Working in France

• Introduction

EU Factsheets: Housing

• Renting Accommodation

EU Factsheets: Family

• Educational System
• Family Life

EU Factsheets: Moving

• The System
• Registration Procedures
• Moving Goods & Capital
• Moving of Cars
• Finding Accommodation
• Finding a School
• Checklist

EU Factsheets: Lifestyle

• Cultural & Social Life

EU Factsheets: Working

• Working in France
• How to Find a Job
• Job Application
• Job Contracts
• Kinds of Employment
• Working Time
• Vocational Training
• Annual Leave
• End of Employment
• Remuneration
• Self Employment
• Worker Representation
• Work Disputes & Strikes

EU Factsheets: Money

• Taxes & Charges
• Cost of Living
• Pensions

EU Factsheets: Healthcare

• Health Systems
• General Organisation
• Sickness Insurance
• Family & Benefits
• Unemployment Insurance
• Health Card
• E-forms

“Every European citizen has the right to live and work in another Member State.”

One of our most cherished principles, enshrined in the founding EU Treaty, is the free movement of workers.

Indeed, every EU citizen has the right to freely live, look for a job, work, and retire in any Member State of the European Union.

EU rules on the free movement of workers also apply tocountries belonging to the so called European Economic Area – namely Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Being able to work anywhere within the EU is a freedom and an advantage, and it provides the opportunity for improving your living and working conditions.

The principle of non-discrimination

Being able to live and work freely in another Member State is an essential element of your rights as a citizen of the EU. No EU country has in principal the right to deny EU citizens access to their labour market on the grounds of their nationality.

EU citizens also have to receive equal treatment when they apply for a job in another EU Member State.

Cross-border workers must also be treated in the same way as an employee who is a national of the country of employment.

Rights of family members

Family members of employees coming from another EU country have the same right to education and social security as citizens of the host country.

Further benefits

EU citizens, working in another EU Member State, have the right to membership in trade unions of the host country.

Further, if you are unemployed and looking for a job, you have the right to live in any EU country for a certain period, while searching for employment in another Member State.

Recognition of diplomas and coordination of social security systems

EU countries are working on the mutual recognition of diplomas and the coordination of social security systems – a necessary complement to the right of free movement. Yet, there are still some important distinctions. EU citizens who want to work in another Member State therefore have to bear two things in mind:

1. Will my education and qualifications be officially recognised by the host member state?
2. No matter where you work in the EU, as an EU citizen you have the right to social security. But can you expect a comparable or better level of social security, or will your degree of social protection be somehow jeopardised?

Working in the public sector

Public sector jobs are in principle also open to any EU citizen, but may require specific additional qualifications. Nationals of other Member States can apply for most public jobs in the areas of public security, public health and education.

Transitional measures for new Member States

Certain restrictions may apply for citizens of Member States that joined the EU in 2004 or for those of future member countries.