Posting Workers to France — Complete Guide

France has one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for posted workers in the EU. This guide brings together everything an employer needs to know — from SIPSI registration to DREETS inspections — in one place.

Overview of requirements

Before posting a single worker to France, an employer must complete the following:

Submit a SIPSI declaration for each worker
Appoint a French representative
Obtain BTP cards for construction workers
Obtain A1 certificates for social security coverage
Ensure wages meet SMIC or applicable collective agreement rates

Step 1 — SIPSI declaration

SIPSI (Système d'Information sur le Détachement International) is the mandatory electronic registration system. Every foreign employer posting workers to France must submit a declaration before work begins.

The declaration includes employer details, worker data, posting dates, worksite address, and French representative information. Failure to register carries fines of up to €4,000 per worker (€8,000 for repeat offences).

For a detailed walkthrough, see our article on SIPSI step by step.

Step 2 — French representative

Every employer posting workers to France must designate a representative (représentant) based in France. The representative holds documentation and communicates with authorities on the employer's behalf.

The representative must be reachable throughout the posting period and able to produce documents on demand. The fine for not having one is the same as for missing SIPSI: up to €4,000 per worker.

Step 3 — BTP card (construction sector)

Workers in the BTP sector (Bâtiment et Travaux Publics) must carry a BTP card issued by CNETP. This applies to bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and anyone else physically working on a construction site.

The application is submitted through the CNETP portal and requires the SIPSI reference number. Processing takes 5–10 working days. Missing cards can result in fines of up to €2,000 per worker.

Step 4 — A1 certificate

The A1 certificate confirms the worker remains covered by the home country's social security system. It must be obtained from the social insurance institution before departure. Without it, the employer risks double social security contributions.

Step 5 — Wages and collective agreements

Posted workers must be paid at least SMIC (€11.88/h gross in 2025). In practice, most sectors — particularly construction — are covered by collective agreements with higher rates.

Employers must check the applicable convention collective for their sector and region. Paying below the required rate can result in fines of up to €3,000 per worker plus back-pay obligations.

Documents to prepare

Document	Who holds it	Status
SIPSI confirmation	Worker	Mandatory
BTP card	Worker	Mandatory (construction)
A1 certificate	Worker	Strongly recommended
Passport / ID	Worker	Mandatory
Employment contract	Representative	Recommended
Payslips	Representative	Mandatory
Working time records	Representative	Mandatory

DREETS inspections

DREETS inspectors (Direction régionale de l'économie, de l'emploi, du travail et des solidarités) can enter any worksite without prior notice. They check SIPSI registrations, BTP cards, wage compliance, and working conditions.

The representative is the inspector's primary contact. They must produce documents within 48 hours and communicate in French.

Timeline summary

4+ weeks before — Apply for A1 certificates
2+ weeks before — Apply for BTP cards
Before work starts — Submit SIPSI declaration, confirm representative
On site — Workers carry BTP card, SIPSI confirmation, A1, ID

How PostingRegistry helps

We handle the entire France posting process: SIPSI declarations, BTP card applications, French representative service, and document preparation. Submit your workers through our online form — it takes five minutes — and we take care of compliance from start to finish.