In brief
  • The Monitoring Committee meetings for the various bilateral agreements signed by France (Mauritius, Congo, Balkans) are soon to be held.
  • Notification by the French authorities of the extension of the transitional period for workers from Romania and Bulgaria until 31 December 2013
Employment access for foreign students
Last updated
January 19 2012

This provision applies to foreign nationals studying in France and having sufficient means of subsistence.

Beneficiaries

Foreign nationals of third countries, holding a VLS/TS bearing the notice "student" or a CSTTemporary residence permit for "students".

Work during studies:
A long stay visa for "students" and a temporary residence permit for "students" allowing the exercise of a part-time paid occupation of up to 964 hours per year (60% of full time), except for Algerians, who are limited to 50% of annual work hours and who must apply for a temporary work permit in addition to their residence permit bearing the notice "student".
Work upon completion of studies:
For holders of a degree at least equivalent to a Master's degree (list established by government order): possibility of applying for a temporary residence permit (APSTemporary leave to remain) for 6 months, non renewable in order to supplement their education with an initial paid occupation in preparation for return to their country of origin.
During the validity of the temporary leave to remain, the student may exercise:
  • a paid occupation up to an annual limit of 964 hours (60% of full time),
  • full time employment if the compensation is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage; the student must however file an application for a status change with the Prefecture within 15 days after signing the employment contract (the employment situation is not applicable).

Categories not affected

Nationals of the European Union or of the other member States of the EEAEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway).

Nationals of the Swiss Confederation.
Algerian nationals governed by the Franco-Algerian agreement dated December 27, 1968.

Conditions for issue

  • Be enrolled in an educational institution.
  • Provide evidence of sufficient resources.

 

Exception(s)

Work upon completion of studies:

 

  • Bulgarian and Romanian students holding a master's degree obtained in France are not required to apply for a residence permit and work permit during the transition period.
  • for students holding degrees at least equivalent to a master's degree, originally from Benin, Mauritius and Tunisia, an APSTemporary leave to remain is issued for a period of 6 months and can be renewed once,
  • for students holding a degree at least equivalent to a master's degree originally from Congo and Gabon, an APSTemporary leave to remain will be issued for a period of 9 months (non renewable for Congolese nationals, renewable only once for Gabonese nationals),
  • for students holding a degree at least equivalent to a master's degree originally from Senegal, an APTTemporary work permit is issued for a period of 6 months and cannot be renewed.

 

Conditions for issue

  • Families may solicit, without guarantee of acceptance, the issuance of a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "visitors" from the Consulate of their place of residence (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).
  • Students may submit an application for family members (spouse and minor children) under the family reunification procedure as soon as they can document 18 months of presence in France (to find out more, see the OFII web-site).

 

Permit issued to the worker

The first year, students do not need to apply for a residence permit, the long stay visa for "students" is sufficient proof of a legal stay. Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract.

After one year, a temporary residence permit for "students" is required.

 

Permit issued to the family

Depending upon the case:

 

  • VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "visitors" for the first year (see the sheet on the VLS-TS). This visa does not give authorisation to work. Dispenses with the CAIReception and integration contract. Temporary Residence Permit for "visitors" upon renewal.
  • as part of the family reunification procedure: temporary residence permit for "families and partners" (to find out more, see the OFII web-site). Signature of a CAIReception and integration contract (to find out more, see the OFII web-site).

 

Procedure to follow

Display

  • First issue

    Application elements

    Outside of France: application for a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit allowing the interested party to obtain a residence permit to study in France (see the sheet on the VLS-TS) provided the applicant meets one of these conditions:

    • have a visa for a duration of longer than 3 months granted under an agreement signed between the Government and a higher education institution, and be enrolled in this institution,
    • have passed an entry examination for an institution of higher learning that has signed an agreement with the Government,
    • be a scholarship student of the French government,
    • hold a French baccalaureate earned at an institution of the Agency for French Education Abroad or an equivalent degree and have studied a curriculum in a French institution abroad for at least 3 years,
    • be a national of a country that has signed a reciprocity agreement with France for students.

     

    This issuance by right does not remove the requirement for sufficient resources and enrolment in an educational institution.

    Potential additional documents

    n/a

    Application submission

    Consulate of the place of residence abroad.

    Employers of foreign students holding a VLS TS must send a declaration registered in advance to the prefecture of the foreign national's place of residence at least 2 working days before the effective hiring date.
    Prefecture in the place of residence. If the student resides in France, the application must be filed 4 months before the expiration of his or her permit.
     
    Under the procedural change, see the CCT, temporary workers and employees sheets.

    Application evaluation

    The Consulate of France abroad will issue a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit for "students" (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).

    Medical examination

    The required medical examination will be scheduled by the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration, by appointment, within 3 months following the student's arrival in France. The DTRegional Office of the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration will then attest, in the interested party's passport, to the accomplishment of the formalities required for the long stay visa to allow the stay in France (see the sheet on the VLS-TS).

    Issuance of the residence permit

    Consulate for a VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit.
    Prefecture for renewal.

  • Renewal

    Display

    Application elements

    Same documents as for the first application, especially evidence of studies in progress and evidence of resources.

    Additional verifications will be made:
    • verification during the year that the student does in fact have the resources mentioned in the initial application,
    • verification by the Prefecture of the seriousness and reality of the studies.

    Potential additional documents

    n/a

    Application submission

    Prefecture for the place of residence, 2 months before the expiration of the VLS-TSLong Stay Visa equivalent to a Residence Permit.

    Application evaluation

     Prefecture.

    Issuance of the residence permit

     Prefecture.

Taxes to pay

Display

  • Taxes due by the employer

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for issuance

     58 €

    For students: This stamp may be bought in electronic format on the website www.timbresofii.fr.

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for renewal

    €30 if permit is for one year
    €58 if permit is for more than one year

  • Taxes due by the spouse

Reference documents

Display

 

 

 

The Official Journal (JORF), CESEDA may be consulted at the www.legifrance.gouv.fr web-site.
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