You’ve started a new life, you’ve made new friends, or maybe you’re only halfway through your France bucket list. Simply put, your working holiday in France is coming to an end but you aren’t quite ready to leave. The good news is that you can extend your working holiday by another 12 months if you are Canadian!

There are two ways to apply for an extension: the first is to return to VFS Global (a third party company that receives applications on behalf of French consulates) in Canada, and the second option is to apply at your prefecture in France. The choice depends entirely on your timing and personal situation, but make sure to read the pros and cons of each at the bottom of the article.

Option 1: Return to VFS Global in Canada

If you opt for option 1, simply follow the same steps as your initial application. You will fill out the online application form and then attend your appointment at the VFS Global centre to submit everything. Your dossier will be processed by the Consulate of France. Once your application is approved, you will receive another Working Holiday Visa sticker in your passport, not an APS (autorisation provisoire de séjour, explained below in option 2).

The application does not have to be submitted before the expiry of your first Working Holiday Visa; there can be a break, long or short, between your two working holidays. However, in either case, you must submit your application before your 36th birthday.

If you are a resident of Quebec and have already exhausted your allowed absence within the last 7 years, then you can just provide your previous RAMQ attestation as proof.

Option 2: Apply for an APS at your prefecture in France

Translated literally, autorisation provisoire de séjour means temporary residence authorisation. Since French administration uses very specific terms for its various permits, we will continue referring to it as the APS. Avoid using any unofficial English translations when communicating with administration as it may cause confusion about the exact permit at hand.

The APS is a document that allows a foreign national to temporarily stay on French soil. You can apply for it even if you have a already turned 36 years old (source). Like the Working Holiday Visa, the APS authorizes holders to stay for a set period while also granting open work authorization. It is a separate document, not a sticker in your passport.

Unlike in option 1, your APS application must be submitted prior to the expiration of your Working Holiday Visa. There cannot be a gap.

Here is the part of the official bilateral accord where the APS is provisioned for.

How do I apply for an APS?

You should read these stories of Canadians who were able to obtain their APS. They contain lots of helpful information on this often stressful process.

Your application must be addressed to the local prefecture of your department (i.e. the administrative centre of the French department where you reside). Each prefecture operates independently. Some are by in-person appointment only, while others ask for the application to be mailed.

Three or four months before the expiration of your visa, contact your prefecture to ask them what the application steps are. It is important to explicitly ask for an autorisation provisoire de séjour of 12 months rather than asking for a renewal of the Working Holiday Visa, which is not possible at the prefecture.

According to previous working holiday makers, some prefectures are harder to reach than others so don’t wait too long.

What documents do I need?

Follow the instructions given to you by your prefecture. In general, you should be prepared to provide:

• Your passport (photocopy)
• Your Working Holiday Visa (photocopy)
• Proof of residence dating from no longer than 6 months ago (e.g. utility bills or statement of rental insurance)
• Proof of funds equivalent to €2500 (e.g., bank statement, work contract, pay slips)
• Proof of private health insurance
• 3 recent ID photographs

If you live with roommates and bills don’t have your name on them, your prefecture may be able to accept those of your roommate’s or the landlord’s along with his or her ID.

As for health insurance, usually you can renew it one or two months prior to the end of your coverage. Contact your insurance provider for more details.

SOS, my prefecture isn’t responding to me!

It is very possible that your prefecture will not adequately respond to your inquiries via email or telephone. Don’t worry, you are far from being the only one to have encountered this.

In this case, based on our own experiences, we advise that you send by email and post (no earlier than 2 months before your WHV expiry) a letter to your prefecture explaining your situation and what exactly you require of them. You should specify that you want an APS of 12 months as outlined in the Franco-Canadian accord for youth mobility, not a renewal of your Working Holiday Visa. Also ask for an appointment, since it is not possible to enter the prefectural bureau without an appointment confirmation (the security agent will not let you in).

Attach a copy of your passport and visa. Be sure to leave your contact information too. Ideally, you will be contacted via email and invited to an appointment to submit your full application.

The day of your appointment at the prefecture

Don’t be surprised if your appointment is set for just a few days before the expiration date of your Working Holiday Visa – this has been the experience of many past WHV holders.

Once you’ve submitted your papers, usually the agent at the service counter will give you an application receipt (un récipissé de dépôt de demande). This paper serves as proof that you are waiting for your real APS document and it gives you the same rights to live and work in France during the waiting period, even if your first Working Holiday Visa expires during this time.

You will then either receive your APS by mail or go back to the prefecture to pick it up. The service agent will tell you which method applies.

If in person, make sure during pick up that all the printed information is correct before leaving the service window. If you see an error, flag it right away.

And there you have it!

Other frequently asked questions