At the end of your studies and after obtaining a degree of French higher education, you can request a Temporary Resident Permit to look for work or start a company.
The asylum and immigration law of 10 September 2018 modified the conditions of residence for international students in France for work or business purposes after obtaining a higher education diploma. This page is being updated.
The Temporary Resident Permit, or APS (for "Autorisation Provisioire de Séjour"), allows foreign students to remain in France for one year after the end of their studies. During this period, they may look for a job (without restriction) or prepare for the creation of a company in a field corresponding to their training.
Until a work contract has been signed, for a fixed period of time (CDD) or indefinite (CDI), foreign graduates with an APS are authorised to work under the same conditions as if they were students , meaning to a maximum of 964 hours per year, or approximately 20 hours per week .
Overall, the Temporary Resident Permit cannot be renewed and is valid for at most 12.
However, students from a country that concluded a bilateral agreement with France (regarding professional migrations or concerted management of flows) benefit from more favourable issuance conditions. The following countries are concerned: Senegal, Gabon, Benin, Tunisia, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Lebanon, India . Check out the website of the ministry of internal affairs or contact the Campus France Office in your country of origin for more information on your situation.
Specific rules apply to graduates who come from the European Economic Area and to Algerians .
The Temporary Resident Permit is accessible to foreign students who :
You must send your request for a Temporary Resident Permit to the Prefecture. This procedure is free.
You need to check in with the local Préfecture 15 days before the expiration of your resident permit with the following documents (original and copies): letter from your institution mentioning the date of your defence, passport, residence permit, proof of address (under 3 months old). You will receive an administrative document authorizing you to stay in France with the status of student ; it's called "récépissé de prolongation de droit au séjour en qualité d’étudiant", i.e. extension of right of residence as student receipt.
You can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (APS) "étudiant en recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise", i.e. student looking for a job or creating a company. Download the file and send it in paper format to the Préfecture. Check out the website of the Préfecture at your place of residence to download the file and find the address where to send it.
When your APS expires, you must change your status and request a residency permit adapted to your situation.
Don't wait for your temporary resident permit to expire before you request a change of status. Do it as soon as your situation changes.