FRANCE – New Work Permit Application Forms from 1 January 2015
Effective 1 January 2015, three new work permit application forms will replace the existing seven, in an attempt to streamline and modernise application procedures.
What Are the New Forms?
- Form 15186*01 should be completed by an employer applying for a work permit for a foreign national employee resident in France;
- Form 15187*01 should be completed by an employer applying for a work permit for a foreign national employee resident outside of France;
- Form 15188*01 should be completed by an employer applying for a work permit for a foreign national employee resident outside of France with a service contract or on an intra-company transfer.
Official forms for working in France are administered by CERFA (le centre d’enregistrement et de révision des formulaires administratifs).
Possible Issues
One additional piece of information required by the new forms is the salary being paid for a comparable French national employee. This may have a major impact for those who are “détaché” in France (i.e. not locally hired in France), who only need to be paid according to the national minimum salary (as per the provisions of the law or the applicable bargaining agreement) plus expenses (mainly housing, food and travel), and not necessarily according to the internal salary grid of the French host company.
It is therefore not currently clear how this field on the new forms should be completed for a détaché employee, but watch this space for more information when this becomes clearer in the New Year.
Action Items
- Anyone managing French work permit applications should familiarise themselves with the new forms and their supporting documentary requirements.
