Young travellers

Your situation

Depending on your nationality and age, you may be able to benefit from the work holiday programme. This programme allows you to visit France for a period of more than three months with the right to work, so as to supplement your financial resources on site.

The conditions

  • The main reason for your stay is tourism and discovering France’s culture
  • Your country or territory must have signed an agreement with France
  • You must meet the terms and conditions of the agreement regarding duration of stay and expected financial resources provided for in the agreement
  • The rules for submitting an application, regarding the applicant's age, vary by country :
    • For Chile, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Mexico, and Peru, the applicant may submit an application between the age of 18 and the day of his 30th birthday ;
    • For Brazil, Colombia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan, and Uruguay, the applicant may submit an application between the age of 18 and the day before his 31st birthday ;
    • For Argentina, Australia, and Canada, the applicant may submit an application between the age of 18 and the day before his 36th birthday.
  • Nationals of countries that have signed a "Vacances-travail" (Working holiday) agreement with France must file their application with the competent visa center in their country or territory of nationality, with the exception of Australian, Canadian and Colombian nationals residing abroad who may file their visa application with the competent French consular service in their country of residence.

List of the 16 countries concerned by an agreement : Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay.

Your visa

This is a long-stay visa containing the statement "vacances travail" (working holiday). Its duration is one year and may not be extended, unless otherwise stipulated. It will entitle you to undertake paid employment on a secondary basis, without prior approval from the French Administration.

Preparing my visa application

Assess your situation with France-Visas online support and identify the necessary supporting documents.

Making my visa application

After checking the need for a visa to stay in France, you start your process online.