Every year, thousands of international students graduate from French universities and schools and want to start their career in France. Moving from a student permit to a work permit is called a change of status (changement de statut). The right route depends on your diploma, the job and the salary.
Option 1: the “job search / business creation” permit
If you hold a student permit and have obtained, within the last 12 months, a Master’s degree or equivalent, a professional Bachelor’s degree, a Mastère Spécialisé or a Master of Science labelled by the Conférence des grandes écoles, you can apply for a one-year “job search / business creation” permit (recherche d’emploi / création d’entreprise).
- It allows you to look for a job or set up a business related to your studies.
- During its validity, you can work without a work authorisation in a job related to your studies paid more than €2,800.53 gross per month; the 964-hour limit no longer applies.
- It is valid for one year and cannot be renewed.
- Apply at the prefecture within the two months before your student permit expires.
Graduates who have returned to their country can apply for an equivalent VLS-TS at the consulate within four years of obtaining their French diploma.
Option 2: directly to a work permit
Depending on the salary offered, service-public.fr indicates the following permits:
- from €2,800.53 gross per month with a job related to your training: “employee” or “temporary worker” temporary residence card, without the labour-market test being applied;
- from €39,582 gross per year: “talent – skilled employee” multi-year card (Master’s degree obtained in France);
- from €41,386.48 gross per year: “talent – medical and pharmacy professions”;
- from €59,373 gross per year: “talent – EU Blue Card”;
- from €1,306.91 per month, 51% of which from salaried artistic activity: “talent – artistic professions”.
If you are creating a business, you can apply for the “entrepreneur / liberal profession” card or the “talent – project holder” card.
What the employer must do
For a change of status to “employee” or “temporary worker”, the employer must apply online for a work authorisation. Publication of the job offer (labour-market test) is not required when the graduate holds a qualifying diploma obtained within the year and the job relates to the training with a salary of at least €2,800.53 gross per month. No work authorisation is needed for talent cards.
Timing is key
- File the application before your student permit expires, ideally between four and two months beforehand.
- A late application can lead to an irregular situation, a €180 regularisation fee, or even a refusal with an obligation to leave France.
- Keep your diploma, or a final certificate of success if the diploma has not yet been issued.
Working while still a student
With a student permit, you can work without a work authorisation up to 964 hours per year (60% of annual working time). Beyond that, the employer must obtain a work authorisation, except for apprenticeship contracts validated by the OPCO or the DREETS. The employer must also file a nominative declaration with the prefecture two working days before hiring.
Our advice
The choice between the job-search permit, the employee card and the talent card has lasting consequences: duration, employer costs, family rights and renewal conditions. Analyse the job offer, the salary and your diploma before signing the contract, so that it is drafted to match the most favourable permit.
Source: Service-public.fr – Carte de séjour recherche d’emploi / création d’entreprise and Autorisation de travail d’un salarié étranger (checked on 3 November 2026).
Need help with your application?
FATOU BABOU AVOCAT assists employees, entrepreneurs, investors and companies with every step of business immigration to France: eligibility analysis, preparation of the application, follow-up with the consulate or the prefecture, and appeals in the event of refusal.
- Bordeaux office: 11 rue Galin, 33100 Bordeaux, France – +33 9 85 40 18 64 – contact@legalfb-avocat.fr
- Dakar office: 14 rue Woro Fila, Fann Hock, Dakar, Senegal – +221 77 173 69 05 / +221 33 844 29 16 – contact@fbavocat-sn.com
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and amounts change regularly: always check your own situation with a lawyer.