Last verified: October 2026 — Sources: Unédic, France Travail, Service-Public.fr
If you lose your job in France, the unemployment insurance system entitles you to a benefit (allocation d’aide au retour à l’emploi, or ARE) while you look for work. This guide explains how to register with France Travail, the eligibility requirements, how the ARE is calculated, its duration and the specific rights of foreign workers in 2026.
What is France Travail?
France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) is France’s public employment service. It handles jobseeker registration, ARE payments, vocational training and job-search support. Registration is done online at francetravail.fr.
ARE eligibility requirements
- Involuntary job loss: dismissal (any ground), mutual termination (rupture conventionnelle) or end of a fixed-term contract (CDD) that is not renewed. A simple resignation does not qualify, except for legitimate resignations.
- Minimum contribution period: at least 130 days (or 910 hours), roughly 6 months, within the last 24 months (36 months if aged 55 or over).
- Registration with France Travail: within 12 months of the contract ending.
- Resident in France at the time of the application.
- Physically fit for work.
- Below the legal retirement age with sufficient quarters.
- Active job search: you must update your status every month.
2026 change: first-time unemployment claimants
Since 1 April 2026, certain first-time claimants—people who have never received unemployment insurance, or not for more than 20 years—may qualify with 5 months of employment (108 days or 758 hours) during the applicable look-back period. This is an exception to the normal six-month requirement. See Service-Public (French).
How the ARE is calculated
The ARE is based on the salaire journalier de référence (SJR): the average daily gross salary over the last 24 months (or 36 months for those aged 55+).
| Formula based on the SJR (daily reference wage) | Daily benefit calculation |
|---|---|
| Option 1 | 40.4% of SJR + €13.18 per day |
| Option 2 | 57% of SJR per day |
| Limits | The more favourable formula applies, subject to applicable statutory limits. |
- Daily minimum: €32.13 net per day (general minimum, potentially reduced proportionally for part-time work).
- The benefit cannot exceed 70% of the SJR.
- Social contributions (including CSG and CRDS) may apply, with exemptions or reductions depending on the benefit amount and personal circumstances.
ARE duration
Maximum duration depends on age at contract end and days worked. A 0.75 coefficient applies to contracts ending from 1 February 2023:
| Age at contract end | Minimum duration | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
| Under 55 | 182 days (6 months) | 548 days (18 months) |
| 55–56 | 182 days | 685 days (22.5 months) |
| 57 or over | 182 days | 822 days (27 months) |
Important exception for mutual termination (rupture conventionnelle individuelle): for contracts ending on or after 1 September 2026, the maximum ARE period in metropolitan France is 15 months for those under 55 and 20.5 months for those aged 55 or over. The general table above does not reflect this exception; overseas rules differ. Source: Service-Public (French).
Degressivity
For beneficiaries under 55 whose previous gross daily pay exceeds the €159.68 threshold (approximately €4,857.81 gross per month), a 30% reduction may apply from the 7th month. The reduced amount cannot fall below €92.57/day. Training included in your job-search plan suspends the countdown.
Waiting periods before the first payment
- Paid-leave deferral (différé congés payés): holiday pay ÷ SJR, capped at 30 calendar days.
- Specific deferral (supra-legal severance): amount above the legal minimum ÷ €111.80, capped at 150 days (75 days for economic dismissal).
- Waiting period (délai d’attente): 7 fixed days, unless already applied in the past 12 months.
How to register with France Travail
- Go to francetravail.fr and create an account or log in.
- Fill in the registration form with your personal details, work history and the type of job you are looking for.
- Attach the required documents: attestation employeur (employer certificate), ID, residence permit (if applicable) and bank details (RIB).
- You will receive a summons for a first meeting with an adviser.
- Every month: update your status (actualisation) before the 15th, reporting any activity and income.
Rights of foreign workers
Nationality alone does not determine ARE eligibility. Applicants must meet work-history, job-search and residence requirements; non-EU nationals must also hold appropriate documentation permitting jobseeker registration and employment.
Residence permits accepted for registration
- Carte de résident (10-year card).
- Carte pluriannuelle “salarié” or “passeport talent”.
- Carte “vie privée et familiale”.
- APS “recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise”.
- VLS-TS endorsed “salarié” or “vie privée et familiale”.
- Récépissé endorsed “autorise son titulaire à travailler”.
Not accepted: student card alone or short-stay visa. The temporary “salarié” card is accepted only if the contract was terminated by the employer.
What happens to your residence permit if you lose your job?
- The permit remains valid until its expiry date. Job loss can affect certain residence-permit categories and renewals; the applicable rules depend on the permit type and individual circumstances.
- At renewal, the prefecture reviews your overall situation: length of residence, family ties, active job search and resources.
- If your permit expires in fewer than 4 months, apply for renewal as soon as possible (usually via ANEF).
- A permit not renewed on time means loss of both the ARE and your right to stay.
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
- No residence permit is needed to register with France Travail.
- You can transfer ARE rights to another EU country for 3 months to look for work there (U2 form), potentially extended to 6 months if the competent authority authorises it.
- Contribution periods in other member states can count towards the affiliation requirement.
Other benefits after ARE runs out
- ASS (allocation de solidarité spécifique): for those who have exhausted ARE and have at least 5 years of work in the last 10. Amount: €19.48/day (official amount checked in October 2026). Household income must be below a ceiling.
- RSA (revenu de solidarité active): last-resort benefit. Non-EU nationals must have held a work-authorising permit for at least 5 years (exempt: refugees, stateless persons, subsidiary protection holders, carte de résident holders). EU citizens need 3 months of residence.
- Prime d’activité: top-up for workers on modest incomes. Conditions similar to RSA for foreign nationals.
EU vs non-EU comparison
| Aspect | EU/EEA/Swiss citizens | Non-EU nationals |
|---|---|---|
| France Travail registration | No residence permit needed | Work-authorising permit required |
| ARE entitlement | Same conditions as French nationals | Same conditions if permit is valid |
| Transfer of rights | Possible to another EU country (U2) | Not available |
| RSA | 3 months of residence | 5 years with work permit |
| Permit renewal | Not applicable | Overall situation assessed by prefecture |
Related guides
- Retirement in France
- Health insurance in France
- Titre de séjour in France
- Cost of living in France 2026
Official sources
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Conditions may change. Please consult official sources or a professional for your specific situation.