Conditions for obtaining an “artistic and cultural professions” permit, and asylum seeker
Monday, 04 July 2005
“How could a Moldavian national, who is a professional artist and actor, who legally entered France in 2002 and who has been an asylum seeker ever since, exercise his profession, when he has been promised numerous contracts by stage directors of approved shows, but still only has the yellow asylum-seeker’s card? How can he obtain a residence permit of the “artistic and cultural professions” type?
In principle, in the case you refer to, the interested party has:
- either obtained refugee status and in principle has a residence permit that allows him to work as a salaried employee or self-employed person in France (industrial, commercial or craftsman’s profession);
- or has obtained subsidiary protection status and in principle has a temporary (one-year) resident’s permit (renewable) that entitles him to work.
In any event, the temporary “artistic and cultural professions” residence permit (known as the “PAC” card in French) can only be issued for the period of the employment contract concluded with the employer (for living entertainment artists), which cannot exceed one year. Producing several promises of short-term engagements with different employers does not entitle him to a “PAC” card. For an entertainment artist, this must be an employment contract of over 3 months with an employer whose main business includes the creation or use of an intellectual work.
Two categories of people can legitimately apply for an “artistic and cultural professions” residence permit:
- artists having an employment contract;
- artists having another type of contract with a company or establishment (public or private) the purpose of which is to create, distribute and/or use an intellectual work (see question, Plastic artist, artistic and cultural profession permit, type of contract ).
