Can a foreigners minor work in France?
Verified 20 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, a minor foreigner no European may be employed or on a work placement, under certain conditions. The rules are different depending on the age of the minor. We're taking a look at the regulations.
Yes, a minor foreigner may work before the age of 14, but only:
- In a company of shows
- In a company of cinema, radio, television, or sound or audiovisual recordings
- As a model
- In a company or association whose purpose is to participate in video game competitions.
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Request authorization from the prefect
An employer wishing to hire or produce a child under 16 years of age must obtain authorization from the prefect.
The application for individual authorization shall contain the following elements:
- Document concerning the civil status of the child
- Written authorization from the legal representatives accompanied by a list of the jobs occupied and already occupied by the child
- Any documents enabling the difficulties and the morality of the request to be assessed
- Details of the following information:
- Conditions of employment of the child
- Remuneration of the child
- Arrangements made to ensure that the child attends school.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
The regulations vary depending on whether the minor works in the agricultural sector or not. It also varies if the minor is employed in a company in the entertainment, audiovisual, advertising and fashion industries.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
General case
A foreigner minor aged 14 or over may work during school holidays.
The following conditions must be met:
- School holidays of at least 14 days
- Minor has a continuous rest period of at least half the total duration of the holiday (for example, for a holiday period of 2 weeks, the minor may not work more than 1 week)
- Assignment of the minor to light work without risk to his safety (e.g. working at heights), health (e.g. mechanical vibration) or development (e.g. work exposing him to pornographic or violent acts or representations).
Apply for permission to employ a minor at the labor inspectorate
An employer who intends to employ a minor shall send a written request to the labor inspector at least 15 days before the scheduled date of employment.
The application shall include the following information:
- Surname, forenames, age and domicile of the person concerned
- Duration of the employment contract
- Nature and working conditions envisaged
- Working hours
- Amount of remuneration
- Written and signed agreement of the legal representative of the interested party.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Agricultural sector
A foreigner minor aged 14 or over may work during school holidays.
The following conditions must be met:
- Duration of school holidays at least equal to 7 days
- A minor is entitled to continuous rest for at least half of the total holiday period (for example, for a 2-week holiday period, the minor may not work more than one week)
- Assignment of the minor to light work without risk to his safety, health or development.
Apply for permission to employ a minor at the labor inspectorate
An employer who intends to employ a minor shall send a written request to the labor inspector at least 15 days before the scheduled date of employment.
The application shall include the following information:
- Surname, forenames, age and domicile of the person concerned
- Duration of the employment contract
- Nature and working conditions envisaged
- Working hours
- Amount of remuneration
- Written and signed agreement of the legal representative of the interested party.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Performing arts, audiovisual, advertising and fashion professions
Yes, a minor foreigner may work from the age of 14 years:
- In a company of shows
- In a company of cinema, radio, television, or sound or audiovisual recordings
- As a model
- In a company or association whose purpose is to participate in video game competitions.
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Model of parental work authorization for a minor
Request authorization from the prefect
An employer wishing to hire or produce a child under 16 years of age must obtain authorization from the prefect.
The application for individual authorization shall contain the following elements:
- Document concerning the civil status of the child
- Written authorization from the legal representatives accompanied by a list of the jobs held and already held by the child
- Any documents enabling the difficulties and the morality of the request to be assessed
- Details of the following information:
- Conditions of employment of the child
- Remuneration of the child
- Arrangements made to ensure that the child attends school.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
The regulations vary depending on whether the minor works during the school holidays or sign a apprenticeship contract. It also varies if the minor is employed in a company in the entertainment, audiovisual, advertising and fashion industries.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The minor works during school holidays
The regulations vary depending on whether the minor works in the agricultural sector or not:
General case
A foreigner minor aged 15 or over may work during school holidays.
The following conditions must be met:
- School holidays of at least 14 days
- Minor has a continuous rest period of at least half the total duration of the holiday (for example, for a holiday period of 2 weeks, the minor may not work more than 1 week)
- Assignment of the minor to light work without risk to his safety (e.g. working at heights), health (e.g. mechanical vibration) or development (e.g. work exposing him to pornographic or violent acts or representations).
Apply for permission to employ a minor at the labor inspectorate
An employer who intends to employ a minor shall send a written request to the labor inspector at least 15 days before the scheduled date of employment.
The application shall include the following information:
- Surname, forenames, age and domicile of the person concerned
- Duration of the employment contract
- Nature and working conditions envisaged
- Working hours
- Amount of remuneration
- Written and signed agreement of the legal representative of the interested party.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Agricultural sector
A foreigner minor aged 14 or over may work during school holidays. The following conditions must be met:
- Duration of school holidays at least equal to 7 days
- A minor is entitled to continuous rest for at least half of the total holiday period (for example, for a 2-week holiday period, the minor may not work more than one week)
- Assignment of the minor to light work without risk to his safety, health or development.
Apply for permission to employ a minor at the labor inspectorate
An employer who intends to employ a minor shall send a written request to the labor inspector at least 15 days before the scheduled date of employment.
The application shall include the following information:
- Surname, forenames, age and domicile of the person concerned
- Duration of the employment contract
- Nature and working conditions envisaged
- Working hours
- Amount of remuneration
- Written and signed agreement of the legal representative of the interested party
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
The minor signs an apprenticeship contract
A minor foreigner aged 15 or over may enter into an employment contractlearning if he justifies having completed the schooling of the 1er secondary education (3e).
A foreigner minor who reaches the age of 15 between the start of the school year and the end of the yearcalendar year may also conclude an apprenticeship contract, if it fulfills the whole the following conditions:
- Have completed the schooling of 1er secondary education (3e)
- Be enrolled in a vocational high school or CFA: titleContent, by having an educational status, in order to start training leading to the issue of a diploma or a professional title, registered in RNCP: titleContent.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Performing arts, audiovisual, advertising and fashion professions
Yes, a minor foreigner may work from the age of 15:
- In a company of shows
- In a company of cinema, radio, television, or sound or audiovisual recordings
- As a model
- In a company or association whose purpose is to participate in video game competitions.
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available.
Model of parental work authorization for a minor
Request authorization from the prefect
An employer wishing to hire or produce a child under 16 years of age must obtain authorization from the prefect.
The application for individual authorization shall contain the following elements:
- Document concerning the civil status of the child
- Written authorization from the legal representatives accompanied by a list of the jobs held and already held by the child
- Any documents enabling the difficulties and the morality of the request to be assessed
- Details of the following information:
- Conditions of employment of the child
- Remuneration of the child
- Arrangements made to ensure that the child attends school.
Request a work permit
An employer considering hiring a foreigner minor must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
From the age of 16, a minor foreigner may work. He cannot be hired to carry out prohibited or regulated work, in particular when they are dangerous for the health or safety of the employee.
Obtain authorization from legal representatives
The legal representatives of the minor must prepare a document to authorize the work of the minor.
A parental authorization template is available:
Apply for a work permit, if the minor is not exempted
Exemption from work permit application
The possession of a residence card is not compulsory for minors.
However, minor foreigners aged between 16 and 18 who wish to work receive the residence permit that they should have received by the time they reach the age of majority if they fulfill the required conditions, including:
- Temporary residence card for private and family life where the young person is in one of the following cases:
- Have entered France by family reunification
- Have lived usually in France with at least one of his parents (father or mother) since he was 13 years old at most
- Having been entrusted, since his 16th birthday at the most, to the service of theAse: titleContent (subject to conditions)
- Be born in France and have lived there for at least 8 years continuously and after 10 years of age, have completed a minimum of 5 years of schooling in a french institution
- One of his parents was admitted to stay in France as long-term resident-EU in another EU countryEU: titleContent (subject to conditions)
- One of his parents was granted the status ofstateless
- One of his parents got the benefit of the subsidiary protection.
- Resident Card where the young person is in one of the following cases:
- Have entered France by family reunification and have resided in France continuously for at least 3 years
- Be a child of French (provided you have entered France under long-stay visa)
- Being entitled to a parent receiving a French death benefit for work-related injury or occupational disease
- Have obtained the status of refugee (or one of his parents has obtained this status)
- One of his parents was granted stateless status and has resided in France for at least 3 years
- Fulfill the conditions for the acquisition of the French nationality by reason of birth and residence in France.
- Talent residence card (family) if one of his parents has a multi-year talent residence card.
Where the minor foreigner holds one of these residence cards, the employer shall exempted from applying for a work permit.
Application for work authorization
Where the minor foreigner does not have a residence permit to work, the employer must request a work authorization.
The request is made on the internet:
Request a residence card
The minor foreigner may request a 1-year residence card employee or temporary worker for example.
On the same subject
Issuance of residence cards to young people aged 16 to 18
Rules applicable to young workers under 16 years of age
Young workers: individual work authorization
Document template