UK specialists had feared numbers of people wanting to ‘work a season’ in a ski resort or picking grapes would dwindle

The number of seasonal workers coming to France from the UK is reported to be rising again, despite the process becoming more complex since Brexit.

UK specialists had feared that Brexit might bring disappointment for Britons who want to travel to France to ‘do the season’ by working, for example, as ski instructors, in hotels or on farms picking grapes as they now require a French job offer, work permit and visa. 

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These enable the person to apply in France for a specific residency card lasting up to three years – but this represents a big change from the rules pre-Brexit when Britons could go out to work in France without visas or residency cards. 

However, Charles Owen, managing director of trade organisation Seasonal Businesses in Travel, and also of European Pubs said it is proving “workable” and that the industry has established a close relationship with the Interior Ministry and prefectures in resort areas. 

He added that work permits are now being turned around “quite quickly” after an application is made via the Interior Ministry’s Anef site. 

The fact that card applications are also now made via the site means workers are spared long journeys to prefectures to drop in paperwork, often located many kilometres from resorts, he said. 

They still have to visit to collect the card, but the means one journey, rather than two.

If you are interested in applying for a job in a winter resort, interviews are already underway as the process needs to be started well in advance.

For more information, visit ski company sites, companies such as European Pubs or search online for “ski jobs winter 2024/2025”.

Seasonal workers are vital for various sectors of the French economy. Each year the Champagne harvest alone requires around 120,000, many of whom come from abroad.