Applying for a Working Holiday Visa to France (for Canadians)

Hello! Sorry, just some questions on the online application for the France WHV:
1. For the duration of the stay, the options it now provides are “3-6 months, 6 months-1 year, or more than 1 year.” If we intend on renewing the WHV for a second year, should we select “more than 1 year”? Or is that irrelevant at this point and we should “6 months-1 year”?
2. “State if you have any family members who live in France”–is this just referring to immediate family (ie. spouse/children/parent/grandparent), or also distant relatives should be included (ie. aunt, cousin)?
Thanks a billion for all these helpful articles!

You are very welcome.
1. You should select 6-12 months. You will get a one year visa, and then the renewal is a separate process. They do not give anyone a two year visa right away.
2. This is completely up to you and should have no impact on your application, whether you have zero or 20 family members.

thanks again, super helpful! 🙂

Hi there! just a question on the application: you’ve stated that “Applications are accepted no earlier than three months before your planned departure date” — are you referring to the initial online application, or the in-person appointment? Could we do the online application 4 months before the planned departure date, then the in-person appointment 1 month later at 3 months before planned departure date?

Also on the Passport expiry, you’ve stated that the “Canadian passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the last day of your stay in France” however on the online visa application form it states “with a period of validity at least 3 months longer than the date on which you intend to leave the Schengen Area or, in the case of a long stay, at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa requested.” So is it 3 months or 6 months?

Thanks so much!! 🙂

1. You can start the online application whenever you like. But the VFS appointment should not be earlier than 3 months. It is at the end of the in-person appointment that your application is considered truly complete and then mailed to the French consulate.
2. You are correct that it is technically 3 months, but we always advise 6 months because it allows for more flexibility. Especially because Canadians can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen zone as tourists in a 180 day period, which means at the end of the WHV one could technically leave and immediately legally re-enter France/Europe for another 90 days as a simple tourist (because long stay visas like the WHV do not count toward the 90 days). If your passport were to only be valid for 3 months after your WHV, this option would be cutting it close.
Check out our other articles about the France WHV! https://pvtistes.net/en/articles/?filter-country=france-en&filter-cat=

Thanks so much, this is really helpful! appreciate the advice 🙂

Hi ! I can’t find any information about how to get a “Note Verbale”. How to get this document?
Je ne trouve pas d’information concernant la “Note Verbale”, comment obtenir ce document pour mon PVT? Merci!

Salut ! Où as-tu vu ce document ? Il n’est pas demandé dans la liste : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/web/ca/dispositions-locales

Does anyone know if you require you need to purchase health insurance for a year during the application phase? Seems odd to purchase health insurance without knowing if you’ll get the visa. Also, I was told that you could apply up until the day you turn 36 (does that mean that this date is from the time you submit the application?)

Hi, I have the same question. Just wondering if you ever sorted it out?

Yes, it is required as a part of your application package. In the unlikely event that your visa is denied, in most cases you can contact the insurance provider with proof of denial to be reimbursed.

Hi, does anyone know if I need to have a certificate proving I know French from a university class or something ? I’ve been learning French on online apps and I think I’m pretty good but I don’t have any proof that I’ve learned it in school or know up to a certain amount. Will this hinder my visa application ?

You don’t need to know any French for the WHV.

Graham is correct, there are no language requirements.

This is the most frustrating paperwork process. I have spent almost my entire 1 yr of working holiday visa UNEMPLOYED because there’s no CLEAR instructions how to obtain a social security number. I’ve gone to temp agencies(one of them a not so nice person almost laughed in my face 😒 telling me it’s IMPOSSIBLE to be hired without the numéro security sociale) and many places while job hunting and they all REQUIRED a social security # even though I explained and showed documents of my visa AND my external insurance. I also filled out the form and applied for it at CEPA (waited 3+ months) only to be told I am not entitled to one because it’s a VISA VACANCE TRAVAIL. so, this has been many setbacks and tears, don’t get me started with renewing process 😪

As is explained in chapter 4 of this the following dossier, it is true that some employers may be reluctant to hire someone without a NSS if they have never done so before. WHV holders have work authorization in France. It may take some patience and explanation, if the employer is willing to listen. https://pvtistes.net/en/dossiers/key-documents-procedures-whv-holders-starting-a-job-france/4/

Hello! Does anyone know if it’s possible to renew the working holiday visa in Canada, aka return to Canada and do a renewal through VFS Global? I’m having trouble finding information about this and it’s impossible to book an appointment at the prefecture right now.

Any info would be very helpful, thanks 🙂

Hi Alison, I was wondering if you got an update about this as I am in the same situation. I was on a working holiday then came back a few years later in Vancouver. I’ve been trying to find information about renewal as well and there’s none. I’ve contacted the consulate and they gave me a solid no but the VFS agent in Vancouver said I can renew it over again as long as I’m qualified..

Yes, it is possible to renew from Canada and VFS Global. You would simply follow the same steps as your first application.

Hi Jackson,

Would it be possible to renew at VFS global centres in Canada even after the primary WHV expires? It’s because my current WHV expires in two months but I don’t hear rendez vous date from my prefecture and was told that it may take up to 3-4 months to have RDV. Thank you.

Hi Ghaya. Yes that should be no problem. You can make an appointment at VFS for a second year, even if you first visa is expired.

However note that currently, renewal is only available to citizens of Canada. See this article on how Canadians can renew via APS https://pvtistes.net/en/extend-working-holiday-france/