student work permit in france

When travelling around Europe and the rest of the world it is a good idea to know your university student work permit in France. The details you are about to read will help you know your rights as an international student in France.

The French work permit remains a requirement to work legally in France. It is necessary if you want to be able to access all the possible juicy jobs opportunities in France. The blue-collar or white-collar (if you will) jobs are most often accessible with the French work permit.

A work permit to study in France is a “vitally important” requirement if you are an international student planning to work while studying. It is generally easier to obtain a work permit before you enroll at a university than by applying during the semester.

The student work permit in France is a program that allows students to work during the school year. This program was created to help students who are looking for an internship or part-time job while they study.

In order to participate in this program, you must be enrolled in an accredited university in France and be at least 18 years old. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will have sufficient financial support while living in France. Finally, your enrollment must be full-time (this means that you cannot take courses in English). If all of these requirements are met, then you can apply for a student work permit.

The application process involves filling out an online form on the French government website and submitting it along with supporting documents such as proof of enrollment and proof of financial resources (which could include bank statements or other documentation). After submitting this information, you will receive an email from the ministry saying whether or not your application has been approved or denied. If approved, then you will receive further instructions on how to proceed with obtaining your visa before traveling to France (this may include bringing additional documentation such as proof of employment).

The French student visa is a short-term stay visa that allows students to study in France. It can be valid for up to four years, but it is only valid if you are enrolled in a French university. The length of your visa depends on the type of degree you are pursuing and your age.

You must apply for a student visa before you arrive in France. You will need to submit documents proving that you have been accepted by an accredited French university or school, as well as proof of sufficient financial resources (at least €11,000 per year).

If you are between 18 and 30 years old, your visa will be valid for two years. If you are over 30 years old, it will be valid for one year.

EVERY FOREIGN STUDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO WORK IN FRANCE

All foreign students have the right to work while studying in France. This right applies to all students in France. Students who are not European Union nationals must have a student resident permit 

French law allows foreign students to work up to 964 hours per year, or the equivalent of 60% of the maximum working hours permitted.  (50% for Algerian students whose status remains defined by the Franco-Algerian Agreement of December 27, 1968). The income received from such work is a bonus.

When working in France, whether a student or not, a minimum wage is guaranteed by law. This statutory minimum wage is commonly called the Smic (salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance or guaranteed minimum wage). As of January 1, 2021, this minimum wage is €10.25. This salary is gross; mandatory social security contributions have to be deducted (around 20%) to determine actual earnings (i.e. €8.20/hour). A student working 10 hours a week at minimum wage will earn approximately €82 net.

Conditions

• You must be over 18 years of age;
• You must have already chosen your training course or studies. For more comprehensive information about the courses and diploma preparations on offer, please visit: Campus France ;
• You must be accepted by a higher education establishment. Enrolment conditions differ depending on your nationality, please check the Etudes en France  website to see if your country or territory is included in the online enrolment scheme. For other countries or territories, check the enrolment conditions in terms of specialities and level of education on Campus France .

Important: under certain conditions (age, enrolment in the first year of studies), you must follow the “Parcoursup ” (in French only) procedure and respect the schedules.

Students from EU/EEA or Switzerland

If you are coming to study in France from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, after you’ve secured a place on a course at a French university, all you need is a valid passport or travel ID document. You can ask your university or school for any other details.

Brexit will likely not affect British students studying in France in the 2017/2018 academic year. For the 2018/2019 academic year, it’s possible that higher tuition rates and fees may apply. It’s also possible that new visa requirements may be put into place; however, it is currently still unknown.

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students

Almost everyone else will need to apply for a French student visa or a French visa/residence permit.

Types of French student visas

There are different types of student visas in France:

Visa de court séjour pour etudes (Schengen short-stay student visa)

You can come to France and study for up to three months on this visa without a separate residence visa. This is suitable for those enrolling in a language course or other short-term program. It is issued free of charge and cannot be renewed. These countries may not need a visa for a stay of less than three months.

Etudient concours (visa for sitting entrance exams)

On this visa, you can come to France to take an entrance exam at an institute of higher education. If you pass, then you can apply directly to your local prefecture in France for a one-year, renewable, residence permit. Find a map of French prefectures here.

Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes (temporary long-stay visa)

This visa allows you to study in France for between three and six months without a residence permit. It is non-renewable.

Visa de long séjour etudes (long-stay visa)

If you want to study longer than six months, then you need to apply for a long-term student visa. This type of study visa (which is also your residence permit) now lasts for the duration of your course in France: three years for bachelor’s, two years for a master’s, and four years for a Ph.D. Long-stay visas act as residence permits and are called VLT-TS.

The extended-stay VLS-TS visa is for all international students (except those from Algeria who don’t need one). You have to provide information on your academic background, French language proficiency. and adequate financial resources (approximately €615 per month).

On your arrival in France, you must contact the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII), send them the official form issued by your consulate, possibly have a medical examination and pay a fee of EUR 58 in the form of a tax stamp (available from tabacs (tobacconists), tax offices and online here). Some universities have an agreement with the OFII, whereby you do this through them rather than the OFII (check with your own school or university).

Extended stay research scholar visa

If you have a master’s degree or higher and want to come to France to take part in research or teach at the university level, then the institution can bring you over on an extended stay research scholar visa VLS-TS. You need a hosting agreement from the institution describing the work you will do and its duration. This needs a stamp from the local prefecture. You then send this to the consulate in your home country along with your visa application.

Like the normal extended visa, you must report to the OFII on your arrival in France (as above). Two months before the visa expires, you must apply for a residence permit which lasts between one and four years. With this visa, family members (spouse and minor children) are automatically entitled for a residency permit marked vie privée et familiale.

How to apply for a French student visa

Some countries require you to register first with CampusFrance, the French national agency for higher education and international students, in order to apply for admission and get a student visa through the CEF procedure. You can check CampusFrance to find out if you need to do this. Otherwise, you should apply for a course via the university website, and get your visa at the French embassy/consulate in your home country. See here for a full list of French consulates and embassies able to issue visas.

Whether you are taking part in an exchange program, enrolling at a French educational institution as an independent student, or as part of a program organized by an institution in your home country, you must provide the consulate with the following:

• an official enrolment or acceptance letter on the headed paper of the institution, stating your full details, details of the French institution, and specifying the start and end dates of the academic program.
• proof that you have sufficient funds (currently €615 per month), for example, bank statement, guarantor’s letter, or notice of a grant or funding from an official source.
• an airline ticket/reservation showing date of departure or handwritten statement from yourself with an intended departure date.
• Proof that you have medical insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000.
• proof that you have accommodation. If you’re staying on campus or student housing, then you need an official letter from the university confirming the details. If you’re staying with family or friends then they’ll need to get a certificate of board and lodging (attestation d’accueil) from their town hall.

Working while you’re a student

As an international student with a study visa in France, you can take on paid work – 964 hours in a single year (about 60% of full-time employment for a year) – while you are on the course, as long as you have a valid residency permit.

You can also work in the university or other educational institutions, with contracts of up to a year running between September 1 to August 31 (up to 670 hours September–June and up to 300 hours July–August), as long as it doesn’t affect your studies.

After graduation

If you hold at least a master’s degree, a degree categorized as level 1 by the CGE (Conference of Grandes ecoles) (equivalent to a 5-years studies course) or a professional license, you can apply for a further one year, non-renewable temporary residence permit, which allows you to work in any job up to 60 percent of a normal working week to support yourself while searching for a full-time job.

If you find work offering a salary at least 1.5 times the minimum wage, then you can contact your local préfecture to change your status from student to employee and work full-time.

It may be possible for other students to work in a few fields (contact CampusFrance for an up-to-date list of occupations). You’ll need a contract from the employer before you begin working. It’s also possible to pursue an auto-entrepreneur (freelance) visa during this year if you want to start your own company. The work must be related to studies, and business viability must be proven.

After graduation, students may also stay in France for one year on a post-study work visa to look for work. Once you have find a job, apply for a work permit and attach a letter from the prospective employer confirming the position.

Recent graduates may also qualify for the Talent Passport visa. This is a four-year residence permit for specialized graduates, company creators, artists, and more. For more information on the passport visa, see Expatica’s guide to French work permits.

Indian nationals

In order to attract Indian graduates to stay in France, it is now possible for Indian students to obtain visas lasting up to five years if they have graduated from a Master’s or PhD course from a French higher education institution.

Conclusion

I truly love the idea of this website, because it offers a very important service to students. Touriago makes student travel and exploration more affordable, by providing the necessary details for all kinds of visas for your trip, as well as creating a network of couriers to facilitate the delivery process. It is really a great resource on this topic that I would highly recommend going to if you are planning your own student tour.