How to hire a foreigner employee? - General case
Verified 01 janvier 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your situation
- The employee has another nationality
- The employee has a temporary residence permit or the temporary residence document with the words "authorizes the holder to work"
- The employee has already been registered
Before hiring a foreigner, the employer must check whether the candidate has the right to work in France.
The employer must then follow the hiring formalities usual.
FYI
The work permit may be limited to certain professional activities or geographical areas. The authorization issued in metropolitan France gives rights only in metropolitan France.
To work in France, a foreigners employee must have a work authorization.
However, some foreigners may be dispensed according to their status or the length of their mission.
This residence permit authorizes work.
The foreigner can be hired if he holds a valid work permit for the job he will hold regardless of the type of contract.
THE FOREIGNER can't get of 1rework authorization of an employed foreigner in France for a contract to promote employment (apprenticeship contract, employment career contract competency, professionalization contract).
However, the minor in the care of theAse: titleContent before 16 years can obtain this authorization for a 1re asks whether he concludes an apprenticeship or professionalization contract.
General case
The employer must check when hiring that the future employee has a valid residence permit valid as a work permit.
He must check his authenticity with the prefect of the department of the place of employment or the prefect of police in Paris.
This verification does not have to be carried out when the foreigner is entered on the list of job seekers of France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi).
This should be done at least 2 working days before the effective date of the hiring.
Without a response within 2 working days of receipt of the application, the employer's obligation to ensure the existence of the work authorization is considered fulfilled.
After verification of the residence permit and the work permit, the employer may then proceed to hiring formalities usual.
Student foreigner
Hiring a foreigner employee who has a student residence card may only be taken after notification to the prefecture.
After verification of the residence permit and the work permit, the employer may then proceed to hiring formalities usual.
Yes, the employer risks penalties that vary depending on whether the employer is a natural person or a legal person.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The employer is a natural person
The employer may be sanctioned by fine penal, of a prison sentence and a administrative fine depending on the situation:
The employer knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in its service without a work permit
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €30,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Please note
Fraud or a false declaration for the purpose of obtaining a foreigner's authorization to engage in an activity as an employed person shall be punished 1 year in prison and a fine of €3,000.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer risks 2 months in prison and a fine of €3,750 if it does not comply with these administrative decisions (reimbursement of public aid, temporary closure of the establishment or temporary exclusion from administrative contracts).
The employer has knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in a professional category, occupation or geographical area other than those mentioned on the work permit
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €30,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Please note
Fraud or a false declaration for the purpose of obtaining a foreigner's authorization to engage in an activity as an employed person shall be punished 1 year in prison and a fine of €3,000.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer risks 2 months in prison and a fine of €3,750 if it does not comply with these administrative decisions (reimbursement of public aid, temporary closure of the establishment or temporary exclusion from administrative contracts).
The employer knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in its service without a work permit in an organized gang
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €200,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 10 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Please note
Fraud or a false declaration for the purpose of obtaining a foreigner's authorization to engage in an activity as an employed person shall be punished 1 year in prison and a fine of €3,000.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer risks 2 months in prison and a fine of €3,750 if it does not comply with these administrative decisions (the repayment of public aid, the temporary closure of the establishment or the temporary exclusion of administrative contracts).
The employer knowingly used, directly or indirectly, the services of an employer of a foreigner not entitled to work
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €30,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Please note
Fraud or a false declaration for the purpose of obtaining a foreigner's authorization to engage in an activity as an employed person shall be punished 1 year in prison and a fine of €3,000.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer risks 2 months in prison and a fine of €3,750 if it does not comply with these administrative decisions (the repayment of public aid, the temporary closure of the establishment or the temporary exclusion of administrative contracts).
The employer is a legal entity
The employer may be sanctioned by fine penal, of a prison sentence and a administrative fine depending on the situation:
The employer knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in its service without a work permit
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €150,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer has knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in a professional category, occupation or geographical area other than those mentioned on the work permit
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €150,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer knowingly hired or retained a foreigner in its service without a work permit in an organized gang
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €1 000 000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 10 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
The employer knowingly used, directly or indirectly, the services of an employer of a foreigner not entitled to work
The employer risks criminal and administrative sanctions.
Criminal sanctions
The penalties are as follows:
- Penal fine: €150,000 by foreigner concerned
- Prison sentence (combined with the fine): 5 years.
Additional penalties:
- Posting, dissemination (if necessary on the website of the Ministry of Labor)
- Confiscation of tools, machinery, vehicles and products
- Prohibition of professional activity for up to 5 years
- Exclusion from public procurement for up to 5 years
- Prohibition of civil, civil and family rights
- Ban on French territory for up to 5 years.
Administrative fines
The penalties are as follows:
- Refusal to grant public aid for employment and vocational training to natural and legal persons for a period of up to five years
- Repayment of aid paid in the previous year
- Temporary closure of an establishment with possible preservation professional equipment, for a maximum of 3 months.
For activities carried out outside a company establishment (construction site) BTP: titleContent or agricultural work, provision of labor for example), this closure takes the form of a temporary cessation of activity of the company. - Temporary exclusion of administrative contracts for a maximum of 6 months.
The employer also faces an administrative fine of up to 5,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €21,250 per foreigner worker).
In case of recurrence in the 5 years, the administrative fine shall not exceed 15,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €63,750 per foreigner worker).
The maximum amount of the administrative fine shall be reduced to 2,000 times the hourly rate of guaranteed minimum (or €8,500) where the employer has paid spontaneously, within 30 days as from the finding of the infringement, the salaries and allowances.
In determining the amount of the fine, the following factors shall be taken into account:
- Financial capacity of the offender
- Degree of intentionality
- Degree of seriousness of negligence
- Costs of removal from France of the foreigners national in an irregular situation.
Please note
Where the same person is punished by an administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same acts, the total amount of the fines shall not exceed the highest legal maximum.
Work Authorization
Procedure for authenticating the residence permit
Additional penalties
Special contribution
List of documents worth work authorization
Accessibility to apprenticeship and professionalization contracts for minors covered by child welfare
Employee registration
Content of the Single Staff Register
Verification waiver for job seekers
Personal declaration concerning students
Service Public
Prime Minister
Ministry of the Interior