If you are going to work in France, whether for a ski season in the Alps or a new role with a French employer, you will need a medical certificate to confirm you are fit, healthy and able to work. For many UK nationals, an OFII medical certificate is also part of the paperwork.
Check exactly which documents your employer or the relevant authority requires.
This guide explains who needs these certificates, what they confirm, what evidence a doctor will ask for, and how to get both online without a GP appointment.
Key Takeaways
- British citizens can visit France visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but this does not cover working in France.
- Medical document requirements depend on your job and application. Confirm which certificate or form is required before ordering.
- A form obtained before travel is separate from any medical visit OFII may ask you to attend in France.
- A France work medical certificate, or Certificat d’aptitude au travail, confirms you are fit to work and do not suffer from any disease of public health concern under the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005.
- Having your Summary Care Record ready before you apply is the simplest way to avoid delays.
Do I Need A Medical Certificate to Work in France as a UK Citizen?
Yes, in most cases. Since Brexit, UK nationals are treated as non-EU citizens in France. Under French labour law, non-EU employees need a medical certificate confirming they are fit to work, and UK nationals working in France for longer than 90 days also need an OFII medical certificate.
Visa-free travel does not cover work. GOV.UK confirms British citizens can visit the Schengen area, including France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, and that the rules for working in France are different.
The medical certificate forms part of the pre-employment check. It is commonly needed by:
- Ski instructors, chalet hosts and bar staff working the 2026-27 winter season in the French Alps
- Employees relocating to a French office
- Anyone starting a long-term contract with a French employer
Requirements can vary by role and contract length, so check with your employer which documents they need before you apply.
What is the OFII Medical Certificate and the OFII Medical Visit?
These are two different things. The OFII medical certificate is a document signed and stamped by a doctor before you start work. The OFII medical visit is an in-person appointment in France, arranged by the OFII after you validate a long-stay visa, and it supports your residence permit.
The OFII is the Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration, France’s immigration and integration office.
According to the French government’s guidance on the OFII medical visit, the visit is required for anyone applying for a residence permit of more than three months, and the certificate issued after the visit is needed to renew that permit.
If you arrive on a long-stay visa that doubles as a residence permit (a VLS-TS), the OFII will invite you to the visit after you validate your visa online.
| France work medical certificate and OFII medical certificate | OFII medical visit | |
| When | Before you start work | After you validate your long-stay visa in France |
| Where | Can be arranged online from the UK | In person, in France |
| Who provides it | A UK registered doctor | A doctor working for the OFII |
| What it confirms | You are fit to work, with no disease of public health concern under IHR 2005 | You meet the medical conditions for your stay in France |
| What it’s for | The pre-employment check under French labour law | Your residence permit, including renewal |
| Appointment needed? | Not with an online doctor service | Yes, arranged by the OFII |
Both steps can apply to the same person. Getting your certificates before you travel does not cancel an OFII visit invitation after you arrive.
What Does a France Work Medical Certificate Confirm?
A France work medical certificate confirms your name and date of birth, that you are fit to work, and that you do not suffer from any disease that could cause serious repercussions to public health under the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005. It is signed and authorised by a registered doctor.
The International Health Regulations are the World Health Organization’s framework for managing public health risks between countries.
The certificate includes details about diseases with serious public health implications, if any, referencing the International Health Regulations (2005). It records the doctor’s assessment for the stated purpose.
A certificate issued by a UK doctor may also need to be legalised for use abroad. In that case, the doctor’s signature must be one the UK authorities can recognise.
A certificate with a QR code or other verification method lets an employer confirm it is genuine without contacting the doctor.
What if My GP Can’t Provide One in Time?
If your GP can’t provide a certificate before your start date, you can apply online through a regulated private doctor service.
At ZoomDoc, our NHS and GMC-registered doctors validate your medical evidence without an appointment and issue your France work medical certificate and OFII medical certificate, usually within 1-2 hours.
A GP surgery is always busy, and NHS England data shows that in July 2026, 76.8% of non-urgent GP appointments took place within 14 days of booking.
Medical certificates for work abroad are private, non-NHS work, so surgeries fit them in alongside NHS appointments where they can.
With ZoomDoc, no appointment is needed; simply apply online:
- Complete your order online – You will receive a unique certificate booking reference to upload your medical evidence securely.
- Upload a video and complete a questionnaire – Your video should be 30 seconds to 1 minute long. Upload it with your Summary Care Record by 9 pm for same-day service.
- Our doctor validates your evidence – Our doctors may contact you by phone if any clarification is needed.
- Receive your certificate the same day – It is sent by email and SMS, with a QR code enabling a verification check.
- Receive your printed certificates – Your wet-ink-signed original and OFII medical certificate, signed and stamped, are posted via Royal Mail Tracked 24 to arrive the next working day.
All our doctors are GMC and FCDO registered, so their signatures will be recognised if your certificate needs to be legalised.
What Evidence Will a Doctor Ask For?
A doctor will usually ask for photo ID, a completed medical questionnaire, your Summary Care Record and details of your regular GP. Online services also ask for a short video to confirm your identity. Having your Summary Care Record ready is the simplest way to avoid delays.
Typical evidence includes:
- A photo of your passport or driving licence
- A completed medical questionnaire
- Your Summary Care Record, digital or printed
- Details of your regular NHS GP, if you have one
Your Summary Care Record is a short summary of your NHS medical record, covering medications, allergies and important health history.
Most GP surgery reception teams can provide it without an appointment. It gives a doctor who is assessing you remotely the medical history they need to make a safe decision.
A regulated service will not issue a certificate if the medical evidence does not support it.
How Far in Advance Should I Apply, and How Long Is It Valid?
Apply once your job and start date are confirmed. A digital France work medical certificate from ZoomDoc is valid for 180 days, and the OFII medical certificate can be used for up to 3 years as part of France’s fitness to work requirements. Allow a working day for printed originals to arrive by post.
Applying too early risks the certificate expiring before your start date. Applying too late can leave you without printed originals when you travel.
For a winter season, a sensible order is:
- Confirm your job offer and start date.
- Request your Summary Care Record from your GP surgery.
- Apply for your certificates.
- Allow time for your printed certificates to arrive by post.
Can I Get One If I’m Already in France?
Yes. You can apply for a France work medical certificate online while you are already in France.
The digital certificate is sent by email, and the signed originals are posted to a UK address, so you will need someone to collect or forward them.
If you have already started work and your employer is waiting for your certificate, request your Summary Care Record first. Missing evidence is the most common cause of delay.
Getting Your France Work Medical Certificate
To work in France as a UK national, you need a medical certificate confirming you are fit to work.
If you are working for longer than 90 days, you also need an OFII medical certificate. If you arrive on a long-stay visa, the OFII may invite you to a separate medical visit in France.
At ZoomDoc, our NHS and GMC registered doctors provide your France work medical certificate and OFII medical certificate online, with no GP appointment. ZoomDoc is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and works in partnership with NHS GP surgeries nationwide.
You can read how our doctors assess every application.
Get your France work medical certificate online. No appointment is needed, and delivery is free.
FAQs
Does ZoomDoc provide the OFII medical certificate?
Yes. Our doctors sign, stamp and post your OFII medical certificate with your digital France work medical certificate, as part of the same service.
How much does a France work medical certificate cost?
Our France work medical certificate is currently £69. This includes your OFII medical certificate and free delivery of your printed certificates.
Will an employer accept a certificate issued online?
A certificate signed by a GMC-registered UK doctor is valid whether the assessment took place online or in person. A QR code on the certificate lets your employer verify it at any time.
Is a France work medical certificate the same as a certificate of good health?
No. Both confirm you do not suffer from any disease of public health concern under the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005. A France work medical certificate also confirms you are fit to work and is specifically for non-EU citizens working in France. For visa applications to other countries, such as Spain, you need a certificate of good health instead.
Do I need a medical certificate for a contract shorter than 90 days?
You still need permission to work in France, even for a short contract, because visa-free travel does not cover paid work. Whether your employer also needs a medical certificate for a short contract depends on your role, so check with them before you apply.
What happens if the doctor can’t issue my certificate?
A doctor may call you to ask for more information first. At ZoomDoc, if we are unable to provide a certificate, you will receive a full refund.
Can employers order certificates for multiple staff?
Yes. Employers and recruiters hiring seasonal staff for France can order certificates for their teams, with discounts offered on larger orders. Get in touch with one of our experts to arrange this.