
Yes. Your employer must obtain a work authorisation (autorisation de travail) for the specific job before you apply for your long-stay work visa.
The French employee permit is employer-driven. Before you arrive, your employer has to secure a work authorisation that corresponds to the exact position you will hold. Only once that authorisation is approved can you apply for the long-stay visa (VLS-TS) tied to it.
Because the authorisation is linked to a specific employer and role, you cannot simply start working on your own initiative. A common and serious mistake is attempting to work before the authorisation is granted. Confirm the authorisation is in place and matches your job before you begin.
Get a personalised assessment from a licensed ACME advisor, or ask Acey.