What if your training journey didn’t stop at the border?
Working in Germany, studying in Belgium, doing an internship in Luxembourg… Apprenticeship can be a true gateway to international experience—for both young people and businesses. But is cross-border apprenticeship really possible? Let’s get the facts straight! 📃
😉 A tip from GEF: Don’t hesitate to talk to your training center about the Erasmus+ apprenticeship program!
A cross-border apprenticeship allows apprentices to complete part of their training in a country neighboring France. Setting up such an arrangement depends on bilateral agreements between France and the partner country. As of now, a formal agreement exists only with Germany.
Cross-border apprenticeship in Germany
We’ve gathered all the legal information on Franco-German cross-border apprenticeship here:
👉 https://frontaliers-grandest.eu/accueil/etudiants/apprentissage-transfrontalier/en-sarre/
Regions covered: Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland
Training center location: Must be in mainland France (not necessarily limited to Lorraine anymore).
Cross-border apprenticeship in Belgium
For apprenticeships involving French training centers, no official agreement exists between France and Belgium. This means a French apprentice cannot do their practical training in Belgium under the French apprenticeship status, and the apprenticeship would not be officially recognized.
In rare cases, a Belgian company may agree to cover the training costs, without financial support from the French government or the training organization. In this case, the Belgian immersion or integration contract may apply. It must still be approved by the French training center in order for the diploma to be validated in France.
Cross-border apprenticeship in Luxembourg
If the targeted diploma is below baccalauréat level, cross-border apprenticeship between France and Luxembourg is possible.
This type of apprenticeship requires a bilateral agreement between the French training center and Luxembourgish authorities. It is generally limited to professions listed in this regulation:
👉 https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/rgd/2020/12/14/a989/jo
Once a Luxembourg-based training company is found, the apprentice must obtain authorization from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth in Luxembourg.
💡 Note: The French training center cannot receive French funding (e.g. apprenticeship tax) for a cross-border apprenticeship. However, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Education may offer financial support. A formal request must be made by the training center.
For post-bac training, cross-border apprenticeships are also possible, but not yet regulated in Luxembourg. When they happen, they are managed through private arrangements between the training center and the company. No official agreement currently exists between France and Luxembourg.
Important considerations:
- A fixed-term contract (CDD) or internship agreement can be signed for the company training periods.
- These periods must be recognized as part of the French alternance system to validate the diploma.
- The student will not have apprentice status in Luxembourg, but rather that of an intern or employee.
- The foreign company usually covers the cost of training in France, as French public funding does not apply abroad. There is no official framework, so terms must be negotiated case by case—often based on what a similar company in France would pay.
Cross-border apprenticeship in Switzerland
Currently, no bilateral agreement exists between France and Switzerland. So there is no official cross-border apprenticeship program like the one with Germany.
To work with a Swiss employer, you and your school must choose between:
- A fixed-term employment contract (CDD)
- An internship agreement
As in other countries without agreements:
- Training periods must be recognized as part of the alternance to validate the diploma.
- The foreign company should contribute to training costs.
- Since no official framework exists, conditions must be negotiated directly with the company
