Really hope someone can help me with this. Basically, I’ve been here working on the Olympics since the 2nd of June and today had to have some first aid training with an expat. She thinks I might be working illegally as I dont have a work visa and secondly she thinks I might not get paid because I dont have a SIRET number and this is required for the company to pay me? The company I’m subcontracting to said I dont need a work visa and sent me a link to this statement:
UK citizens going to France to work for up to 90 days will not require a visa. They will need to obtain a temporary work permit unless travelling for a sporting, cultural or scientific event, a seminar or trade show, the production and broadcast of cinematographic and audiovisual works, modelling, IT/ asset management/ insurance/ finance/ design/ engineering audit or expertise missions. Attention, a long stay visa is required if staying more than 90 days in France.
and said because its the Olympics- cultural and sporting event- neither a work visa or work permit is required?
The other part of this is that I came in good faith and only received the purchase order 2 weeks ago. Then this week I received the contract which was in French and apparently now having signed it I have attested to the fact that I do have a SIRET number.
I’ve spoken to the British Embassy and all they could suggest was to go to a Prefecture and ask IF I was to work on the Olympics would I need a visa/permit?
So I’m now panicking that I’ve worked 5 weeks for free, which I can cope with. I’m more concerned that if I dont receive payment this coming week that I need to cut and run and if I do this, the company my come after me for breaking the contract.
This is a really complex field mixing “droits du séjour”, “droit du travail” and “contractual obligations”. Seriously, I would recommend you find an appropriately experienced French speaking lawyer to avoid potentially falling foul of one of the many regulations that cover these various areas.
If at all possible, see if you can find a pro bono counselling session being organised by the local bar association in the area where you are currently resident in the next few days, otherwise you will have to pay for an analysis and advice, and given the urgency, that may not turn out to be very cheap.
It’s a Schengen wide scheme - and your probably fine. There is a more detailed EU document but there’s broad swathes of exemptions from a work visa in the short term.
It follows the broad Schengen rules - 90 days in 180 - (you can’t work for 3 months then have a holiday/work in the EU again until the clock resets).
It’s normally for management, hiring/firing and stuff that needs doing so business doesn’t grind to a halt. But there is a broad exemption for media/entertainment/sports/conferences. There’s no formal declaration or paper trail.
Equally you don’t need a Siret - you need to be legal in your home country - be that Ltd/Sole Trader etc.
To give it some context 99% of the broadcast staff from visa exempt countries at the Euros or TDF this week don’t have work permits. The ones that do have been there setting it up for months.
Your employer almost certainly has better legal advice than a first aid trainer. But you don’t say what you/your client does - there are limits to the exemption.
I feel a lot better now - thank you. Just jave to wait and see if my invoice gets paid. Probably a certain amount of naivety on my part - usually my customers organise everything but this was a bit last minute and I was busy back in the UK doing other work so perhaps put too much trust and not enough research on my part.
It is extremely difficult to stroll into a préfecture and ask a question. You are likely not to be allowed in without a confirmed appointment which are hard to get.
I would think that a lot of the responsibility fall on your employer, and it is for them to sort out,