France · Work
France Seasonal worker card
First stay: 3 yrs
Residence permit "travailleur saisonnier" (seasonal worker)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Seasonal worker card is a work route for France. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €150 ≈ $170
- Processing
- 3 months
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €150 ≈ $170; decision: 3 months. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€150 ≈ $170
- EUR 150 (≈ $170)Card fee: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.
RenewalRenewable, 3 years max
The card is valid up to 3 years and can be renewed; the holder stays in France only during the periods set on the card.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
Seasonal work is not among the permits the administration lists as counting toward the 5 years for the EU long-term resident card.
Processing3 months
The prefecture must answer within 3 months; silence counts as a refusal.
Where to applyFrom abroad
The employer files the work authorisation request; the consulate then issues a 3-month visa marked seasonal worker.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 3 years in total
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Applications are made from outside France, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in France
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from Algeria
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is a non-European national.
- The work is seasonal and does not exceed 6 months in total per year.
- The applicant commits in writing to keep a habitual residence outside France.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Card fee: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.
Documents2
- A seasonal employment contract of at least 3 months, approved by the administration.
- A work authorisation requested online by the employer before entry.
Steps2
- The employer files the work authorisation request; the consulate then issues a 3-month visa marked "travailleur saisonnier".
- Apply for the card within the 2 months before the visa ends.
After you arrive1
- The card costs EUR150 (≈ $170) (EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty).
When you become tax resident
How France decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years in total
- Tax residence
Tax domicile rules in Art. 4 B CGI.
- Income tax
Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026.
All tax rules for France Tax records checked
Full official text
Multi-year card for seasonal work not exceeding 6 months in total per year; the holder may stay in France only during the periods set on the card and must keep a habitual home abroad. 1
What you must show and pay
- A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Card fee: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a non-European national. 1
- The work is seasonal and does not exceed 6 months in total per year. 1
- The applicant commits in writing to keep a habitual residence outside France. 1
- A seasonal employment contract of at least 3 months, approved by the administration. 1
- A work authorisation requested online by the employer before entry. 1
- The employer files the work authorisation request; the consulate then issues a 3-month visa marked "travailleur saisonnier". 1
- Apply for the card within the 2 months before the visa ends. 1
- The card costs EUR150 (≈ $170) (EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty). 1
Stay
- Card valid up to 3 years and renewable; the holder stays in France only during the periods set on the card.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Visa validity: 3 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-European nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Seasonal work for the employer named in the work authorisation.
Family
The holder cannot bring family through family reunification with this card.
Official sources
- Carte de séjour "travailleur saisonnier" · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
- Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
Seasonal worker card and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal worker card | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer permit | Needs income of €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 | 3 yr | – |
| Employee residence card | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Talent · Company officer | Needs income of €67k+ a year ≈ $75k | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| Talent · Innovative co. employee | Needs income of €40k+ a year ≈ $44k | 4 yr, renewable | No |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Seasonal worker card?
A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170). Card fee: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.
How long can I stay on the Seasonal worker card?
Card valid up to 3 years and renewable; the holder stays in France only during the periods set on the card.
How long does the Seasonal worker card take to process?
The prefecture must answer within 3 months; silence counts as a refusal.
Can I work on the Seasonal worker card?
Seasonal work for the employer named in the work authorisation.
Can I bring my family on the Seasonal worker card?
The holder cannot bring family through family reunification with this card.
Who can apply for the Seasonal worker card?
Non-European nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Seasonal worker card lead to permanent residence in France?
Time on the Seasonal worker card doesn't count toward permanent residence in France.
How are Seasonal worker card holders taxed in France?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Seasonal worker card. The standard rules apply: Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026.
More in France
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Carte de séjour "travailleur saisonnier" · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
- Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.