Student multi-year permit in France: what changes for your course

Every autumn, thousands of international students renew their permit at the prefecture. On 30 September 2026, the government promised to simplify that path. It remains to separate the announcement from the law that applies today. A lawyer reviews your file in 20 minutes on Avocat20min.fr.

Student multi-year permit: what was announced

On 30 September 2026, the Interior Minister and the Higher Education Minister presented three measures. They aim to prevent breaks in the rights of international students.

• A student multi-year permit covering the whole length of the course. It would remain valid until 31 December of the year the degree is obtained.
• A strict limit on documents at renewal: only those requested at the first issue.
• International mobility centres within institutions, to support students with their procedures.

The stated aim: to secure the move to a doctorate, research or employment. The announcements were reported in particular by the AEF news agency.

Announced or already in force?

Caution is essential. As of 5 October 2026, we have found neither a published decree nor an instruction for these measures. No precise timetable has been given either.

Measure	Status on 5 October 2026
Permit covering the whole course, until 31 December of the graduation year	Announced, implementing text awaited
Renewal documents limited to those of the first application	Announced, implementation awaited
International mobility centres	Announced, gradual roll-out by institution
Certificates of extended processing renewed automatically	In place since May 2026
Fingerprints valid for 10 years instead of 5	In place since May 2026

In practice, your prefecture still applies the current law. So do not delay your renewal while waiting for the reform.

The current law: one year, then a multi-year card

Today, a student arrives with a long-stay visa equivalent to a "student" residence permit. The "student" card rests on article L.422-1 of the CESEDA, the French immigration code. It requires enrolment and sufficient resources.

After a first year, you can already apply for a student multi-year permit. The CESEDA provides for a duration equal to the years remaining in the course. It cannot exceed four years.

Three conditions remain decisive:

• Enrolment in a higher education institution.
• Resources of at least €877.50 a month, 47 % of the gross minimum wage, since 1 August 2026.
• Genuine and serious studies: attendance, progress, coherence.

Repeating a year does not, on its own, call the seriousness of your studies into question. Repeated failures without explanation, however, weaken the file.

Since 2026, most multi-year cards require level A2 French and the civic exam. Students remain exempt in principle, under article L.413-5. Our guide to the civic exam details those exemptions.

What the new student multi-year permit would change

The new student multi-year permit would mainly change the end date. Today, the card follows the theoretical length of the course. It sometimes expires before the thesis defence, the results or the award of the degree.

With validity until 31 December of the graduation year, a student would gain several months. They could then prepare the next step calmly:

• Enrolment in a doctorate, with no break in the permit.
• A "job search or business creation" card, filed in time.
• A status change to employee, with a work authorisation.

For that last case, our article on the student to employee status change details the calendar.

Changing course mid-cycle

The multi-year card covers a specific cycle: bachelor's, master's or doctorate. A change of direction can therefore raise questions at the next renewal.

Switching field remains possible. Yet the prefecture checks that your path is coherent. So prepare a letter explaining your choice, with the agreement of the receiving institution.

Next, moving from one cycle to another requires a new application. For example, after a bachelor's degree, starting a master's opens a new permit, for the length of the master's. File it within the usual window, without waiting for the start of term.

Finally, failing at the end of a cycle does not close every door. A repeated year justified by serious reasons (health, family, work) can be defended. So keep your supporting documents.

The case of Algerian nationals

Algerian students fall under the Franco-Algerian agreement of 27 December 1968. They receive a "student" residence certificate, not a CESEDA card. That certificate remains annual in principle.

According to several commentators, the limit on documents and the mobility centres should benefit everyone. A permit covering the whole course, however, would require an adjustment for residence certificates. So remain cautious until a text says so.

How much does the student permit cost?

According to service-public.gouv.fr, a one-year "student" card costs €100. The student multi-year permit costs €150. Late filing adds a €180 regularisation fee.

Our advice for the academic year

While waiting for the reform, a few habits protect your stay.

• File within the window: between the 120th and the 60th day before expiry, on ANEF.
• Apply for the multi-year card as soon as your first year ends, if your course continues.
• Keep your transcripts and pass certificates, year by year.
• Prove your resources: at least €877.50 a month, by statements or a sponsor's undertaking.
• Keep the certificate of extended processing until the card arrives.
• Contact your institution's international office, the future mobility centre.

Our article on the residence permit receipt explains the certificate. The one on residence permit renewal details the documents and deadlines.

When to consult a lawyer

Consult in case of refusal, prolonged silence or a change of course. A lawyer checks that your path remains coherent in the prefecture's eyes. They also challenge a refusal before the administrative court.

An immigration lawyer answers within 20 minutes. The rules in force appear on the service-public student renewal page.