Before a long-term freelance assignment in France continues, check what is being renewed: the client assignment, your employment contract, or both. In portage salarial, these are separate arrangements involving you as the salarié porté, the portage company that employs you, and the client company receiving your work.
A portage salarial assignment renewal does not automatically extend your employment contract, and renewing that contract does not necessarily renew the client agreement. Review both documents and confirm the dates with the relevant parties before work continues. This distinction is central to understanding French portage duration.
If you are comparing employment models, this overview of EOR providers in France may help you assess provider options alongside portage salarial.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Portage salarial involves a consultant, a portage company, and a client company.
- The client agreement and employment contract are separate documents.
- Renewing one agreement does not automatically renew the other.
- Check both sets of dates before continuing a long-term freelance assignment in France.
Portage assignment renewal duration: Understand France’s 36-month limit
In France, the assignment and the employment contract are separate matters. Knowing which time limit applies can help you plan a renewal and protect your next career steps.
Separate the client assignment from the portage employment contract
Code du travail article L1254-4 sets a maximum of 36 months for a service assignment performed by a salarié porté for a client company. This article of the French Labor Code limits the client assignment. It does not set a general 36-month cap on every portage employment contract duration.
A CDI is an indefinite employment contract. The service assignment’s duration limit does not automatically terminate that contract. Any employment termination needs its own lawful basis and procedure; review the relevant provisions with the employer when an assignment ends.
Check how the legal duration limit applies to the assignment
Track the start date and renewals of each service assignment with the client. The 36-month portage assignment limit applies to that service, so changing contract paperwork alone does not reset the assignment period.
Keep assignment renewal separate from fixed-term contract rules
A fixed-term portage contract follows a different time limit: its duration is generally 18 months, including renewals. French portage CDD renewal rules govern that employment contract, while Article L1254-4 governs the client assignment. Check both timelines before you agree to an extension.
What to review before renewing a long-running portage assignment in France
A renewal is easier to manage when the timeline, contracts, pay terms, and expected take-home pay are checked together. Review each item with your portage company before you sign.
Build a duration timeline and confirm the parties’ documents
Ask your portage company and client to prepare one timeline. Include the assignment start date, service periods, extensions, amendments, and proposed end date. Compare it with the commercial agreement, the Portage Business Agreement (PA), your employment contract, and the work you perform.
Confirm the client entity, assignment scope, and actual service dates. Ask the portage company to explain how it counts the statutory limit and which amendments are required for the proposed change. Do not treat a client-contract extension as an automatic extension of a fixed-term employment contract.
Recheck pay and collective agreement requirements
Check your role, workload, and pay against the collective agreement. In particular, ask the company to confirm how IDCC 3219 article 21 minimum pay applies to your situation. Make sure the written terms match the planned duties and fees.
Use a focused renewal checklist and a hypothetical example
For a hypothetical assignment beginning January 1, 2024, a proposed continuation beyond its applicable statutory limit requires a substantive legal review before agreement. Do not treat a new title, renewed paperwork, or a different entity in the same group as an automatic reset. Confirm a compliant arrangement based on the actual work and contractual relationships.
Estimate take-home pay without treating it as a guarantee
Request a portage net pay estimate based on the proposed fee, salary, expenses, and deductions. Treat it as a planning figure, not a promise. Ask which assumptions may change the final amount and when payroll can confirm it.
| Review point | What to check | Record before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Dates of service, extensions, and the 36-month count | Written calculation and proposed end date |
| Documents | PA, commercial agreement, amendments, and employment contract | Updated versions signed by the relevant parties |
| Pay | Role classification and applicable collective agreement minimum | Pay terms and estimate assumptions |
| Renewal plan | Changed mission or eligible client entity, if needed | New agreement reflecting the actual arrangement |
Conclusion
Before you renew a portage assignment in France, keep the client assignment and the employment contract distinct. Article L1254-4 of the French Labor Code sets a 36-month limit for the service assignment to the client. The employment contract has its own terms, and a fixed-term contract (CDD) follows separate rules.
A careful portage salarial duration review can help consultants, clients, and portage companies check the assignment timeline, actual scope, and contract documents before agreeing to a French assignment extension. They should also confirm current pay requirements under Article 21 of collective agreement IDCC 3219.
For the applicable rules, consult the official Legifrance sources. If dates or the assignment scope are unclear, ask the portage company for a written assessment before moving ahead. An extension does not guarantee continued work or a particular net payment or benefit outcome.
FAQ
What does the 36-month limit mean for a portage salarial assignment?
Under Article L1254-4 of the French Labor Code, a service assignment, or prestation, performed by a salarié porté for a client company may last no more than 36 months. This is a limit on the client assignment, not a rule that every portage employment contract must end after 36 months.
Is the client agreement the same as the consultant’s employment contract?
No. Portage salarial is a French legal framework involving three parties: the consultant, known as the salarié porté; the portage company, which employs the consultant; and the client company receiving the work. The client agreement and the consultant’s employment contract are separate documents. Renewing or extending one does not automatically renew or extend the other.
How can I check how much of the 36-month period has elapsed?
Ask your portage company to help prepare one timeline with the assignment start date, service periods, extensions, amendments, and proposed end date. Compare it with the commercial agreement, its amendments, your employment contract, and the work actually performed. Confirm the client and assignment scope, and ask the company to explain in writing how it counted the 36-month period under Article L1254-4. Record its answer before signing an extension.
What if the assignment scope or dates have changed?
Review the timeline against the actual work and all contract documents. Changes to dates, client, or scope may affect how the assignment period is assessed. If anything is unclear, ask the portage company for a written assessment before agreeing to an extension.
Does renewing a client assignment automatically extend a fixed-term employment contract?
No. A client assignment and a fixed-term employment contract, or CDD, have separate terms and rules. Check the employment contract and any amendments as well as the client agreement. The 36-month limit in Article L1254-4 concerns the service assignment; it does not replace the rules that apply to a CDD.
What should we review before approving an extension?
Consultants, client companies, and portage companies should review the assignment timeline, actual scope of work, commercial agreement and amendments, employment contract, and applicable pay requirements. Check Article 21 of IDCC 3219 on Legifrance for the relevant collective agreement requirements. Where dates or scope are uncertain, obtain the portage company’s written assessment before signing.
Can an example help show how to check a long-running assignment?
For example, if a client assignment began on July 1, 2024, and an extension is proposed, list every service period and amendment from that start date through the proposed end date. Then compare the dates with the work performed and the relevant agreements. This is a way to organize the review, not a legal assessment of a specific case.
Does assignment renewal guarantee a particular take-home pay or continued work?
No. Renewal does not guarantee continued work, a particular net payment, or any immigration, tax, unemployment, or pension outcome. A pay estimate can help with planning, but actual take-home pay depends on the applicable terms and deductions. Review the written documents and current pay requirements before relying on an estimate.
Official and professional resources
Compare your assignment assumptions with the portage salary simulator. Results are estimates based on the inputs provided.
