Access to the asylum seeker's work

Verified 16 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

As an asylum seeker in France, you may be allowed to work under certain conditions. We're taking stock of the regulations. It differs depending on whether you are in the first 6 months after submitting your application or after.

First 6 months

You cannot not get a work permit for the first 6 months which follow the filing of your asylum application:

  • For asylum applications filed before 12 June 2026, date of entry into force of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the starting point for the 6-month period was date of introduction of the application for asylum before theOfpra: titleContent.
  • For asylum applications filed since 12 june 2026, the starting point for the six-month period shall be date of registration the application for asylum at the competent one-stop-shop for asylum seekers (GUDA).

Nevertheless, pending the response of the Ofpra, you may, under certain conditions, perceive the Asylum Seeker Allowance (Ada).

After 6 months

Your employer may request a work authorization if the 2 the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • You are in possession of a certificate of asylum application
  • The Ofpra has not ruled on your asylum application within 6 months of its submission.

For asylum applications filed before 12 June 2026, date of entry into force of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the starting point for the 6-month period was date of introduction of the application for asylum before theOfpra: titleContent.

For asylum applications filed since 12 june 2026, the starting point for the six-month period shall be date of registration the application for asylum at the competent one-stop-shop for asylum seekers (GUDA).

For asylum seekers subject to a transfer decision to the State responsible for examining their application (‘Dublin’ procedure), the European Pact on Migration and Asylum has deleted the right to access the labor market as of 12 june 2026. Therefore, only applications for work permits made before 12 June 2026 for foreigners whose asylum application had been registered by the GUDA for more than 6 months at that time will be eligible for a favorable response.

If you receive a work proposal while your asylum application certificate is at the end of its validity, your employer may request a work authorization in parallel with your request for renewal of the asylum application certificate.

If the proposed employment contract comes into play valid certificate, your future employer must request a work authorization.

In any case, a promise of employment or an employment contract must accompany the application.

Whatever the time of filing, the application for work authorization shall be examined in accordance with the rules applicable to all foreigners workers in France. In particular, the administration analyses the employment situation in the occupation and the employment pool concerned.

The administration has a processing period of 2 months from the receipt of the work permit application. If you do not receive any news of your application within this period, the authorization is deemed to have been granted.

The duration of the work authorization cannot exceed the duration of your receipt, which is 6 months. The work permit is renewable until the Ofpra makes a decision on your asylum application.

In the event of an appeal to the French national asylum court (CNDA), you can retain the right to work if the following conditions are met:

  • You obtained a work permit before the Ofpra rejection decision
  • You have the right to remain on national territory while your appeal is being considered by the CNDA.

In this case, you can then obtain the renewal of your work permit until a decision is taken by the CNDA on your asylum application.