I work for a major French engineering company, and have done so in France - I don't know what job OP has, but my company does NOT make you do this. Also worth

I work for a major French engineering company, and have done so in France - I don't know what job OP has, but my company does NOT make you do this. Also worth noting that I've had to do this in other countries; I'd say it's more problematic elsewhere. I would however say that yes, the French bureaucracy is something else entirely. But if you are friendly to them and show your face things will happen faster.