How to Regularize Status via Occupational Shortage List Jobs
Why France Uses an Occupational Shortage List
If you work in construction, hospitality, transport, or the care sector, you may have noticed French employers advertising positions with the mention “métier en tension.” These jobs appear on an official occupational-shortage list adopted by decree every two years. Because companies struggle to fill them locally, the administration offers immigration shortcuts—including a regularisation path for undocumented workers already on French soil.
Recent labour-market data from Dares (Q2 2025) show vacancy rates above 4 % in masonry, nursing, and heavy-goods driving—double the national average. Faced with persistent gaps, the 2025 Immigration & Integration Act reinforced Article L435-1 of the CESEDA to make regularisation through shortage jobs simpler, faster, and more predictable.
In 2024 fewer than 6 000 undocumented workers obtained residence cards via employment. The Interior Ministry now expects that figure to triple by the end of 2026 thanks to the métiers en tension route.
This guide explains how to turn a qualifying job offer—or existing employment—in a shortage occupation into legal residency. We cover eligibility, documents, employer steps, prefecture tactics, and common pitfalls, then show how ImmiFrance can secure appointments and lawyer support.
1. Check Whether Your Job Is on the Current Shortage List
France maintains two levels of lists:
- A national core list of 31 occupations published in the Journal officiel (arrêté of 4 January 2025).
- Regional additions adopted by each préfet de région after consulting local employers and unions.
Below is a snapshot of the 2025 national list. Always verify your region’s add-ons before filing.
| ROME Code | Occupation (English) | Typical Sectors |
|---|---|---|
| F1703 | Mason / Bricklayer | Construction, Public works |
| H2903 | Refrigeration & HVAC Technician | Energy, Facility management |
| I1603 | Chef de partie / Cook | Hotels, Restaurants |
| J1302 | Registered Nurse | Hospitals, Elder-care homes |
| N4101 | Heavy-Goods Vehicle Driver | Logistics, Retail supply |
| I1203 | Cleaner / Housekeeper | Hospitality, Facility services |
| M1603 | Software Engineer | IT, FinTech |
Where to verify:
- National list: Legifrance
- Regional annexes: Regional DIRECCTE or DREETS website
If your exact job title isn’t listed, compare its ROME code. Prefectures rely on codes, not marketing titles.
2. Understand the Two Regularisation Tracks in 2025
Since July 2025 you can file under either of the following tracks:
a) Standard Employment Regularisation (12 Payslips)
- Legal basis: CESEDA L435-1 I.
- Requirements: 12 consecutive payslips in the last 24 months, any occupation.
- Labour-market test: Yes (employer must prove unsuccessful recruitment locally).
b) Métiers en Tension Fast Track (8 Payslips)
- Legal basis: CESEDA L435-1 II (as amended by Law 2025-1555).
- Requirements: 8 payslips within the last 24 months in a shortage occupation.
- Labour-market test: Waived—the shortage list itself proves need.
Because the fast track involves fewer payslips and skips the labour-market test, it is now the most popular option for undocumented workers who already hold or can secure a job in a listed occupation.
3. Confirm Your Personal Eligibility
You must satisfy five baseline criteria:
- Physical presence in France – You entered before the job period began and can prove continuous residence (leases, invoices, bank statements).
- No OQTF in force – Outstanding removal orders must be lifted or appealed. (See our guide on OQTF Explained.)
- No serious criminal record – Minor traffic fines rarely block a file, but theft or violence convictions can.
- Integration into French society – Language certificates (A2 or higher) and community ties help.
- Employment evidence – At least 8 (or 12) compliant payslips and a current job or firm offer.
Tip: Prefectures increasingly cross-check URSSAF declarations and tax filings. Regularise your contributions before applying.
4. Assemble the Documentary File
Below is the core checklist for the fast-track route. Documents marked ◆ come from your employer.
- Full copy of passport (all stamped pages)
- Proof of continuous residence for 3 years (rent receipts, energy bills, certificates of presence)
- 8 original payslips covering at least 12 months in a shortage job
- ◆ CERFA form 15186
authorisation de travail (pre-signed by employer) - ◆ Employer’s K-bis extract (< 3 months)
- ◆ URSSAF debt clearance certificate (attestation de vigilance)
- ◆ Position description matching ROME code
- Recent language certificate (DELF A2, TCF IRN, or mairie attendance attestation)
- Proof of integration: tax return, children’s school certificates, community letters
- 3 passport-size photos meeting ISO/IEC 19794-5 standard
Keep all originals plus two copies. ImmiFrance clients receive a region-specific kit with dividers and colour tabs that match prefecture intake sheets, reducing rejection risk.
5. Secure Your Employer’s Cooperation Early
The biggest stumbling block remains an unprepared or reluctant employer. Companies fear fines for past illegal hiring (see our analysis of Employer Sanctions 2025). Reassure them with facts:
- No retroactive penalties apply once the prefecture grants a work authorisation.
- The fast-track route does not require them to post the vacancy or prove prior recruitment efforts.
- Processing times are down to 6–10 weeks in most regions when files are complete.
Many HR teams still struggle with the ANEF-Emploi portal. ImmiFrance offers a co-piloting service: we draft the CERFA, upload proofs, and monitor platform alerts so your manager only has to e-sign.
6. Book and Prepare the Prefecture Appointment
a) Booking Tactics
Appointment slots for admission exceptionnelle au séjour remain scarce. Popular strategies include:
- Automated refresh tools – ImmiFrance’s subscription tool pings you when new slots open.
- Registered-mail filing – If slots are impossible, some prefectures accept initial submissions by AR letter, which freezes deadlines.
- Walk-in windows – Smaller prefectures (e.g., Creuse, Lozère) still run morning-ticket systems.
b) Day-of Submission Tips
- Arrive 30 minutes early; security lines can be long.
- Bring a USB key with PDF copies. Some counters now scan rather than keep paper.
- Politely request a récépissé valid for six months. Officers sometimes propose three months—insist on the legal maximum.
- Check the receipt lists every document. Missing items can delay processing.
7. What Happens After Filing?
- Work Authorisation Issuance – The prefecture forwards the CERFA to DREETS. For shortage occupations, approval is near-automatic.
- Fingerprint Appointment – You’ll receive a text with a convocation within 2–6 weeks.
- Carte de Séjour Pickup – Payment of the €200 tax stamp and photo capture. The initial card is one year, “salarié-temporaire”. Renewal is easier if you keep the same or similar job.
After 24 months you can apply for a four-year multi-renewable “salarié” card. Five years of legal residence (including your first year) count toward the 10-year resident card and French citizenship citizenship timeline.
8. Frequent Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
| Pitfall | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Payslips list a different ROME code than shortage list | File refused | Ask payroll to correct N4DS codes before printing duplicates |
| Employer has unpaid social charges | DREETS blocks authorisation | Secure URSSAF attestation de vigilance first |
| Applicant changes address mid-process | Letters lost; delays | File online change-of-address within 48 h using ANEF |
| Less than 24 months’ residence proof | Prefecture doubts integration | Collect any dated evidence: doctor bills, bus pass renewals |
| Language certificate older than two years | Integration criterion considered unmet | Retake TCF IRN or obtain mairie course attestation |
9. How ImmiFrance Maximises Your Chances
- Feasibility audit – We confirm that your job, payslips and residence proofs align with regional policy.
- Employer coaching – Our bilingual staff guide HR through ANEF steps and social-charge regularisation.
- Prefecture-specific kits – Each region has different photocopy, paper-clip and stapling instructions; we pre-assemble accordingly.
- Real-time tracking – Your personal dashboard shows file status, next steps, and automatically stores every receipt.
- Lawyer network – If the prefecture rejects or stalls, we connect you with a barrister who has won cases before your local administrative court.
According to our 2024–2025 statistics, 92 % of fast-track files prepared with ImmiFrance assistance were approved on the first try, versus an estimated 55 % for self-filed dossiers in Île-de-France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose eligibility if I switch employers during the process? Generally no, provided the new job is also on the shortage list and you can present a fresh CERFA before the prefecture finalises your file.
Can agency (intérim) payslips count toward the 8-slip requirement? Yes. Attach the agency’s work certificates and assignment letters to prove continuity.
What if I only have 7 payslips? Wait until you obtain the eighth. Prefectures rarely accept promissory payslips and will refuse an incomplete count.
Is a language certificate mandatory by law? The CESEDA mentions “integration,” not certificates, but since 2024 most prefectures demand at least A2 proof. Free mairie classes can supply an attendance attestation.
Can I apply while an OQTF appeal is still pending? Technically possible, but risky. File the appeal first; once the OQTF is suspended or annulled, lodge the regularisation request.
Ready to Turn Your Job Into Legal Residency?
Thousands of undocumented workers will seize the métiers en tension opportunity in 2025–2026. Act now before quotas fill and prefecture backlogs grow.
Book a free 15-minute eligibility call with ImmiFrance: we’ll review your payslips, confirm your occupation code, and map your fastest path to a residence permit. If you’re ready, our team can draft your entire file and lock in an appointment—often within days.
Don’t let paperwork stand between you and the life you’re already building in France. Schedule your consult today and regularise your status with confidence.