The French government finally confirms the right of foreign remote workers to obtain a residence permit « visiteur »

On December 16, 2025, a French member of parliament asked the government about the residence permits that should be issued to foreign nationals residing in France whose income derives primarily from salaried or self-employed work performed remotely for an employer or clients located outside France—commonly referred to as remote workers or teleworkers.

The MP finally received an answer today, June 23, 2026, which, in reality, merely confirms existing practice.

Consulates and prefectures have always issued these individuals residence permits « visiteur » that do not authorize them to work in France, based on the principle that teleworking from France for an employer or clients located abroad does not constitute professional activity carried out in France, as it has no impact on the French labor market or economy.

Nevertheless, this assessment is not based on any legal provision and contradicts, in particular, the practice of the health insurance system (assurance maladie), which tends to consider remote workers as people actually working in France, thereby effectively depriving them of access to social security (protection universelle maladie).

Foreign remote workers therefore remain in a situation of legal uncertainty that is particularly concerning.

Text of the answer:

There is no legislation governing the right of residence for foreign nationals who are teleworking in France for the benefit of another country’s economy, a fact of which the French authorities have no way of knowing. In principle, a residence permit for professional purposes (whether as an employee or self-employed) requires the individual to engage in an activity on French territory that is integrated into the French economy—that is, the French “market.” Conversely, a foreign national residing in France who does not meet these criteria—but who continues to receive compensation and pays the associated taxes in their country of origin—must apply for a temporary residence permit marked “visitor.” If a third-country national is not employed in France or does not carry out professional activities in France on behalf of a company located in France, the work they perform remotely for an employer governed by foreign law must lead to their being considered non-working under French law. Holders of this temporary residence permit are prohibited from engaging in any professional activity in France that requires authorization.