The working holiday visa: who can qualify for this?
Only 'young' people from countries that have signed bilateral agreements with France can apply
We are an American family and I have a son aged 25. Is there a ‘working holiday’ visa that could allow him to spend a year travelling and working in France?
There is a working holiday visa (visa vacances-travail) but unfortunately it is only available for people aged 18-30 (35 for Canada, Australia and Argentina) from countries that have signed bilateral agreements on this with France, which does not include the US.
The countries are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay.
The visa allows them to visit France for one year as ‘tourists’ but offers them the opportunity to work also while here to supplement their income. It is usually issued for a maximum of 12 months and is non-renewable.
Holders of working holiday visas are exempt from formalities on arrival in France. They can stay for the duration of their visa without applying for a residence permit. A work permit is also not required for employment.
To obtain a working holiday visa, you must apply for a temporary long-stay visa under this category. You need a return ticket and sufficient financial resources for the start of the stay.
There are quotas for these visas, apart from for Australia and New Zealand.