Two sets of regulation may apply regarding foreigners working without permits : rules regarding residency, and rules specifically regarding holding a job.
First of all, as for the immigration set of rules, they're pretty much the same as in the US : in order to be allowed to live and work here you have to be sponsored by a French company or a company based in France. This company will have to be able to prove that you're the only one fitted for the job, and that it couldn't find anybody else qualified enough for this task within the local workforce.
Now, being illegal in France does not get you in trouble, as long as you stay out of it : what I mean is that the cops cannot arrest you and deport you as long as you don't commit any offense. This explains why there are illegals here just living their lives for years and years, going unnoticed and avoiding being caught.
As for working in France, any employee, foreigner or not, has to be 'declared', which means, his or her employer should officially notify social security administrations about a new worker. This is very important here, more than in the US I think, and therefore, it is much more enforced : to hire someone 'au noir' (without declaration) is a major offense here, and any employer that does it faces big penalties and sometimes a jail sentence.
And this is why the only jobs 'au noir' that you will find are usually low paid and low qualified ones : just like in any part of the world, most illegal workers are to be found either on construction sites, or in restaurants' backrooms.
I don't know what your qualifications are, but believe me, you'll never find any relevant French company to hire you without a permit.
Billym,
Two sets of regulation may apply regarding foreigners working without permits : rules regarding residency, and rules specifically regarding holding a job.
First of all, as for the immigration set of rules, they're pretty much the same as in the US : in order to be allowed to live and work here you have to be sponsored by a French company or a company based in France. This company will have to be able to prove that you're the only one fitted for the job, and that it couldn't find anybody else qualified enough for this task within the local workforce.
Now, being illegal in France does not get you in trouble, as long as you stay out of it : what I mean is that the cops cannot arrest you and deport you as long as you don't commit any offense. This explains why there are illegals here just living their lives for years and years, going unnoticed and avoiding being caught.
As for working in France, any employee, foreigner or not, has to be 'declared', which means, his or her employer should officially notify social security administrations about a new worker. This is very important here, more than in the US I think, and therefore, it is much more enforced : to hire someone 'au noir' (without declaration) is a major offense here, and any employer that does it faces big penalties and sometimes a jail sentence.
And this is why the only jobs 'au noir' that you will find are usually low paid and low qualified ones : just like in any part of the world, most illegal workers are to be found either on construction sites, or in restaurants' backrooms.
I don't know what your qualifications are, but believe me, you'll never find any relevant French company to hire you without a permit.
CRC