Negotiating Company Transfers to France: Immigration Steps for HR

International mobility has rebounded sharply since the pandemic. According to a 2024 EY survey, 63 % of multinational companies increased cross-border assignments last year, and France ranks among the top three EU destinations. Yet even seasoned HR teams are often surprised by the number of administrative players, acronyms and strict timelines involved in moving an employee to the Hexagon. This guide breaks down every immigration step HR needs to master when negotiating company transfers to France and explains where ImmiFrance can take the heavy paperwork off your desk.

1. Identify the Right French Permit for a Transfer

French law distinguishes several residence-and-work permits for intra-company moves. Choosing the wrong category can delay onboarding by months, so start here.

Permit	Typical Scenario	Key Eligibility	Maximum Duration	Main Legal Basis
ICT (EU Intra-Corporate Transferee)	Transfer of managers, specialists or trainees from non-EU entity to French branch	3 months seniority in group, university degree or 3 years’ professional experience	3 years total	EU Dir. 2014/66, CESEDA L422-1
Passeport Talent “Salarié en mission”	High-level employee sent by foreign parent company to a French subsidiary	3 months seniority, gross annual pay ≥ €41 933 (2025)	3 years, renewable	CESEDA L421-16
Passeport Talent “Carte Bleue UE” (Blue Card)	Direct local hire of highly skilled worker	Master’s degree or 5 years’ experience, salary ≥ 1.5× average annual French salary	4 years, renewable	CESEDA L421-11
Standard Work Permit + VLS-TS	Mid-level staff transferred for > 12 months who do not meet the above thresholds	Labor-market test exemptions may apply	4 years, renewable	CESEDA L422-1

👆 Tip: For short stays under 90 days, use the “Salarié détaché” short-stay work authorization instead of a residence permit.

2. Pre-Transfer Viability Check

Before you even negotiate the relocation package, HR should run a quick compliance audit:

• Company registration: The French host entity must hold a valid SIRET number and be up to date with URSSAF declarations.
• Salary benchmarking: Check the latest minimums published by the Ministry of Labour. They are updated every January.
• Seniority proof: Payslips or employment certificates demonstrating the employee’s months or years in the corporate group.
• Degree equivalency: Non-EU diplomas may need a ‘comparability statement’ from ENIC-Naric.

Early detection of gaps avoids last-minute scrambling for apostilles and translations.

3. Immigration Roadmap for HR Teams

Step 1 – Map the Job and Choose the Permit

Prepare a detailed job description with ROME code, salary package and reporting lines. This document is the backbone of every later filing.

Step 2 – File the Work Authorisation on ANEF-Emploi

Since April 2021, employers must request work permits through the ANEF online portal. You will create a FranceConnect Pro account, upload supporting files, and track status online. Average processing time in 2025: 15–25 calendar days for standard permits, 10 days for Passeport Talent.

Internal link: see our guide on creating a secure FranceConnect account.

Step 3 – Send the Approval Letter to the Employee

Once the Direction Générale des Étrangers en France (DGEF) approves, download the PDF authorisation. Your assignee will need it for the consular visa stage.

Step 4 – Consular Visa Application

Employees apply on France-Visas and attend a biometric appointment. Standard document pack:

• Passport valid at least 15 months
• Work authorisation PDF
• Assignment letter with salary in euros
• Proof of accommodation (hotel, lease or temporary housing letter)

Current consulate lead time (Q3 2025): 2–3 weeks in most countries, longer in peak summer.

Step 5 – Arrival and OFII Validation

For visas marked “VLS-TS” the employee must validate online within 3 months of entry and pay the tax stamp (€225 in 2025). For ICT permits and Passeport Talent, book the first prefecture visit within 2 months to provide fingerprints.

Internal link: strikes can derail appointments, monitor the prefecture strike calendar.

Step 6 – Collect the Residence Card

Prefecture processing usually takes 4–8 weeks after biometrics. The card will state the permit type and validity. Upload a scan to your HRIS so travel managers can verify Schengen entry rights.

Step 7 – Onboard the Family (if applicable)

Spouses and minor children of Passeport Talent or ICT holders benefit from accompanying-family permits with work rights. File their visas simultaneously to avoid split processing.

4. After-Arrival Compliance Checklist

• Social security: Register the employee with CPAM within 3 months – see our in-depth medical coverage guide.
• Tax number: Newcomers must file their first French tax return by May 2026 for 2025 income. ImmiFrance has a step-by-step tax filing tutorial.
• Travel planning: Holders may spend up to 90 days in other Schengen states. Teach them the 90/180 calculation using our travel guide.
• Renewal diary: Schedule reminders 6 months before expiry; renewal involves fresh salary proof and updated corporate documents.

5. Pitfalls That Delay French Transfers (and How to Dodge Them)

1. Missing apostilles or legalisation on overseas corporate documents. Solution: budget two extra weeks for consular legalisation or use French notary re-authentication; see our notarisation guide.
2. Prefecture appointment scarcity in Paris, Rhône and Alpes-Maritimes. Fix: file via ANEF if the permit type allows or outsource slot tracking to ImmiFrance.
3. Salary underpayment compared with the annual threshold. HR should index salary offers each January to match the government bulletin.
4. Inconsistent job titles between the work permit request and the local contract. Align terminology with the ROME code you chose.
5. Strike disruption leading to missed deadlines. Use registered mail (lettre recommandée) to preserve proof of timely action when ANEF is down.

6. How ImmiFrance Streamlines Corporate Transfers

Even with airtight internal processes, cross-border moves eat up HR bandwidth. ImmiFrance’s corporate desk offers:

• Dedicated account manager and multilingual support hotline
• Pre-transfer feasibility opinions within 48 hours
• Turn-key ANEF filings and document translations with sworn translators
• Real-time case tracking dashboard so HR can monitor every step
• Appointment monitoring and on-site accompaniment at prefectures
• Access to our nationwide network of immigration lawyers for complex appeals

Because we specialise solely in French immigration, our success rate for corporate permits has exceeded 98 % in 2024–2025.

7. Next Steps

If you have a transfer on the horizon, book a free 20-minute consultation with our corporate desk to map timelines and costs. We will provide a written action plan you can share with leadership before finalising the mobility package.

Move talent, not paperwork – let ImmiFrance handle the French administration while you focus on your business objectives.