France is the fifth largest music market in the world and the third largest in Europe behind Britain and Germany.
- All musicians and crew will require a Temporary Work Permit known as an APT (Autorisation Provisoire de Travail) to perform in France. This permit is good for three months.
- Your local promoter will be applying on your behalf. A permit for each concert is required, but usually the promoter of your first concert can make an application covering the whole tour. Check with them to confirm this is so.
- There is no cost to secure an APT, however you should have all documents to your local promoter at least 2 months before the first performance.
- An extensive list of personal information, including a Certificate of Coverage from the Canadian Revenue Agency for each person, will be required to secure an APT.
The Certificate of Coverage, which can take 3 months to secure from CRA, will eliminate the requirement for withholding taxes on your performance fees.
For more detailed information on work permit requirements and withholding tax exemptions, please download France Work Permits for Musicians Overview.
France packs a lot of countryside into one compact country. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, from the Pyrenees to the Alps, France shares its borders with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France – with the UK just across the English Channel.
For more information on what’s inside, please see the Regions in France descriptions below.
For more information on live music festivals and conventions, please see the France’s Major Festivals tab below.
