Find your employer of record in French Guiana

• Annual leave.
• Social Security benefits.
• Public holidays.
• Healthcare.
• Old-age pension.
• Elderly solidarity allowance.
• Short-term and long-term disability pension.
• Spouse’s pension.
• Retirement benefits.
• Workers’ compensations.

EU nationals, US nationals, Canadian nationals, Australian nationals, and British nationals do not need a visa to enter French Guiana. More precisely, they do not need a visa to stay for up to 90 days as long as they have a return ticket. Nonetheless, all visitors to French Guiana (or foreigners passing through the country) must have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.

If a national who requires a visa wants to enter French Guiana, they can only do it on a Schengen Visa if it is marked on the visa sticker.

On the other hand, if an EU national is staying longer than 3 months, they must register at the prefecture to obtain a Carte de séjour (French residence permit). As for other nationals, they will need to apply for a long-stay visa. However, to obtain more details, individuals must contact the embassy in their home country. A Professional Employment Organization or Employer of Record in French Guiana can also provide you with further details.

In French Guiana, there is no local VAT system. Nonetheless, there is a Consumption Tax known as “dock dues”. And this tax is on products imported from outside the DOMs (Overseas France or France D’Outre-Mer). Furthermore, the authorities also apply this tax to certain locally manufactured products. Besides, just like the VAT in other countries, this consumption tax is collected by businesses. Then, it is eventually funded completely by the end buyer.

Currently, the standard rate of this consumption tax in French Guiana is 20%. However, there are also two discounted rates. Firstly, there is a discounted rate of 10% (for books, local public transit, restaurant meals, and hotel stays). Secondly, the other discounted rate is 5.50% (for most groceries). Furthermore, there is also a third surcharge rate of 2.10% (for prescription medicines insured by Social Security). On the other hand, you can hire an EOR or PEO in French Guiana to find more accurate information about this tax.

Termination Process

In French Guiana, an employment contract can be terminated either due to serious misbehavior of the employee or the employer. But it is subject to the appraisal of the pertinent court regarding the significance of the misbehavior.

On the other hand, the employee must receive a notice period before the termination of the contract. Besides, during this period, the employee may take one day of authorized and fully paid leave per week to seek another job. However, the employee is the one who decides whether to use this leave entirely or not.

Furthermore, both parties must respect all the reciprocal obligations incumbent upon them during the notice period.

Notice Period

The notice period in French Guiana can vary depending on the worker’s length of employment. For instance, if the employee served between 6 months and 2 years, they must receive a one-month notice period. But if they served for more than 2 years, they shall receive a two-month notice.

On the other hand, collective agreements or company practices can set the notice period in certain cases. For example, this is the case for employees who served for up to 6 months.

Severance Pay

Just like the notice period, the employees’ severance pay will depend on their length of employment. But in this case, it will also depend on the relevant CBA’s provisions. Generally, employers calculate severance pay on the basis of an employee’s regular salary during the last 12 months of employment. Besides, this calculation usually includes bonuses as well as basic salary.

In French Guiana, employees receive one-fourth of their monthly salary for each year of service as statutory severance pay. Nonetheless, this is only the case for the employee’s first 10 years of employment. Then, they shall receive one-third of their monthly salary for each year above 10 years of service. This scheme is applicable when no CBA applies or the CBA rate is significantly lower than the statutory amount.

On the other hand, if their rate is higher than that of the CBA or the statutory amount, employment contracts may also provide for severance payments. But in order to calculate severance pay, we suggest you hire an Employer of Record in French Guiana.

Probation Period

In French Guiana, the probation period can range between 2 and 4 months, depending on the type of job. For instance, blue-collar and white-collar employees will have a probationary period of 2 months. On the other hand, supervisors and technical employees will have a probationary period of 3 months. Lastly, managers and professional staff will have a probationary period of 4 months. 

Paid Time Offs

Employees who have served for at least 12 consecutive months with the same employer can take annual. And according to French Guiana’s employment laws, this type of leave usually consists of at least 30 days or 5 weeks.

Public Holidays

There are 12 national holidays throughout the year.

Vacation Holidays

There are 30 vacation holidays throughout the year.

Sick Days

Workers in French Guiana are eligible for a maximum of 6 months of sick leave. Make sure to contact an Employer of Record in French Guiana to get further information about this employee benefit.