Post Study Work Permits for Indian Students in France 2026

What is a Post Study Work Visa in France 2026?

A student, upon completing studies in France, as per the immigration rules of the country, must leave France. However, international students, especially Indian students who do not have a work contract or promise of employment, can apply for an Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS), meaning a temporary residence permit, that allows them to look for work or establish a business in France even after the completion of their degrees. This is also commonly referred to as the post-study work permit in France.

This post-study work permit is valid for 12 months and can be renewed only once (only for Indian students as per the Bilateral agreements on professional mobility). This means Indian students with a master's or bachelor's degree can remain in France for a maximum of 2 years to look for work or start their own business. 

Students, however, can apply for a residence permit in France if they have paid (or permanent) employment. This is applicable for both bachelor's and master’s programmes and students will have to apply for a work permit (work visa).

What is important to understand is that this extended residence permit (post study work permit) allows a student only to take up part-time employment of up to 964 hours - similar to students already studying in French Universities. This relates to about 60% of full employment. If a student with a work permit is able to find employment that is more than 1.5 times the minimum wage guarantee, she/he must then apply for a Work Permit. So when deciding on which country to study in, keep these advantages of French opportunities in mind.

Those who hold a ‘passport talent’ residence permit along with the ‘EU Blue Card’ can get an EU long-term residence permit after an uninterrupted stay for five years in the EU. Also, candidates need to have resided in France continuously for the last two years. Indian students returning to India after the completion of their master's degree become eligible for a 5-year multi-entry alumni visa. Students with this visa can visit France for tourism and business purposes for five years.

How to Get a Temporary Resident Permit in France?

There are two designated ways to get your post study work permit in France based on where you are currently in the process.. 

1. You are yet to take exams to obtain your academic degree/diploma, but your student visa is expiring soon: As per the rules, you cannot apply for a job search visa without having a degree or an official graduation notice (Attestation de réussite). So, instead of applying for a job search (RECE) permit, you must apply for the renewal of your student visa in France (Renouvellement de Titre de Séjour Étudiant). You must submit this online via the ANEF Portal at least 2 to 3 months before your current visa expires. The system will issue you a digital receipt called a Proving Attestation (Attestation de prolongation d'instruction) - which legally extends your student status while you finish your exams and wait for your degree certificate. 
2. Your student visa is expiring soon and you have received your diploma/degree: Log in to the official ANEF Portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr) and select the option for the Carte de séjour recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise (RECE). Submit your file online at least 2 months before your student visa expires. You will be required to upload a digital scan of your passport, current residence permit, proof of address (less than 3 months old) and your Attestation de réussite (graduation notice).

Note:- A normal 3-year bachelor's degree does not automatically qualify you for a job search visa. If your goal is to stay and work in France for 2 years after your studies, do not stop at a Bachelor's degree. You need to complete a Master's degree to get that privilege easily and automatically.

Post Study Work Visa France Fee for Indian Students

France introduced a €150 fee (timbre fiscal) for issuing or renewing an APS; previously it was free. But now a new €100 tax has been created for the delivery and renewal of a temporary residence authorisation (APS).

Working in France After Your Studies

Non-European international students willing to live and work in France after the completion of their studies must have a work contract or promise of employment. And upon getting a job contract, when the students convert to a "salarié"/Passeport Talent permit, they must be getting paid one and a half times the minimum wage, i.e. €2,800.53 gross/month as of the June 2026 SMIC revision. 

Without a contract of employment, students can request an APS - temporary resident permit or Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour. The APS, however, once renewed, allows Indian students to stay in France for a total of 24 months to look for work. Students having either a professional bachelor's (Licence Professionnelle - a dedicated vocational degree track) or master's degree, or who are in the process of starting a company, can apply for the same.  

Students on an APS can work under the same conditions as with their student visas, i.e. working up to 20 hours per week. 

There are different kinds of student visas available in France and each kind of student visa has built-in eligibility for post-study work permissions. Here’s a quick look at the same.

Simply put, international students who are planning to take up small and short-term courses in France cannot stay after the completion of their studies in France. Only students who are taking up long-term courses like bachelor's and master's and have a Visa de Long Séjour Études or Long Stay Study Visa for France get permission to stay in the country after completing the course.

You may also check the following link if you're willing to study in France - 

• French Student Visa Guide
• Student Guide to France