As a global icon of fashion, love, café culture and wine, there are so many reasons to apply for a working holiday visa in France. France is the most visited country in the world, home to beautiful landscapes and sceneries like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the Palace of Versailles in Yvelines. There is something for everyone, no matter who you are.
If you’re into the sun and beaches, take a trip to Corsica, the mediterranean island where Napoleon was born. Or, if you’re more of a shopper, check out some old shopping districts like Louvre and Tuileries or Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées.
The work culture in France is like none other. There are tons of short-term contracts around so it’s not too difficult to find a job, and most employers offer their staff excellent perks, like a 13-month bonus, or 35-hour weeks.
Thinking of applying for a working holiday visa in France? Here’s everything you need to know.
What are the different types of working visas in France?
If you are a Canadian citizen applying for a working visa in France, there are four separate options you can choose from. The last option listed, a 3D visa, is the working holiday visa:
- 3A visa (Young Professional Development): This visa is for those who wish to gain experience in their respective field of study/work while improving their knowledge of the French language, culture and workplace by means of a limited contract. This program is only available to Canadians who are invited into a duty-to-remember program in either Juno Beach of Vimy regions.
- 3B visa (Inter-university exchanges): This visa is intended for current post-secondary students who wish to complete some of their studies at an institution in France.
- 3C visa (Practical internship): This is for young adults who want to do an internship as per their studies.
- 34 visa (Working Holiday Program): This is a visa for those who want to work in France temporarily to fund their trip.
Who can apply?
In order to apply for a working holiday visa in France, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen between the ages of 18 and 35 (at the time of application).
- Have a Canadian passport that has been valid for at least six months.
- Provide documents that prove sufficient financial resources.
- Provide proof of insurance covering at least healthcare and repatriation.
- Agree to pay any taxes or fees for legislation purposes.
- (For 3A visa applicants) Provide a contract of employment, diploma or proof of professional experience.
Do I need to have a job in France before I apply?
- No, you do not need to have a job prepared in France if you are applying for a 3B visa or 3D (WHP) visa.
- Yes, you do need a formal job offer in France if you are applying for a 3A or 3C visa.
How long is a working holiday visa in France valid for?
You can stay for a maximum of 24 months in France. However, a working holiday visa is generally valid for 4-12 months. In order to stay longer, you need to extend or renew it, and you must be deemed eligible. If you are getting a 3A or 3C visa, you can extend your visa for up to 36 months, and it can only be renewed once.
Once your working holiday visa expires, you can apply for temporary authorization for a one-year residence permit. You may need to provide a work contract from your employer in France.
How to apply for a working holiday visa?
The first step is to download the application form for the respective visa you wish to apply for. You must make an appointment and show up in person to the closest General Consulate of France near you.
There is a central location in Toronto; Bloor St E #2200, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8. The Toronto location is intended for residences of Ontario and Manitoba.
The secondary location is in Vancouver, 1130 W Pender St #1100, Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4. The Vancouver location is intended for residents of Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, North West Territories and Saskatchewan. Bring the filled out application form and the necessary documents.
What’s the best way to send money to France?
When you go to France, you will lose a good amount of cash to withdrawals and conversion fees. That’s why it’s a better idea to open a bank account in France.
Most people use their local bank to transfer funds from one country to another; this is a costly choice that many people aren’t aware of. With service fees, handling fees, and foreign exchange rates that are tampered with a massive markup, you can easily lose a lot of money. Bank wire transfers are not only remarkably expensive, but also slow and the details are quite complicated.
That’s why some people decide to send money online with services like Transferwise, however; if you were to send $5,000 over to your account in France with most common online services, you would be losing $43 or more in additional fees.
That’s why it’s better to use a more cost-efficient platform like REMITR. Making a business payment to France costs only a flat fee of $5, while a personal payment is entirely free, regardless of how much money you are sending. No hidden charges, percentage cuts, handling or services fees. Plus, their payments take one business day to reach their destination since the service is based on cutting edge technology as opposed to traditional wire transfers.
If you need to send money to France without the hassle, contact REMITR today.
