France has a 35-hour legal working week, five weeks of paid leave and a minimum wage (SMIC) of €1,867.02 gross a month since 1 June 2026. Employers find it hardest to recruit in IT, health and care, construction, industry and transport. Find out where to look for a job, how to apply in French and what to do in your first weeks.
Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland can work in France without any permit, like French students.
Students from outside the EU (except Algeria) with a student visa or residence card can work up to 964 hours a year (60% of the legal annual working time) without a separate work permit; the employer must declare them to the prefecture at least 2 working days before they start. Algerian students need a work authorisation and may work up to 50% of the annual working time in the sector.
Thinking of studying there first? See Studying in France – practical information.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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