Fragomen France: Preparing for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

One century after first hosting the Summer Olympics in 1924, the Games are back in Paris for the 33^rd Olympiad. Between 26 July and 11 August 2024, Paris will host a wide range of festivities and sporting disciplines, starting with a promising Opening Ceremony held for the first time outside a stadium, in the heart of the French Capital along the river Seine.

With 41 competition venues throughout France (including surfing at Teahupo’o, Tahiti), 28 Olympic disciplines and a 6-kilometer parade of athletes along the river, organisers want these Olympic Games to be unique, ambitious, spectacular and inclusive.

The eyes of the world will be on France and the Olympic Games for several weeks. While billions of spectators will watch live broadcasts, 10 million sports fans are expected to attend the Games (nearly seven million tickets have already been sold). Paris 2024 is seen as creating a valuable legacy for French society, brimming with economic, environmental and social opportunities.

Mobility Considerations

Cross-border mobility will be an important aspect of these Olympic Games. At least 600,000 spectators will attend the celebrations from across the globe, 45,000 volunteers will be mobilised and thousands of athletes from more than 200 nations will take part in the events. 6,000 journalists and media professionals have already benefitted from the official press accreditation process.

Beyond those directly involved in the Games (including members of organising committees, staff, donors, partners and sponsors), the business community will have significant mobility projects to manage leading up to the Games. This will require careful planning of resources to ensure businesses have an appropriate strategy in place to secure all the required immigration documentation in advance of the Games. 

Entry Requirements and Visa Applications

Most countries hosting the Olympics have had special arrangements for those intending to participate, spectate or work for the Games; that should also be the case for Paris 2024. Only limited information is available at this time, but Fragomen is monitoring as we continue to approach the 2024 Olympics.

A page on the official website refers to practical information for ticket holders but redirects them to the standard visa rules and entry requirements on the France-Visa Portal with general information on short-stay visas.

What Do We Know?

• • A particular scheme facilitating the issuing of visas will apply to the so-called ‘Members of the Olympic family’ for the duration of the Games. The practical details remain to be defined.
  • Visa requirements aside, citizens of non-Schengen countries must meet the entry requirements set out in the applicable European and French regulations.
  • Participants, sportspeople, athletes and accredited staff working on major sports events and the Olympic Games benefit in France from a work permit exemption for up to 90 days. Those wishing to stay longer than three months (for training or competition purposes and be accompanied by family members) may qualify for a Talent Passport as foreign nationals or internationally recognised experts in their field.
  • Broadcast journalists will be entitled to cover the event without a work permit.
  • Other categories of foreign workers and travelers coming to France for private or business purposes should be subject to standard rules unless temporary measures are implemented.

When to Start Planning for the Games

Based on prior Olympic Games, we know there is usually a high level of apprehension from the business community as to how workers will be mobilised to support major events like these.

Consular authorities might prioritise processing visitors’ and/or athletes’ visas, and there may be delays or even a temporary suspension of other types of employment visas and permits during that period to allow for a focus on the Olympic Games. At this stage, volumes of visa/permit applications are not predictable and the impact is unknown.

Additionally, not every category of foreign nationals entering to work in the Olympics will be captured by temporary arrangements, so it will be important for companies to plan early, seek the most up-to-date information available and, where necessary, secure the appropriate work permissions.

Need to know more?

Fragomen is monitoring for further announcements anticipated in late 2023 and early 2024, and will provide updates as we receive them. For further information or questions on the Olympics, please contact Géraldine Renaudière at [email protected].

This blog was published on 25 July 2023, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.