Our V.I.E Program: step by step

Being an International Intern means travelling overseas to carry out a professional assignment while benefiting from social welfare thanks to the public status of the intern.

The intern is under the authority of the French Embassy.

6- to 24-month assignments can be carried out:

• in a company,
• within a French public or quasi-public organisation attached to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Development or the Ministry of Economy,
• in a local foreign public organisation (e.g. a research centre or university),
• with an international organisation or accredited association.
• The International Intern is not a volunteer.
• Interns receive a monthly allowance, which varies depending on the assignment country, but which does not depend on the intern’s level of qualifications.

The programme is mainly intended for students, young graduates and job seekers aged between 18 and 28; the French Intentional Internship Programme is a valuable professional experience and a real springboard for those looking for an international career.

All types of jobs are covered:

• in companies: finance, marketing, international trade, management control, accounting, mechanics, electronics, telecommunications, IT, public works, agronomics, tourism, law, human resources, etc.
• in an administration: organising cultural events, teaching, economics, commercial or scientific intelligence, IT, political sciences, law, economics, research, medicine, hospitality (hotels, catering, etc.), etc.
• You must be aged between 18 and 28 years of age and have fully complied with any national service obligations in your country of origin. But first and foremost, you must be highly motivated and enjoy taking initiative.

Registration

• Before you can apply to offers on the website, you must first register. If an offer interests you and corresponds to your career profile, you must send your application (CV and cover letter) to the recruiter whose contact details are indicated in the job listing.
• Once you have completed the registration process, you will be asked to create a username and password. You will be given a V.I. number (starting with a V and followed by 9 numbers), which you will need to note down as you will be asked for it in the future.
• Important: before registering, check that you meet the compulsory conditions.
• Check the accuracy and the quality of the information you provide otherwise your registration will not be used by companies, administrative offices or management organisations.

To validate your registration, don’t forget to give your Defence Identifier.

As national service call-up has now been abolished, young French men and women must now participate in a citizenship programme, which includes teaching on defence principles given in middle schools and high schools and includes two major steps (people with dual nationality must also comply with these obligations):

• at the age of sixteen, registering at your local town hall or consulate for those living overseas
• attending the “Journée Défense et Citoyenneté – J.D.C.” (defence and citizenship day); notification sent out by the Department for National Service indicting the individual’s Defence Identifier.

Following your participation, your dossier will be managed by the National Service Office in your region.

This office can also send you your defence identifier and issue you with a certificate in the event that you lose your certificate of registration or certificate of participation in the defence preparation day (the documents you are issued are originals and no copies can be issued).

Finding an assignment

• It is up to you to find an assignment. Try to put yourself in the position of a job seeker: prepare your profile, and define your skills and professional goals.
• For V.I.E. interns: offers are posted on the website but we also recommend broadening your search by targeting all French export companies.
• For V.I.A. interns: you may only respond to offers posted on the website. With the exception of scientist-researchers and interns assigned to quasi-public organisations, you must never send an unsolicited application to a French administration or a French embassy overseas. Regularly consult the website; once you have logged in you can set up an alert as offers are constantly being posted.

Your selection

• For V.I.E. interns: once you have secured an assignment in a company, the company must contact Business France (your managing organisation) to validate your dossier.
• For V.I.A. interns: If your profile is accepted, your managing organisation (MAEDI or DG Trésor depending on the case) will contact you to arrange an interview. If you are selected, MAEDI or DG Trésor will manage your dossier.

In both cases:

the formalities can take time (minimum 2 months)
once your application has been validated, you will receive an appointment letter outlining the terms and conditions and the nature of your assignment.

Preparing to leave

Before you leave, you will be asked to attend an information meeting (Business France) or attend an interview (MAEDI), where you will receive information about an intern’s rights and obligations during an assignment. You must ensure that your passport is valid and that your vaccinations are up to date. Remember to contact your social security and tax offices before you leave. During your assignment your will be insured and benefit from social welfare coverage. Generally, it is up to you to find somewhere to live.

Your return

You must obtain a medical certificate and complete an end of mission report both of which must be sent to your managing organisation (Business France, DGTrésor or MAEDI). These two documents are required to issue the intern’s certificate of completion, which is necessary to access social security benefits and validate your time as an intern in terms of pension entitlements.

More info on civiweb.com