CAREER DESTINATION
France
OVERVIEW
Build Your Healthcare Career in France
France continues to face significant recruitment needs across healthcare, care services, hospitality and other essential sectors. France Travail's 2026 labour-market survey identifies 2.28 million planned recruitments nationwide, with 43.8% of recruitment projects considered difficult to fill.
France's official shortage-occupation framework was also updated in May 2025, identifying occupations and regions experiencing recruitment difficulties. The list includes roles in home care and related support services in several regions, alongside hospitality and other high-demand occupations.
For qualified Indonesian candidates, GSS Edu provides a structured pathway to prepare for opportunities in France—from language and professional preparation to administrative guidance and relocation support.
HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES
A Growing Need for Care Professionals
France's ageing population and continuing workforce shortages create recruitment needs across hospitals, elderly-care facilities, home-care services and other health and social-care organisations.
The French shortage-occupation list includes aides à domicile et aides ménagères (home-care and domestic support workers) in a number of regions. However, candidates should distinguish these occupations from aide-soignant, which is a regulated healthcare profession requiring specific authorization and qualifications in France.
Depending on your existing education, experience and the position offered, your pathway may therefore involve direct recruitment into an eligible support role, additional training, or a French qualification/recognition procedure.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Preparing Your Qualifications for France
Requirements depend on the profession, employer and candidate's existing qualifications.
For regulated healthcare professions such as aide-soignant, holding a foreign healthcare qualification does not automatically provide the right to practise in France. French law specifies the diplomas and authorisations required to use the professional title of aide-soignant.
As part of your preparation, GSS Edu can help candidates organise:
- Academic diplomas and transcripts
- Professional certificates
- Evidence of clinical or professional training
- Employment and experience records
- Certified translations where required
- French-language certification
- Documents required for employer and administrative procedures
Each candidate's eligibility should be assessed individually according to the intended profession.
FRENCH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
French for Work and Everyday Life
French-language ability is essential for working safely and effectively in healthcare. Candidates must be able to communicate with patients, colleagues and employers and understand workplace procedures and instructions.
Rather than presenting one language level as a universal legal requirement for every healthcare job, GSS Edu should prepare candidates toward the level required by their specific training programme, employer or professional recognition pathway.
Language preparation should focus not only on certification, but also on practical communication: patient interaction, healthcare terminology, workplace conversations, documentation and everyday life in France.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS
From Preparation to Employment in France
For non-EU candidates recruited from abroad, working in France normally requires an employer and an appropriate work authorisation. When the candidate lives outside France, the employer generally submits the work-authorisation application before the candidate enters France.
A typical pathway can therefore be presented as:
Candidate Assessment
French Language Preparation
Qualification & Document Review
Employer Matching
Employment Offer
Work Authorisation
Visa Process
Arrival in France
France's shortage-occupation list can be relevant to the work-authorisation process: an offered job may satisfy the employment-related condition when it appears on the applicable shortage list.
GSS Edu supports candidates throughout the preparation process, while final visa, work-authorisation and professional-recognition decisions remain with the relevant French authorities.
RELOCATION SUPPORT
Preparing for Life in France
Moving abroad involves much more than obtaining a job. GSS Edu helps candidates prepare for the practical transition from Indonesia to France.
Support can include pre-departure orientation, document preparation, understanding French workplace culture, arrival guidance, accommodation orientation and assistance with the first administrative steps after arrival.
Our objective is to help candidates arrive better prepared—not only to begin working, but also to adapt successfully to everyday and professional life in France.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common Questions
Can Indonesian healthcare graduates work in France?
Potentially, yes, but the pathway depends on the profession. Some healthcare professions are regulated in France and require specific French qualifications or authorisation before the candidate can practise under the protected professional title.
Is aide-soignant a shortage occupation in France?
There are significant recruitment needs in France's health and care sectors, but shortage-occupation status is organised by occupation and geographic region. The official May 2025 list should therefore be checked against the exact job and location rather than presenting aide-soignant as universally eligible throughout France.
Do I need to speak French?
Yes. French is particularly important in healthcare because candidates need to communicate safely with patients and colleagues. The exact certification or level required depends on the position, employer, training programme and professional pathway.
Will my Indonesian diploma automatically be recognised in France?
No. Recognition depends on the profession and qualification. For aide-soignant, French law regulates who may practise under that professional title. Candidates with qualifications obtained outside the EU/EEA should have their individual pathway assessed before assuming their diploma provides direct professional recognition.
Do I need a work visa?
Indonesian nationals generally need the appropriate authorisation to work in France. For a candidate recruited while living abroad, the employer normally applies for work authorisation before the candidate enters France, followed by the applicable visa/residence procedure.
Does GSS Edu guarantee a job or visa?
No. GSS Edu prepares and supports candidates through language training, documentation, employer matching and relocation preparation. Final employment, work-authorisation and visa decisions are made by employers and the relevant French authorities.