cumulative duration of 6 months per year.
You are allowed to stay in France only during the period(s) fixed by your card. You must also commit to maintaining your usual place of residence abroad.
You must have all of the following documents:
- Visa valid for 3 months mention seasonal worker
- Seasonal employment contract of a minimum 3 months, endorsed by the administration.
Warning
This residence card does not allow you to bring your family to France.
Your employer must apply online of work authorization before your entry into France.
He must send the administration a file containing the following documents:
- Letter motivating the recruitment of the employee and detailing the functions he will perform
- Copy of the employee's passport or national identity document if he or she resides abroad
- Supporting evidence of research carried out to recruit a candidate already present on the labor market
- Proof of the employee's qualification and experience (e.g. copy of diplomas).
The following documents must also be attached unless they have already been submitted within the last 12 months and have not been modified:
- Extract Kbis for a legal person and its statutes
- Extract K, craftsman card or tax notice for a natural person
- Copy of the last payment slip for social security contributions
- If necessary, copy of the last contribution slip to the leave with pay fund.
The decision on the request for work authorization taken by the administration is notified to your employer. In case of agreement, the work permit is transmitted to theOfii: titleContentand then to the competent French consulate.
Your visa application must include the work authorization sent by your employer. The competent French consulate will then issue you a 3-month visa mention seasonal worker.
FYI
Since October 12, 2025, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) is deployed gradually over 6 months at border crossing points (airports, stations and ports). This system records the personal data as well as data on entry, exit and refusal of entry third-country nationals who come to France for a stay of less than 3 months.
You must apply for the card within 2 months of the end date of your visa.
The request is to be made on the internet:
When you submit your application for a residence permit on the internet, you will immediately receive a dematerialized certificate of deposit.
Personal Information
Proof of regular entry or regular stay in France
- Long-stay visa or valid residence permit
Proof of nationality
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo identification card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
Proof of civil status
Full copy of the birth certificate (unless the applicant already holds a residence card) containing the most recent information, accompanied if necessary by the court decision ordering its transcription
Identity photos
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
Home
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
Reasons for the stay
- Dematerialized work authorization issued to the employer
- Written commitment to keep your habitual residence outside France
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Supporting documents to be submitted later
- Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
- Medical certificate issued by theOfii: titleContent (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
You have to pay €75 (tax of €50 + €25 stamp duty) by tax stamps.
Your application for a residence card may be accepted or refused.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Your request is accepted
If your application is accepted, you are summoned to the prefecture for the issuance of the title.
The card is given to you by the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.
Your request is denied
If the prefect has notified you of the refusal
The prefect's decision is yours notified by reasoned letter (explicit decision). Except in exceptional cases, this refusal shall be accompanied by a obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) determining the country to which you will be sent.
You can form a litigation before the administrative court (within 48 hours, 15 days or 30 days depending on the type of OQTF). The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
Failure of the prefect to reply to your request
If the prefecture hasn't responded after 3 months, this is an implied refusal.
You can then train within 2 months from this refusal :
- One administrative appeal (ex gratia before the prefect and/or hierarchical redress before the Minister of the Interior)
- And/or a litigation before the administrative court.Using a lawyer is not mandatory.
The card has a validity of 3 years maximum. It is renewable.
You can apply for renewal on the internet, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence document (VLS-TS or title).
Pending the manufacture of your residence card, you will receive a attestation dematerialized allowing you to work.
If you submit your application after the deadline, except in cases of force majeure or presentation of a valid visa, you will have to pay, in addition to the cost of the card, a visa fee for regularization of €180.
You must prepare documents to make your application. These documents vary depending on your situation.
Personal Information
Proof of regular entry or regular stay in France
- Long-stay visa or valid residence permit
Proof of nationality
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo identification card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
Identity photos
- e-photo : enter the e-photo code (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Statement on the honor of no polygamy in France if you are married and are a national of a country that allows it
Home
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
Reasons for the stay
- Copy of the paperless work authorization issued to the employer
- Commitment to keep your habitual residence outside France
- Proof of compliance with the cumulative duration of stay of 6 months per year during the period of validity of the previous residence permit (passport stamps, salary slips obtained during the 3 years, etc.)
- Signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Supporting documents to be submitted later
- Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
Tax stamp amount
You have to pay €75 by tax stamps.
You will need to provide proof of payment when you hand over the card.
You can buy the tax stamp on the internet or in a tobacco office.
On the internet
You can purchase your tax stamp using an online service:
Purchase on the internet of the tax stamp - Title for foreigner
Payment is possible with the following bank cards:
- Carte bleue (CB) and e-carte bleue
- Visa
- Mastercard.
However, payment by Paypal or American Express card is not accepted.
The electronic stamp can be issued on 2 supports:
- PDF document with a 2D code that can also be scanned directly from a phone or tablet by the service responsible for receiving your request
- SMS containing the 16-digit identifier of the stamp that will be accepted by the agent responsible for processing your file.
If you do not use the stamp or have purchased the wrong type of stamp, you can claim the refund. The approach is done online:
In a tobacco shop
You can buy a tax stamp from a tobacco office, if the business is equipped to be able to edit them.
An online service allows to locate a tobacconist equipped:
Who shall I contact
Warning
Do not buy a fine stamp by mistake.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
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.
- 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
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Contract of commitment to respect the principles of the Republic
Conditions for issuing the card
Taxes and stamp duty payable
Instruction of the application
Issuance of work authorization
Minimum 3-month employment contract: article R5221-24
List of parts: item 24