(Paris) France has halted renewals of work visas for El Al Israel Airlines’ flight security staff based in Paris, according to multiple media reports. This action has left some employees without valid status and pushed the matter into diplomatic channels.
Over the past six months, renewals under a mission-linked category used for these guards reportedly stopped. By Aug. 12, 2025, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the issue “is being handled by the embassy in coordination with the French Foreign Ministry.” The French Embassy in Israel declined public comment, and El Al referred questions to Israel’s MFA and the Shin Bet, offering no details on contingency plans.
Who is affected
The affected group comprises El Al’s Paris-based flight security guards, long described as ITAN workers — Israeli nationals supporting a diplomatic mission via the Israeli Embassy.
- Sources quoted by Israeli outlets say French authorities have quietly stopped issuing renewals in Paris for roughly six months.
- Some guards now reportedly lack both residence and work authorization.
- Others obtained short-term diplomatic or official visas through the embassy to remain in place.
- Some guards have returned to Israel.
- There is no formal French decree or circular in the public domain stating a policy shift specific to this group.
Immediate risks and interim solutions
For staff whose renewals were refused and who did not secure an alternative status, the risk is clear: remaining in France without valid authorization.
Interim solutions reported include:
- Embassy-facilitated diplomatic or official visas (usually short-term and handled case-by-case).
- Reassignment or return to Israel.
- Visitor status is explicitly not an option for performing work; French authorities reiterated in 2025 that visitor visas do not allow any work.
Important: Staff who remain in France without valid work/residence authorization face legal and administrative risks. Visitor status cannot be used to perform employment.
Quiet halt and diplomatic handling
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the matter is under discussion with France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, but provided no timetable or detailed process for affected staff.
- The French Embassy in Israel declined to comment publicly and referred inquiries to the Israeli side.
- El Al pointed questions to the MFA and Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, and has not announced any operational workaround for its Paris flights.
Reports suggest a possible political backdrop but offer no official French rationale:
- Some media link the stoppage to strained France–Israel relations tied to the Gaza war, citing unnamed sources who describe anti-Israel sentiment among some Paris authorities.
- That framing is not backed by an official French explanation.
- Coverage references local incidents such as vandalism at El Al’s Paris offices by pro-Palestinian activists and actions around the Paris Air Show.
- President Emmanuel Macron’s public criticisms of Israel’s Gaza policy are noted, but no French memo ties those positions to visa decisions.
Practical impact on staff and airline operations
Those directly affected are mission-linked security guards assigned under the ITAN framework, plus El Al and Israeli agencies that coordinate with French counterparts.
- Media accounts say some guards now lack valid status, some hold temporary diplomatic documents, and some have already left France.
- Without renewals, El Al could face pressure to rotate personnel from Israel or adjust security arrangements at Charles de Gaulle, though no such operational plans have been announced.
- Staff who remain must not work on visitor status; French guidance states this is barred.
If you are one of the guards in Paris, current reporting suggests these near-term steps:
- Work only through your employer and the Israeli Embassy, which is coordinating cases with France’s MFA.
- Keep copies of prior permits, contracts, and embassy letters, since they may be needed for diplomatic or official visa processing.
- Do not attempt to switch into unrelated immigration categories while performing security work; visitor status cannot support employment.
Policy context in France
France’s 2024 immigration law (published January 27, 2024) tightened several areas and added new tracks:
- Limits repeated renewals of some temporary permits.
- Adds language requirements for multi‑year residence cards.
- Creates a permit for medical professionals.
- Introduces a time‑limited regularization route for undocumented workers in shortage jobs through December 31, 2026, at prefect discretion.
2025 practice trends include:
- Stricter employer checks.
- Public reminders that visitor status cannot support any work.
None of these measures specifically addresses ITAN renewals or foreign mission airline security teams.
For general rules on diplomatic and official visas — the route some guards reportedly used — France directs applicants to its central portal:
- https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/official-and-diplomatic-visas
Note: There is no public French government decree ending or suspending renewals for El Al’s Paris security staff; media describe an administrative halt handled quietly through embassy channels rather than a published policy shift.
Reporting, claims, and open questions
Media outlets (Ynetnews, The Media Line, The Yeshiva World, and The Jerusalem Post) quote unnamed El Al security personnel saying:
- No renewals have been issued in six months.
- There is an alleged intent to end the employment of these guards in France.
These claims have not been confirmed by French authorities. The Israeli side has kept statements limited, reiterating embassy coordination with the French Foreign Ministry without providing numbers, timelines, or alternative status plans.
Open questions that remain:
- The precise number of affected staff is not public.
- It is unclear how many obtained temporary diplomatic status versus how many departed.
- There is no public record of appeals or legal challenges by individuals.
- Media reporting focuses on Charles de Gaulle and Paris; no reports indicate whether similar action occurred elsewhere in France.
- A timeline for resolution has not been announced.
Likely near-term outcomes
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, France’s tighter 2024–2025 enforcement may influence administrative choices. Nevertheless, the most likely near-term resolution appears to be a diplomatic fix:
- Case-by-case diplomatic or official visas, or
- A negotiated temporary status arranged through embassy channels.
These are more plausible short-term solutions than a public policy reversal.
This Article in a Nutshell
France quietly halted renewals for El Al’s Paris ITAN security permits, leaving some guards undocumented. Israel’s embassy coordinates with France’s MFA while El Al defers to Israeli authorities. Short-term diplomatic visas and returns to Israel are interim steps. No French public decree explains the administrative halt or affected staff numbers.
