Guide to temporary entry into France under CETA

On this page

1. Short-term business visitors
2. Business visitors for investment purposes
3. Investors
4. Contractual services suppliers
5. Independent professionals
6. Intra-corporate transferees

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to France to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under French law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into France for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the French market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.

Related link

Text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – Chapter 10: Temporary entry and stay of natural persons for business purposes

CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that France is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA requirements and the national French laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.  

For any questions regarding France's temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

Short-term business visitor

Do I qualify as a short-term business visitor under CETA?

Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian traveling to France for one of the following activities:  

• meetings and consultations
• research and design
• marketing research
• training seminars
• trade fairs and exhibitions
• sales (negotiations or taking orders, cannot deliver goods or services themselves)
• purchasing
• after-sales or after-lease service
• commercial transactions (management and supervisory or financial services personnel only)
• tourism/travel operations
• translation and interpretation

The detailed list of these activities can be found under Annex 10-D of CETA.

A short-term business visitor cannot:

• sell a good or a service to the general public
• receive payment from a source located in France
• provide any other service to a consumer in France that is not listed under activities of a business visitor

Under CETA a Canadian short-term business visitor can stay in France for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Do I need a work permit or a visa as a short-term business visitor under CETA?

Under CETA, an eligible short-term business visitor does not need a work permit, but may need a visa.

Under French law, Canadian short-term business visitors do not need a Schengen C visa to enter France. You are entitled to stay within any country of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in France. In this case, a Schengen C visa may be required, if the short-term business visitor is not a national of Canada or another a visa exempt country. They must file their application for Schengen C visas with the relevant French consulate/embassy. The processing time is approximately 2 weeks.

Related links

Schengen area
Schengen calculator
Schengen C visa exempt countries

Under French law, a short-term business visitor does not need a work permit so long as they are engaging in one of the following work permit exempt activities:

• attending business meetings
• negotiating contracts
• attending seminars, conferences or exhibitions
• participating in limited training in a classroom environment
• making sales calls to potential European clients as a representative of a commercial entity outside of France

A short-term business visitor must not have their main residence in France. For more information, refer to France's guide to business travel.

Alternatively, you may also qualify for the short-term work permit exemption. The following activities are short-term work permit exempt:

• participating in cultural, sporting, artistic and scientific events
• attending conferences, seminars and trade shows
• working in film production or distribution in audio-visual, performing or recording arts (entertainers, artists and technical staff only)
• working as a model
• working as a domestic worker during your employer's stay in France
• participating in audit, information technology, management, finance, insurance, architecture or engineering-related activities (as a secondment in France)
• visiting professors conducting occasional lectures

No application process is required as these are work permit exempt activities.

Please note, for activities on the short-term work permit exemption, you need to file a Posted Worker Notification online at least two business days before the beginning of the assignment. Consult posting workers in France for more information.

If you have encountered problems entering France as a short-term business visitor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Business visitor for investment purposes

Please note: The business visitors for investment purposes category is covered under CETA, but does not exist under French law. If you have encountered problems entering France as a business visitor for investment purposes, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.

Do I qualify as a business visitor for investment purposes under CETA?

Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in France.

A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:

• work directly with the general public in France
• receive compensation from a source located within France

Under CETA, Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in France for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Do I need a work permit or visa as a business visitor for investment purposes under CETA?

Under CETA, Canadian business visitors for investment purposes do not need a work permit.

Under French law, there is no category for business visitors for investment purposes. However, you may be eligible as a short-term business visitor or for the short-term work permit exemption, depending on the reason for your visit.

Investor

Do I qualify as an investor under CETA?

Under CETA, an investor is a Canadian supervisor or executive, responsible for establishing, developing, or operating an investment that they or their employing enterprise have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital to.

Under CETA, Canadian investors can stay in France for up to 1 year, with possible extensions at the discretion of France's officials.

Do I need a work permit or a visa as an investor under CETA?

Under CETA, you may need a work permit and a visa as an investor.

Under French law, you should apply for a long stay visa with the title "Passeport Talent: Investissement économique".

How do I apply for a "Passeport Talent: Investissement économique" long stay visa?

Step 1: Apply for a long stay visa at the French consulate.

Step 2: Upon arriving in France, for stays shorter than 12 months, validate your visa online. For stays longer than 12 months, apply for a residence permit with the local competent authority at your place of residence in France.

How much will it cost?

The visa application cost is 99 EUR. In addition, there is a cost of 225 EUR for post-arrival formalities.

How long will it take?

The long stay visa processing time is typically 2 to 3 weeks.

Please consult Frances' guide to the "Passport Talent" for more information.

Contractual services supplier

Do I qualify as a contractual service supplier under CETA?

Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in France in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:

• have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least one year before the date of their application for entry into France
• have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
• have at least 3 years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
• have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in France

For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in France other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.

The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in France.

Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in France.

Under CETA, a Canadian contractual services supplier can stay in France for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.

Do I need a work permit or a visa as a contractual service supplier under CETA?

Under CETA, a contractual service supplier may need a work permit and a visa.

Under French law, your Canadian employer or the contracting company in France need to apply for a work permit through the French Labour authorities (DIRECCTE), which will allow you to work.

You will also need to apply for a long-stay visa.

The initial work permit can be approved for up to two years. Even when the work permit is approved for more than one year, the initial long stay visa will be issued for one year. It can be renewed.

Am I eligible?

The main eligibility requirement is the existence of a service contract between your Canadian employer and the contracting company in France that defines:

• the service provided
• the length of the provision of services
• the fixed price of the services

How do I apply for a temporary worker long-stay visa?

Step 1: Your Canadian employer or the contracting company in France must first apply for a work permit through the French Labour authorities (DIRECCTE).

Step 2: Apply for a long-stay visa application at the French consulate office.

Step 3: Your employer must submit a posted worker notification before the beginning of the assignment.

Step 4: Complete the post-arrival process, including the online visa validation and a medical examination with the French migration office.

How much will it cost?

The visa application cost is 99 EUR. In addition, there will be a fee of 225 EUR for the post-arrival formalities, including visa validation.

Independent professional

Do I qualify as an independent professional under CETA?

Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in France in an eligible sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.

A Canadian independent professional must also have:

• at least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date of application of entry
• a university degree or equivalent qualification
• any professional qualifications required to practice the activity, according to the laws or requirements in France

For engineering technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.

For scientific technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.

Other requirements:

• a Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in France
• fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the independent professional in France

Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in France for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.

Do I need a work permit or a visa as an independent professional under CETA?

Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional may need a work permit and a visa.

Under French law, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa bearing the statement "entrepreneur/profession libérale".

Am I eligible for an "entrepreneur/profession libérale" long stay visa?

Under French law, to be eligible for an "entrepreneur/profession libérale" long stay visa, you must meet the following admission criteria:

• the activity must not be considered "salaried work"
• you must prove that you are registered as a "private entrepreneur" in Canada and that your activities are genuine and successful
• you must demonstrate and provide evidence of your qualifications
• the activity must enable you to generate sufficient income, including during your stay in France

How do I apply for an "entrepreneur/profession libérale" long-stay visa?

Step 1: Apply for a long stay visa at a French Consulate.

Step 2: Upon arrival in France, complete any formalities required for you to carry out your professional activity in France, including the online visa validation and a medical examination with the French migration office.

How much will it cost?

The visa application cost is 99 EUR. In addition, there will be a fee of 225 EUR for the post-arrival formalities, including visa validation.

Intra-corporate transferee

Do I qualify as an intra-corporate transferee under CETA?

Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in France.

Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:

• primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
• make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions and dismissals
• receives general supervision or direction from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations

Specialists are Canadian business people who have:

• uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
• an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management

In assessing such expertise or knowledge, France's officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short term. These abilities would have been obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.

Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:

• have a university degree
• are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in France for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods

The training delivered to a graduate trainee must be linked to their university degree.

Under CETA, Canadian senior personnel and specialists can stay in France for whichever is shorter, 3 years or the length of the contract, with a possible extension of up to 18 months at the discretion of France's officials.

Canadian graduate trainees can stay in France for whichever is shorter, 1 year or the length of the contract.

Do I need a work permit or a visa as an intra-corporate transferee under CETA?

Under CETA, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee may need a work permit and a visa.

Under French law, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee should apply for an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees permit. The main advantage of this permit is that it allows the intra-corporate transferee to work in other EU countries (for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period per country) based on an ICT notification, without obtaining a work permit. This permit also allows the intra-corporate transferee to work at a client site.

This permit can be valid for up to 3 years (for managers and specialists) and 1 year (for graduate trainees).

How do I apply for an EU intra-corporate transferee permit?

Step 1: Apply for a long stay visa bearing the statement "salarié détaché ICT" at a French consulate.

Step 2: Upon arrival in France, complete any formalities required for you to carry out your professional activity in France, including the online visa validation and a medical examination with the French migration office.

How much will it cost?

The visa application cost is 99 EUR. In addition, there will be a fee of 225 EUR for the post-arrival formalities, including visa validation.

What if I am a business person from a category that is not covered?

Entry into France for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to France's acts and regulations governing entry and stay.

To explore other paths for entry into France, please consult the official visa website for France.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of July 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and  change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.