ACCOMPANYING PARTNERS

When you move to France, your partner may need help with finding a job, accessing French language classes or locating an expatriate support network. Here is a quick guide to where to start your search.

FINDING A JOB

If your partner is a citizen of the European Union, a citizen of one of the European Economic Area (EEA) states, or a citizen of Switzerland, they will not need to obtain a work permit (autorisation de travail) to work in France.

French residence permits (cartes de séjours) can be extended to the permit holder's accompanying partner, and any children under the age of 21. This does not automatically give partners the right to work in France.

For up-to-date information on how to obtain work permits and what the necessary documents and requirements are, consult your local French Consulate.

There are several ways to go about finding a job in France.

• All French cities have a branch of the French national employment agency, the Agence National pour l'Emploi (ANPE). You can also consult their advertisements online (in French).

• Recruitment agencies are widely used in France and can be easily found online. Many agencies specialise in English-language jobs.

• Many English-language newspapers, such as the International Herald Tribune, carry job advertisements, both in their printed edition and online.

• There are a number of newspapers and magazines (both printed and online) geared towards the expat community throughout France. In Paris, FUSAC magazine lists job vacancies.