Starting a job in France: what an employer may ask, and when
There is no closed list. What an employer asks you as a candidate must have a direct and necessary link with the job or with assessing your professional skills, and you may refuse to give what has no such link. The CNIL, France's data protection authority, separates what may be asked during selection from what is needed only once you are hired, such as your social security number and bank details.
What the official texts say, for information; not legal advice.
During selection
May be asked (the CNIL's examples)
- CV and cover letter
- professional references, if you were told beforehand
dès lors que le candidat en a été préalablement informé
- the diplomas and titles the job requires
- work certificates from previous jobs
- a driving licence, if the job needs one
dès lors que le poste le nécessite
- whether you have the right to work in France, with only the papers needed to check it
les seules pièces justificatives et informations qui lui sont nécessaires
- nationality, where it is needed, only as French, EU national or non-EU
Criminal record
- criminal record extract no. 3 (bulletin n° 3), only where the job justifies it: shown on paper, never copied, kept or sent by e-mail
consulter un extrait papier du bulletin B3 du candidat, sans le conserver, ni en faire de copie
- criminal record extract no. 2 (bulletin n° 2), only where a text provides it (for example work with minors), through an administrative authority
Once you are hired
What the employer needs
- for the declaration before hiring: name, first names, sex, date and place of birth, and your social security number if you are already registered
Nom, prénoms, sexe, date et lieu de naissance du salarié ainsi que son numéro national d’identification s’il est déjà immatriculé
- for the staff register: nationality, job and qualification
- bank details, proof of address and someone to contact in an emergency
- for a foreign worker: the type and number of the work authorisation, which the employer checks with the préfecture at least two working days before hiring and may keep a copy of
au moins deux jours ouvrables avant la date d’effet de l’embauche
- a photo for the staff directory, if you want
photographie facultative du salarié pour figurer dans un annuaire
- from the occupational doctor, only whether you are fit for the job
May not be asked of you as a candidate
- the social security number and bank details, before you are hired
son numéro de sécurité sociale et ses coordonnées bancaires
- payslips
- family members, whether you want children, pregnancy
interdit de rechercher ou de faire rechercher toutes informations concernant l’état de grossesse
- health, height, weight or measurements, except for a few jobs
- origin, political, philosophical or religious opinions, union membership, sex life, even with your consent
Même l’accord exprès du candidat ne saurait, à lui seul, justifier
- your previous address, whether you own or rent, loans, associations
- when you came to France or were naturalised, how you became French, your nationality of origin or your parents'
- military situation
- criminal record extract no. 1 (bulletin n° 1), under any circumstances; a copy of extract no. 3
le bulletin B1 n’est accessible qu’aux autorités judiciaires et aux établissements pénitentiaires
Sources
- Code du travail, article L1221-6 · updated on 1 May 2008
- Code du travail, article L1225-1 (grossesse) · updated on 1 May 2008
- Code du travail, article R1221-1 (déclaration préalable à l’embauche) · updated on 1 September 2017
- Code du travail, article D1221-23 (registre unique du personnel) · updated on 1 May 2008
- Code du travail, articles R5221-41 à R5221-43 (salarié étranger) · updated on 1 April 2021
- CNIL, Guide du recrutement (fiches 5, 16 et 18) · published on 30 January 2023
- CNIL, Référentiel relatif aux traitements mis en œuvre aux fins de gestion du personnel · adopted on 21 November 2019, last amended on 23 May 2022
- CNIL, « Recrutement : quelles informations peut-on me demander ? » · no date shown
- Service-public.gouv.fr, « Candidat à une offre d’emploi : méthodes de recrutement autorisées » · page checked on 20 February 2026
- Service-public.gouv.fr, « Casier judiciaire : bulletins n°1, n°2 et n°3 » · page checked on 20 August 2026
- Ministère du Travail, « Offre d’emploi et embauche : les droits du candidat » · updated on 6 December 2024
Checked on 20 October 2026.
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