Your professional immigration expert for international mobility
A leader in professional immigration in France since 2004, we are proud to also be recognised today as international immigration experts — primarily for assignments from France, but also from any other country. We have managed thousands of cases across more than 150 countries.
Our specialists have in-depth knowledge of international immigration requirements and oversee the entire process for your French and international employees — including visas, work permits, and residence permits.
Our centralised support from France ensures full compliance with your obligations, both in France and in the host country.
We manage all professional immigration cases in over 150 countries
- Initiating new procedures, whether short or long term: intra-group mobility, new recruitment, posted workers, provision of services or business assignments, etc.
- Renewing work permits and residence permits (or residence cards)
- Managing status changes in-country as well as all required notifications during an international assignment (e.g. change of address, passport number, residence permit…)
- Exit procedures, including notifications to authorities and cancellation of work and residence permits where required
Case studies in international professional immigration
Feasibility analysis and US Visa application
You need to send an employee on assignment to the US for a short period, but you’re unsure of the appropriate procedure: ESTA, B1/B2 business visa, or a work permit (L-1A, L-1B, E2, J1, H-1B)? Our international immigration experts assess each situation to determine the appropriate permits and ensure 100% compliance.
Visa application for Brazil from France
You have a plant in Brazil and are sending dozens of employees to work onsite. While your local teams in Brazil handle the work permit applications, your employees in France are lost in the visa application process, which varies depending on the consulate (Paris or Marseille). Our international immigration experts liaise with your local and French teams to streamline the process and secure visas within optimal timeframes.
Hiring a foreign national in the UK
Post-Brexit, the UK now requires full immigration procedures. The process is complex and heavily regulated. If you’re planning to hire a foreign national in the UK, our international immigration experts support you with managing the Sponsor Licence, issuing the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), and applying for the appropriate visa.
Intra-company transfer from France to Australia
The “Temporary Skill Shortage Visa 482” takes seven months to obtain, but your operational teams are pushing for a three-month deployment. They suggest the faster “Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa – Subclass 400” and a status change later. Our experts advise on the risks of this non-compliant solution, potential consequences, and the correct procedures, enabling you to make fully informed decisions.
International mobility with family
One of your employees is ready to move quickly, but their family wishes to finish the school year in France and only move during the summer.
No problem — we adapt accordingly and manage the family’s immigration procedures at a later stage.
Digital Nomad Visa
A French employee has requested a one-year mobility assignment in Dubai as a Digital Nomad. Your remote work policy allows it. Our international immigration experts take over, advise on immigration conditions, and assist the employee in obtaining the Virtual Work Visa.
Client testimonials
Let’s analyse your international immigration case together
- Appointment for an expert call to assess your needs
- Feasibility study of the project and proposal of a tailored procedure
- Assignment of a dedicated contact person
- Personalised quote and launch of the process, with customised support: full end-to-end assistance or support on a specific part of the project only
Want to know everything about international immigration?
- Mandatory formalities by country
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Your questions
After reviewing the application, a work pre-authorization is an approval issued by the local authorities, allowing the employee to access the host country’s labour market. This request is a key step in an immigration procedure and must be submitted to the Ministry of Labour of the host country. Once the application is reviewed and approved, it is necessary to finalise the immigration process.
However, this work pre-authorization alone does not permit work to begin. The immigration procedure must be completed by obtaining both the work permit and the corresponding residence permit.
A visa is a document issued by the consular authorities of the applicant’s country of residence in France or abroad, allowing entry into the host country in full compliance with the conditions specified on the visa (work, business, nomad, family reunification).
Visas can take different forms:
- Paper format: a sticker affixed to the passport
- Electronic format linked to the passport number
The work permit is THE official document authorising legal employment in the host country. This document must be retained by the local HR team in case of on-site authority inspections. Note: In certain countries, both the work permit and the residence permit must be held before legally commencing the work assignment.
The work permit is linked to the position, workplace, salary, and duties. Therefore, any change to these details during the procedure or assignment may require a mandatory amendment to the work permit.
The work permit has a validity period; if the on-site assignment extends beyond this, renewal must be anticipated.
The residence permit, also known as a “titre de séjour” in some countries, authorises legal residence in the host country. It also allows international travel and re-entry into the host country without needing a new visa.
Whether in electronic or paper format, this document must always be kept on the person (or at least a copy) in case of authority checks, such as police controls in the street.
Like the work permit, the residence permit has a validity period.
Generally, yes, travel is possible during the processing of the work pre-authorization (the first major step in an immigration procedure).
However, during the visa application, the passport may be held by authorities while the application is processed (typically 3 to 10 working days). International travel is then limited for the duration of this processing unless the applicant holds a second passport. This does not apply to online visa applications.
Furthermore, upon arrival in the host country, travel may need to be restricted until the immigration procedure is finalised. If the visa is single-entry, the residence permits must be obtained before considering international travel. Such restrictions will be communicated at the start of the procedure by our experts.
Regarding immigration, yes when permitted by local authorities, our local expert accompanies the posted worker during immigration formalities (appointments with local authorities, medical appointments if required).
For other types of assistance such as opening bank accounts, finding housing, schooling, etc., we can connect you with experts specialised in these fields.
Although in some countries it is not mandatory to cancel work and residence permits, this remains the case in most countries.
In all cases, it is advisable to notify our immigration experts at least one month before departure to verify the applicable rules.
Failure to comply with this obligation may have immigration and tax consequences for both the host entity and the posted worker.
There are no universal visa rules applicable to all countries internationally. However, a golden rule to remember is that the nature of the assignment, not its duration, determines the applicable procedure.
In immigration, it is important to differentiate business assignments, technical assignments, and work assignments.
Depending on the country and the applicant’s nationality, a business assignment may require:
- Visa exemption
- Electronic visa or electronic travel authorisation
- Consular visa application