For many people, taking a summer holiday is something that's planned and budgeted for well in advance. However, a working holiday gives you a lot of freedom and is a fantastic way to get abroad and experience a country without needing to save and plan for months. Because once you've organised a job, you're good to go.
Why get a summer job in France?
France is the perfect destination for a summer job as there are many types of work on offer all over the country. To save you doing all the research, we have all the information you need here.
Be sure to follow current the rules on travel from the Government and see our latest travel information.
How do I work in France?
Post-Brexit, there are some different rules for working in France. The UK Government has a dedicated page for working in an EU country and recommends contacting the UK-based embassy for France, which also has a website with a dedicated section to Brexit.
To travel to France for up to 90 days to visit family or friends does not require a visa, but to stay for longer or to work you will need to apply for a visa.
As a seasonal worker, you can apply for a multi-year residence permit giving you the status of “travailleur saisonnier” (seasonal worker). More information on this permit can be found here.
Work at a holiday park
Holiday parks and campsites across France are usually in need of workers, particularly during the summer months. The kind of work that you can do depends on the campsite, but there are lots of different positions and types of work. You could get a job as a cleaner, a receptionist or a childminder, for example, or you could get a more general role that includes shifts in various areas all over the park.
The great thing about working in a holiday park is that you'll typically get to stay on-site for free (or for a small fee) which significantly reduces the cost of your trip.
Al Fresco Holidays is a Europe-wide holiday park company that advertises available positions.
Try your hand at harvesting grapes to make delicious wines
Work in a French vineyard
It's hard to think of a holiday to France without thinking about wine, so why not take a summer job at a vineyard? There are vineyards all over France, from Bordeaux to Côtes du Rhone and from Burgundy to Champagne, which means you can holiday in almost any region in the country.
Picking season starts in September and runs for between seven and 18 days, although it all depends on that year's harvest. When you work at a vineyard, your accommodation will usually be included, which gives you added freedom and money. You'll also get the chance to sample delicious wines, direct from the source, and you'll probably learn a bit about how they're made, too.
A good place to find grape picking jobs is the French National Association for employment and training in agriculture.
Work as an au pair
If you like working with children, then au pairing is a lovely way to spend the summer in France, and you don't even need to speak French! You'll stay with a French family and take care of the children during the day (usually while their parents are at work), and when they're back you'll have free time.
In most cases, this means you'll get evenings and weekends to yourself, which gives you plenty of time to explore the surrounding areas and even further afield. It’s a great way to make new friends, too.
There are plenty of websites that offer au pair programs throughout France. InterExchange is a good starting point.
Pick all kinds of fruit across France
Work as a fruit picker
Like grape picking at vineyards, fruit picking is a popular summer job for visitors to France. The type of fruit that you can pick depends on the month and region that you visit, and different fruits grow in different climates.
Depending on where you choose to go, you could be picking apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries, or many other types of fruit. Like most of these summer jobs, it's a great way to meet new people. You may also find a job on a farm where you'll get to do a mixture of work, including fruit and vegetable picking and livestock handling.
You can see fruit picking, harvesting, and farm work job listings at lagriculture-recrute.org (the same place for vineyard jobs) or try Emploi.fr.
Make some new four-legged friends as a dog walker
Work as a dog walker
Pet owners are always keen to find trustworthy people to sit for or walk their dogs. If you love dogs and getting out and about, this is the perfect job for summer. You will likely have to provide your own accommodation for this role, but it’s also a flexible job that leaves your evenings free to explore. We can help you with finding some great locations to walk your new four-legged friend too.
PetBacker is just one site where you can find listings for dog walking jobs in France.
Start your summer job adventure with LeShuttle
Travel safely from Folkestone to Calais with LeShuttle and you’ll be across the channel in just 35 minutes. From there you can make your way through France and to your ideal summer job.