Questions you may have before and during a working holiday in France

WHV is short for Working Holiday Visa. It is a special visa category that allows young adults from certain countries to live, travel, and work in France for an extended duration. Unlike traditional work visas, no job offer is required for the application.

The WHV allows you to stay in France for up to 1 year. Only Canadians have the option of extending their stay by 12 months.

Yes, you can absolutely work in France as a WHV holder. You can even work as a freelancer (auto-entrepreneur, as they call it in France).

No. Even though the WHV grants work authorization, you are certainly not obligated to work. So there’s no need to have a job offer when applying for the WHV.

No. The France WHV authorizes you to live and work in France only. However, there are no rules against visiting other countries (in Europe or otherwise) as a tourist.

The following countries have WHV agreements with France: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, Uruguay.

At the moment of application, you must be at least 18 years old. Canadians, Australians, and Argentinians can apply until the day before their 36th birthday. Everyone else must apply before their 31st birthday.

The France WHV does not have any formal language requirements. That said, knowing French will simplify your move and integration. To learn more, read Do I need to know French to live in France?.

You should apply no earlier than 3 months prior to your planned date of arrival in France.

If you are Australian or New Zealander, then the answer is no. For everyone else, there is an annual quota. For example, there are 7,000 spots for Canadians and 1,400 spots for Argentinians (other nationalities).

We explain it all in our application guide How to get a Working Holiday Visa to France (for all nationalities). Canadian applicants can also consult this detailed resource.

Don’t overthink this one. Just write that you want to discover a new culture and that a WHV would allow you to do so by financing your experiences with work on the side. Make sure to say that you commit to respecting the expiration date of your visa. We advise against providing a reason that could be interpreted as a desire to settle down long term or permanently in France, because the WHV is not intended to be an immigration visa.

The answer is no if you are from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Korea. Applicants of other nationalities may be required to provide these documents. The list of required documents will be shown in your online application portal once you’ve completed the application form.

Yes. Proof of medical insurance is required for the France WHV application. The insurance must cover medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation. We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have already insured thousands of working holiday makers, to France and elsewhere.

No, the WHV does not need to be validated or activated. If you show your visa sticker to the immigration agent at the airport when you land, then you’ll have done all that you need to.

Yes. You have the right to start working on day 1 of your entry.

No. Even if your employer asks for one, know that it is not illegal to work without a social security number.

No, but you still have to contribute social security payments anyway. It will be automatically withheld from your salary.

We explain this in How to open a French bank account (for France WHV holders).

We explain this in How to get a French phone number (for WHV holders).

We explain this in How to find housing during your working holiday in France.

We explain this in the Guide to finding a job and working in France.

Read stories and tips from other working holiday makers in How to make friends during a working holiday (WHV) abroad.