🇫🇷Application Guide for the France Working Holiday Visa

Written by Volare | June 8, 2026

Planning an exchange in Europe requires precise knowledge of the current regulatory framework. Below, we detail the fundamental parameters to successfully process your Working Holiday Visa (VVT) with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Eligible Nationalities and Partner Territories

The French government manages this youth mobility program with 16 entities, presenting some critical operational distinctions for the current season.

Application is restricted to citizens with valid passports from countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, and Uruguay.

Note on special territories and pauses: Hong Kong and Taiwan have active agreements but operate under special administrative passports. On the other hand, visa issuance for citizens of Russia is currently on an indefinite pause by the French State.

📊 Summary Board: Annual Quotas and Age Limits

Consular quotas reset at the beginning of each calendar year and operate continuously until availability is exhausted.

Volare Update: We have added the maximum age limit for each nationality, a key factor when planning your application (remember that you are allowed to apply up until the day before your 31st or 36th birthday, depending on the country).

Country	Official Annual Quota	Maximum Age Limit
🇨🇦 Canada	7,000	35 years
🇰🇷 South Korea	2,000	30 years
🇯🇵 Japan	1,800	30 years
🇦🇷 Argentina	1,500	35 years
🇭🇰 Hong Kong	750	30 years
🇧🇷 Brazil	500	30 years
🇹🇼 Taiwan	500	30 years
🇨🇱 Chile	400	30 years
🇨🇴 Colombia	400	30 years
🇪🇨 Ecuador	300	30 years
🇲🇽 Mexico	300	30 years
🇵🇪 Peru	300	30 years
🇺🇾 Uruguay	300	30 years
🇦🇺 Australia	Unlimited	35 years
🇳🇿 New Zealand	Unlimited	30 years

The step-by-step application process

The procedure consists of two mandatory and strictly personal stages. First, you must register and complete the online form on the government portal France-Visas.

Second, you must attend an in-person appointment (at the consular section or authorized externalized center, such as VFS Global) for the submission of the physical file and biometric data collection. The appointment system requires the file to be submitted a maximum of three months prior to your scheduled flight date.

The average processing time ranges from 15 to 30 business days from the physical receipt of the documents, provided the file is in perfect order to avoid automatic rejections.

⚠️ Key Requirement: The onward ticket

It is a transversal and mandatory requirement to evidence in your file the possession of a flight ticket to leave the territory once the visa has ended.

As an alternative, you can present financial documentation that reliably proves you possess additional funds exclusive for the future purchase of that ticket.

📖 Complete Volare Guide

To ensure you have the proper guidance and the most detailed information at every step of your application, we recommend checking the step-by-step in the Official France Working Holiday Visa Guide.