You just graduated? Congratulations!!
Don't forget to register on Campus France's professional social network, France Alumni.
This network will give you access to the address book of international students who have graduated in France, and give you contacts in the companies that interest you!
Once you graduate, you can pretend to a change of status in order to stay in France and start your professionnal life.
Do not hesitate to contact the International Student Desk if you need help and/or if you are facing difficulties with these procedures.
Once
Graduated
- Residence permit / Temporary residence permit “Job seeker/ new business creator”
- Residence card "Employee" or "Temporary employee"
You just graduate and you want to stay in France to work or to set up your own business ?
You can apply for the residence permit or temporary residence permit (APS) Job seeker/ new business creator (Recherche d’emploi – Création d’entreprise).
This status allows international students or researchers who obtain a French higher education diploma (vocational or Master degree) to stay in France to look for a job or to set up their company.
Caution: It is not possible to obtain again a Student residence permit after a Job seeker card/APS.
Temporary residence permit (APS) or residence card?
The temporary residence permit (APS) concerns international students from: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gabon, India, Mauritius, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Tunisia.
The residence permit concerns all other non-European nationalities.
Caution: Algerian students/researchers cannot obtain the status Job seeker/new business creator.
When and how apply ?
You have to be already holding your final certificate of achievement (or diploma)*.
You are in France and live in Lyon : Before your “Student” visa/card/extension expires, you can ask for this APS/card online: https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/pref-rhone-demande-titre-sejour-recherche-emploi.
Caution: This website is only for students/researchers living in Rhône department. For other department, look on the concerned Prefecture’s website (application might be different).
*If your Student visa/card expires before receiving your certificate of achievement or diploma: you have to request a “Attestation de Prolongation”: follow the instructions in the section “Renewal of Student residence permit”.
Instead of transcript of grades and school certificate, upload a certificate from your faculty (ESDES, Law etc.) mentionning the date of graduation jury.
You are abroad: within a maximum of 4 years after obtaining your diploma, you may ask for a long-stay visa as “job seeker/new business creator” at the French consulate.
Caution: This visa doesn’t exist for nationalities under APS: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gabon, India, Mauritius, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Tunisia.
More info about:
To obtain a residence permit as “Employee” (Salarié) or “Temporary employee” (Salarié temporaire) after holding a visa/residence permit as a “Student”, you have to meet the following conditions:
- Hold a valid visa/residence permit as “Student”;
- Have a French higher education diploma recognized by the French State;
- Have a (temporary) working permit (Autorisation de travail).
The conditions to obtain a residence permit as “Employee” or “Temporary employee” vary according to:
- Your degree (Bac+2/Licence/Licence professionnelle/Master or equivalent)
- Your nationality
Licence Degree
General case: you can obtain a residence permit as “Employee” or “Temporary employee” if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You signed a working contract or you have a promise of hiring;
- You have a working permit (Autorisation de travail)
CAUTION: To obtain the working permit, your work has to be part of the list of sectors facing recruitment difficulties* OR 3 weeks after publishing the work offer on public employment service’s websites, no one respond to the offer.
Specific case: You are member of a country that conclude migration agreements with France: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Georgia, Mauritius, Senegal, Tunisia: your work has to be part of the list of sectors facing recruitment difficulties*.
*Consult the lists on the Public Service website (only available in French) > Licence
Master degree or equivalent**
You can obtain a residence permit as “Employee” or “Temporary employee” if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You signed a working contract 2 months before your visa/residence permit as “Student” expired or you have a promise of hiring;
- Your work is in relation to your studies and diploma;
- Your remuneration is at least 2.650,38€/month (gross);
- You have a working permit (Autorisation de travail).
If your remuneration is at least of 42.406€/year (gross) and your working contract lasts more than 3 months, you can ask for the residence permit as “Passeport Talent”
**List of degrees equivalent to the Master degree: click here.