Applying for the French working holiday visa as an Argentine

But why France? Because it offers the opportunity to discover diverse landscapes — from rural to urban settings to unique architecture, star-studded and delicious gastronomy, world-famous art, sensational beaches, glitzy ski resorts, stunning history and the most iconic places in the world. If you dream of seeing all these things, the Working Holiday Visa in France may be the solution for you.

Indeed, with the agreement that officially came into force on June 1st, 2011, young Argentines can benefit from a one-year stay in France to discover French culture while working in the country. In this article, you will find all the information you need about the Working Holiday Visa program in France for Argentines.

Important:

Please note that the information you find in this article is for Argentine citizens only.

What are the eligibility conditions for the Working Holiday Visa in France?

To be eligible for the Working Holiday Visa in France, you need to comply with the following conditions:

1. Your nationality and passport

To access the WHV in France, participants from Argentina will need to hold a valid Argentine passport at the time of application to the French Embassy. The passport will also need to be valid for a minimum of 12 months after they arrive in France — i.e., for the full duration of their stay.

WHV participants in France are also expected to be Argentine nationals living in Argentina when they apply. As with any trip you take, it is essential that the passport has blank pages — at least two pages — so that customs can stamp it when you enter and leave French territory and, in this case, so that the working holiday visa can also be stamped.

Good to know:

You are advised to pay close attention to your passport once you receive it with the new visa. Losing it could mean long and complex formalities to replace it.

2. Your age

Contrary to the age requirements for most WHV agreements signed around the world, Argentines who wish to go to France are lucky! The age limit is not 30 but 35! They will have to be aged between 18 and 35 at the time of application, which means they will have until the day before their 36th birthday to apply and be accepted for the programme.

3. Having sufficient savings / a compulsory budget

If you have participated in a WHV program or simply traveled in the past, you will be aware that it is essential to have some savings to pay for accommodation, food, sightseeing, shopping, etc.

In the case of the WHV, a compulsory sum will be required in your bank account for you to have the green light to go to France. In the case of the agreement with Argentina, the amount is 2,500 euros, which is approximately 321,284.14 Argentine pesos.

You will need to present bank evidence in the form of an official statement to prove that you have this budget in your account.

4. Having a health insurance policy

As with any other international trip you take in your life, it is strongly recommended that you have health insurance. For the WHV in France, your application will not be accepted unless you have a medical insurance policy that will cover all cases of illness, hospitalization, disability, repatriation or maternity. You will need to produce official proof of insurance when you apply.

5. Having a clean criminal record

To enter France under the WHV program, you must have a clean criminal record. In fact, you will need to provide a criminal record from Argentina, which states that you have never committed a crime.

6. The number of participations

To be approved by the French authorities for your WHV application, you must not have been granted this visa in the past. This means that the WHV in France is only available to participants once in a lifetime. However, if you have already traveled on the WHV visa to any other country, such as Japan, Australia, Canada, Spain, Belgium, New Zealand or any other, this will not be a problem.

7. The quota per year

The quota is an important element when signing a WHV agreement between two countries — it allows the host country to have control of the entries of participants in the territory. In the case of the agreement signed between France and Argentina, there are 1,300 places per year.

Good to know:

The quota is updated every year on January 1st. To ensure a place, Argentine participants are advised to apply early in the year.

8. Duration of validity

Your work holiday visa in France is valid for a period of 12 months, not renewable. The WHV must be obtained no more than 6 months before your entry date in France.

It provides Argentines with access to the territory of mainland France, as well as Corsica.

Important:

It takes approximately 15 working days to obtain a visa.

9. Purchasing airline tickets

You will need to purchase return airline tickets and show your ticket reservation when you apply for your WHV at the French Embassy in Buenos Aires.

If you decide not to buy a return ticket right away (perhaps because you do not yet know the date you plan to return to Argentina), you will need to prove that you have enough money to buy one later.

Good to know:

The mandatory savings mentioned above do not count as proof in this case. You will have to prove that you have enough money for the return ticket apart from these savings.

10. Not being accompanied

To receive a WHV in France, you must not be accompanied by dependents. This means that your children and spouse will not be able to benefit from the program at the same time as you. Anyone who wants to accompany you will have to make a separate application which will be accepted if they are eligible under the conditions mentioned.

Good to know:

You are allowed to leave France to visit other countries as many times as you like, provided you return to France after each trip.

What are the procedures for obtaining your Working Holiday Visa in France?

You are allowed to apply at any French consulate, but it is recommended that you make an appointment at the Consulate General of France in Buenos Aires.

You must also provide the following documents:

• a completed and signed application form;
• An Argentine passport that must be valid for more than one year, and a photocopy of the page containing your identification information;
• a passport-size photo with a white background;
• a letter of motivation in French describing the reason for your application;
• proof of financial resources or proof of funds available to cover your entire stay;
• proof of accommodation during your stay, such as a hotel reservation or a letter from a host (in which case you must provide a photocopy of your host's identity card)
• a return ticket as proof of your intention to return to your country of residence (if you have not yet bought one, you should mention in your cover letter that you undertake to do so)
• an extract from the criminal record dated less than three months ago
• one year's health insurance covering you from the date of your arrival in France
• a health certificate issued by a private or public hospital.

It may take up to 5 days after the date of submission to process your WHV application in France.

Useful address:

Consulate General of France in Buenos Aires:

1253 Basavilbaso - C1006AAA

Buenos Aires

Argentina

Read also Visas for France

Things to consider before moving to France on a WHV

1. The cost of living in France

Before traveling to France, we recommend that you have an idea of the cost of living in order to prepare your budget.

Here is a table that will give you an idea of the cost of living in France - (source Numbeo; as of July 2022):

	Currency: American dollars (USD)
Rent
1-bedroom flat (in the city center)	776.22
1-bedroom flat (outside the city center)	612.10
3-bedroom flat (city center)	1 640.63
3-bedroom flat (outside the city center)	1 149.94
Utilities
Water, electricity, air conditioning, heating, waste collection for an 85m² apartment	155.24
Internet (60 Mbps or more, ADSL/cable, unlimited data)	29.63
Transportation
1 ticket (one way) for local transport	1.62
Monthly pass for local transport	65.98
Shopping/groceries
Rice (1 kg)	1.93
Milk (1 L)	1.03
12 eggs (normal size)	3.16
Bread (500 g)	1.54
Chicken (1 kg)	10.47
Red meat (1 kg)	18.27
Oranges (1 kg)	2.52
Bananas (1 kg)	1.96
Apples (1 kg)	2.65
Potatoes (1 kg)	1.80
Onions (1 kg)	2.02
Water (1.5 L)	0.72
Wine (mid-range bottle)	7.11
Local beer (0.5 L)	2.10
Imported beer (0.33 L)	2.42
Cigarettes (pack of 20)	10.15
Leisure
Movie theatre - 1 seat	10.15
Sports club - monthly cost for 1 person	33.93

2. Looking for accommodation in France

When preparing to travel to France, one of the first things to consider is the accommodation(s) you intend to take during your stay. Once you have decided on the area you wish to visit, you can start by doing a simple Google search using certain keywords, for example: "flat for rent", "one bedroom", "Paris Centre", "low budget", "affordable".

A website often used nowadays is the famous Airbnb — you can find many accommodation options in France at different prices!

For those who would like to find a place to sleep quietly without completely emptying their purse, there are options such as hostels, couchsurfing, or even maid's rooms (tiny accommodations formerly given to servants). Platforms such as HiFrance.org, couchsurfing.com, aubergesdejeunesse.com, Pret-a-voyager.com, couchsurfing.com, and French.hostelworld.com may be able to direct you to the accommodation of your dreams in France.

Read also Accommodation in France

3. Looking for work in France

Although we know that the official language of Argentina is Spanish, it is interesting to note that this country has experienced so much international migration that there is a good chance that you also speak Arabic, Italian, German, English and/or French.

This means that you are likely to be bilingual or even trilingual! Why not use these attributes when looking for a job in France? Many French people would be delighted to have a tutor to teach them one of these languages in private. You might even find locals who want to learn the tribal languages of your country, including Quechua and Guarani. Go for it! It's a great opportunity to earn a little money and make new friends.

If you want to work in another field, Google, again, is your friend!

Read also Working in France

Important:

Once you have found a job in France, it is important that you apply for a temporary work permit from the Employment Service – “Direction Régionale des Entreprises, de la concurrence, de la consommation, du Travail et de l'Emploi (DIRECCTE)”.

4. Learning French

Duolingo, Babble, Mondly, HelloTalk, LinguaLift or Memrise are great applications for learning a new language! To communicate with French people in everyday life, we recommend that you learn at least a few basic phrases such as "Bonjour, comment allez-vous?", "How much does it cost?" or "Where is the hospital please? And don't forget to practice during your stay!

Useful links:

Consulate General of France in Buenos Aires (in Spanish)