Metiers en Tension France 2026: Complete Shortage Occupation List by Region

The metiers en tension list is the single most powerful tool in the French work visa process. If your job is on this list for the region where your employer is located, the biggest hurdle in your application — the labor market test — disappears entirely. Your employer does not need to advertise the position for 21 days, does not need to prove they could not find a French candidate, and the DREETS processes the work authorization significantly faster.

The current list was substantially revised by the Arrete of May 21, 2025, and is regionalized. A job that is "in tension" in Brittany may not be in Ile-de-France, and vice versa. Here is what you need to know to leverage it.

How the Metiers en Tension Exemption Works

Under Article L. 414-13 of the CESEDA, when a job offer falls within a category identified as suffering structural shortages in a specific region, the "opposabilite de la situation de l'emploi" (labor market test) does not apply.

What this means in practice:

• Your employer does NOT need to post on France Travail for 21 days
• Your employer does NOT need to maintain a log of rejected local candidates
• The DREETS still checks salary compliance, qualification adequacy, and employer integrity
• Processing time drops from 4-8 weeks to 2-3 weeks in most cases

What is still required:

• A valid employment contract (CDI or CDD)
• Proof that you have the qualifications for the role
• Salary meeting SMIC and sector minimums
• Employer compliance with URSSAF/tax obligations

The exemption only removes the requirement to prove no local worker was available. Everything else stays.

National Shortage Occupations (All Regions)

These occupations are in tension across the entire metropolitan territory — regardless of which region your employer is in:

Regional Shortage Occupations (Selected Regions)

Ile-de-France (Paris Region)

Grand Est

Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

PACA (Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur)

Brittany

How to Check If Your Job Qualifies

The metiers en tension list uses FAP (Familles Professionnelles) codes, not ROME codes. The mapping between the two is not always intuitive.

Step 1: Identify your position's FAP code. The Arrete of May 21, 2025 (published on Legifrance) lists every qualifying occupation with its FAP code.

Step 2: Cross-reference with the region where your employer's establishment (not headquarters, but the actual workplace) is registered.

Step 3: Confirm the match with your employer before they begin the ANEF submission. Citing the correct FAP code in the application is how the DREETS knows the labor market test is waived.

Common Mistakes with the Shortage List

Using the wrong region. A multinational with its head office in Paris but hiring for a Toulouse site must reference the Occitanie list, not Ile-de-France.

Assuming national coverage when it is regional. IT professionals (M2Z90) are on the list for Ile-de-France, but NOT for all regions. If your IT job is in Lyon, you may still need the full labor market test.

Mismatched FAP codes. The list is specific to occupational families, not just industries. A "software developer" (M2Z90) qualifies in qualifying regions, but a "project manager" (M1Z80) may not. The exact role matters.

Ignoring annual updates. The list is reviewed at least annually. The May 2025 decree is current as of 2026, but future revisions may add or remove occupations. Always verify against the most recent Arrete on Legifrance before your employer files.

The Strategic Value for Your Application

If your job is on the shortage list:

• Processing time: 2-3 weeks vs 4-8 weeks for non-exempt roles
• Risk of refusal: Significantly reduced — the biggest reason applications fail (inadequate labor market test) is eliminated
• Employer willingness: French SMEs are often hesitant to sponsor because of the advertising hassle. Telling your employer "we are exempt" removes their main objection.

If your job is NOT on the shortage list but is close to a listed occupation, consider whether the contract can be structured around the exempt FAP code. A "kitchen assistant" is not the same FAP as "cuisinier" — but if the role genuinely involves cooking duties, the correct classification may qualify.

Beyond the Shortage List: Regularization Path

Since the 2024 Immigration Law, workers already in France without valid papers can apply for regularization if they work in a metier en tension and have been employed for at least 12 months over the last 24 months. This is a separate pathway from the standard visa route, but it shows how central the shortage list is to French labor migration policy.

What If Your Job Is Not on the List?

You are not blocked — it just means your employer must complete the full labor market test. This adds 3-5 weeks to the process (21 days of advertising plus DREETS evaluation of the results). Many successful work authorizations are granted for roles not on the shortage list, provided the employer demonstrates a genuine, documented recruitment effort and the salary is appropriate for the position.

The France Employee Visa Guide includes a searchable shortage occupation lookup organized by FAP code and region, plus a decision flowchart that tells you and your employer exactly whether the labor market test applies to your specific situation — and what evidence to prepare if it does.

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