How to switch from student to employee status in France: complete guide and key steps

Step 1: Understanding the “salaried employee” residence permit

An “employee” residence permit is an official document issued by France to foreign nationals (from outside the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland). It allows them to:

• To reside legally in France.
• Work as an employee for a specific employer, in a specific job.

This card is generally valid for one year, renewable under certain conditions. It can also be converted to a multi-annual permit or resident card after several years.

Step 2: Check your eligibility to change status

To change your status from foreign student to employee, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a national of a country outside the European Union, the EEA or Switzerland. European citizens are not subject to this requirement.
• Hold a French diploma with a minimum level of licence professionnelle (bac +3) or master (bac +5).
• Have a serious, concrete job offer that complies with French standards.
• The job offered must correspond strictly to your initial field of training.
• Your employment contract must meet certain specific conditions. It must be for an indefinite period (CDI) or a fixed-term contract (CDD) of at least 12 months. It must provide a salary equal to or greater than 1.5 times the SMIC (i.e. approximately €2,702.70 gross per month in 2025).

Important note:

If your diploma is below bac +3 level, or if you haven’t completed your studies, this can make the process complicated. You may find it difficult to obtain a change of status. However, alternative solutions may be available, depending on your personal situation or country of origin.

Step 3: Identify the types of residence permits available

Several residence permits can be issued, depending on your profile and professional situation:

Employee” residence permit

Issued to foreign students holding a French degree. Signing an employment contract of 12 months or more, directly related to your university course, entitles you to this status.

Concrete examples:

• Holder of a master’s degree in marketing: job as community manager – accepted
• Holder of a bachelor’s degree in IT: job as IT support technician – accepted
• Holder of a master’s degree in biology: job as waiter in a restaurant – refused (no direct link with course)

“Temporary worker” card (CST)

This card is for fixed-term contracts (CDD) of 3 to 12 months, renewable. Employers must justify the absence of qualified local candidates in their application, after conducting a preliminary search via France Travail.

The “passport talent – jeune diplômé” (talent passport for young graduates)

This specific card is intended for young foreign graduates with at least a Master’s degree (bac+5). The contract must last at least 3 months. The minimum gross annual salary must be equivalent to twice the SMIC (approximately €43,243 in 2025). In addition, the company must be officially recognized as innovative by the French Ministry of the Economy.

Applicable taxes: €25 tax stamp and €200 additional tax.

Autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS)

The APS is reserved for graduates from certain countries with which France has signed specific bilateral agreements. It allows a period of between 6 and 12 months to seek employment or set up a business. This card can be renewed under certain conditions. The minimum salary required is 2.5 times the SMIC.

Countries concerned include Benin, Tunisia, India, Gabon, Mauritius, Serbia, Macedonia, etc.

Step 4: Anticipate and meet administrative deadlines

You must apply for a change of status before your residence permit expires. A period of 2 to 4 months before the expiry date of your student residence permit is recommended. The average processing time is between 2 and 4 months. However, it can reach up to 6 months during certain busy periods (back-to-school, end of year).

Practical advice:

Don’t hesitate to submit your application, even if it is initially incomplete. Prefectures usually request additional documents at a later date.

Step 5: Avoid common mistakes

Here are the most common mistakes to avoid in order to maximize your chances:

• Providing an incomplete file.
• Submitting an employment contract that does not comply with the requirements or is not directly related to your training.
• Submitting a salary lower than that required.
• Not anticipating administrative deadlines.
• Failing to inform yourself properly about jobs considered to be in short supply.

Step 6: Know what to do if your application is rejected

In the event of refusal, you have the right to appeal:

• Recours gracieux: ask the prefecture to re-examine your file, providing new supporting evidence.
• Recours contentieux (contentious appeal): you can take your case to the administrative court within 2 months of receiving the refusal. It is advisable to be accompanied by a lawyer, ideally specialized in immigration law.

Step 7: Accurately estimate the associated costs

Issuing a residence permit to an employee involves payment of a fee of around €225 (2025 rate). In addition, you may have to pay for legal or administrative advice if you choose to be accompanied by a professional.

Step 8: Prepare a complete file for the prefecture

Your file must include :

• Valid passport.
• Valid student residence permit.
• French diploma obtained.
• Signed employment contract or promise of employment.
• Work permit (obtained by employer).
• Recent proof of address.
• Proof of social security coverage.
• Identical passport photos.
• Detailed CV and covering letter clearly explaining your career plans.
• Tax stamps (~225 €).
• Salary slips for any student jobs you may have held.