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How to hire a foreigner employee? - EEA

Verified 01 janvier 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

The employee is a European national (EEA)
The employee was never registered

To work in France, a national of the European Economic Area doesn't need of work authorization.

An employer wishing to hire a national of one of these countries must comply with the hiring formalities usual.

When the employee has never been registered in France, the employer must apply for registration with the CPAM (or MSA for an agricultural employee).

In addition to the DPAEHowever, the employer must apply for registration online on the Health Insurance website.

Registration of a foreigner employee

Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee

Labor Code: Article R5221-1 to R5221-7
Work Authorization
Labor Code: Articles R5221-41 to R5221-46
Procedure for authenticating the residence permit
Labor Code: Articles L8256-1 to L8256-8
Penalties
Labor Code: Articles L5224-1 to L5224-4
Additional penalties
Labor Code: Articles L8253-1 to L8253-7
Special contribution
Labor Code: Article R5221-3
List of documents worth work authorization
Labor Code: Articles R5221-17 to R5221-22
Accessibility to apprenticeship and professionalization contracts for minors covered by child welfare
Labor Code: Articles R1221-1 and R1221-2
Employee registration
Labor Code: Articles D1221-23 to D1221-27
Content of the Single Staff Register
Labor Code: Article L5221-8
Verification waiver for job seekers
Labor Code: Article L5221-9
Personal declaration concerning students
Labor Code: Article D5221-21-1
Order of 1 April 2021 establishing the list of documents to be provided to obtain a work authorization
Order of May 21, 2025 establishing the list of professions and geographical areas characterized by recruitment difficulties in application of Article L. 414-13 of the Code on the Entry and Residence of foreigners and the Right of Asylum

Apply online for a work permit to hire a foreigner employee
Online service

FAQ

Foreigners employee: how are work permits issued?

Authorization to work for a foreigners employee in France
Service Public
Talent card: multi-year residence card of a foreigner in France
Service Public
Residence card or VLS-TS - Job search/company creation
Service Public
Social Security registration for an employee arriving in France
Service Public
Procedure and formalities for hiring a private sector employee
Government portal on Brexit preparedness
Prime Minister
Recruit a foreign national present in France
Ministry of the Interior