Access to the work of the asylum seeker

Verified 15 November 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Additional cases ?

Other case: refugee

As an asylum seeker in France, you may be allowed to work if theOfpra: titleContent has not ruled on your application 6 months after it was filed. We present your situation for the first 6 months, then your situation after this period.

The first 6 months

You cannot get permission to work for the first 6 months after the application is registered by theOfpra: titleContent.

However, while awaiting Ofpra's response, you may, under certain conditions, benefit from the asylum seeker's allowance (Ada).

Warning  

If you entered France with a long-stay visa issued through an asylum application, you will receive a receipt in the prefecture valid for 6 months that allows you to work.

After

Your employer may apply for a work permit if you meet the following 2 conditions:

  • You have the proof of refugee claim
  • Your application is currently under review for more than 6 months by Ofpra

In this case, when you apply for renewal of the valid refugee claim certificate, your employer can also apply for a work permit. A promise of employment or a contract of employment must accompany the application.

Apply online for work authorization to hire a foreigner

If the proposed employment contract is in the course of validity of the certificate, your future employer must request a work permit.

Whatever the time of filing, the application shall be examined in accordance with rules applicable to all foreigner workers in France.

In particular, the administration analyzes the employment situation in the profession and the area of employment concerned.

The administration has a period of instruction of 2 months from the receipt of the application for work authorization.

If you do not hear back from your application within this period, the authorization shall be deemed to have been granted.

The duration of the work authorization cannot exceed the duration of your receipt, which is 6 months. The work authorization shall be renewable until Ofpra has taken a decision.

If you have obtained the right to work before the decision to reject Ofpra, you retain this right in case of appeal to the CNDA.