Student to employee status change in France: the work permit

Every year, thousands of international students land a job in France at the end of their studies. A signed contract, however, is not enough to work full time. Moving to a work permit follows a strict calendar. A lawyer checks your file in 20 minutes on Avocat20min.fr.

Student status change: which permit to aim for?

For a student status change, the right permit depends on your degree, your contract and your salary. Here are the main options.

Permit	For whom	Duration	Work authorisation
"Employee" card	An open-ended contract, whatever the degree	1 year	Yes, before the card
"Temporary worker" card	A fixed-term contract	Length of the contract, 1 year at most	Yes, before the card
Talent, qualified employee	Master's degree and at least €39,582 gross a year	Up to 4 years	No
Talent, EU Blue Card	Three-year degree or 5 years of experience, and €59,373 gross a year	Up to 4 years	No
Job search or business creation	Master's or vocational degree obtained in France	1 year, non-renewable	No, subject to conditions

Since the law of 26 January 2024, the "talent passport" is simply called the "talent" card. A decree of 13 June 2025 then grouped its categories together. For the qualified employee card, the contract must last more than three months.

Watch out for fixed-term contracts: they lead to the "temporary worker" card. That card gives no access to the multi-year card, unlike the "employee" card.

The work authorisation, applied for by the employer

In a student status change towards the "employee" or "temporary worker" card, your employer first applies for a work authorisation. They file it online on ANEF only. The prefectures' foreign labour units process it.

The administration has two months to answer. Its silence counts as a refusal. It examines in particular:

• The labour market situation: a shortage occupation, or a vacancy advertised for three weeks with France Travail without a suitable applicant.
• The employer: compliance with social security duties, with no conviction for illegal employment.
• The salary: at least the minimum wage or the floor set by the collective agreement.
• Your profile: a job matching your qualifications and experience.

Finally, any change of employer or contract requires a fresh application. Keep that in mind before accepting another offer.

The labour market test: the exception for new graduates

The labour market test slows many student status change files. An exception exists, however, for graduates of the year. It covers a master's degree, or a vocational degree, obtained during the year.

Two conditions come with it: a job connected to the course, and a salary of at least 1.5 times the minimum wage. That means €2,800.53 gross a month since 1 June 2026. The same exception benefits holders of the "job search" card.

A shortage occupation likewise escapes that test. The list in force dates from an order of 21 May 2025, region by region.

When to file your application

The calendar governs your whole student status change. Article R.431-5 of the CESEDA, the French immigration code, sets the filing window:

• Permit applied for on ANEF: between the 120th and the 60th day before your student permit expires.
• Other permits: within the two months before expiry.

Filing between four and two months before the permit ends therefore satisfies both rules. Some prefectures still handle status changes outside ANEF, so check the channel on their website.

A complete file lodged in time entitles you to a certificate of extended processing. It keeps your stay lawful while the application is examined. Our article on the residence permit receipt explains that document. Filing late, in contrast, brings only a filing certificate, which is far weaker.

Can you work while the file is examined?

During a student status change, your current permit keeps applying. As long as it stays valid, you may work 964 hours a year, that is 60 % of full time. Full-time work waits for the authorisation, except with a "talent" card or a "job search" card.

The Conseil d'État indeed found a problem on 5 May 2026. In its view, the ANEF favourable decision certificate does not clearly mention the right to work. It therefore ordered the State to correct it within six months.

The mistakes that cost dear

Some errors come up again and again in these files.

• Starting a full-time job without authorisation: the employer risks five years' imprisonment and a €30,000 fine per employee. You risk having your student card withdrawn.
• Signing a fixed-term contract while aiming for the "employee" card: you will get a "temporary worker" card.
• Accepting a post unrelated to your degree: the authorisation becomes harder to obtain.
• Staying below 1.5 times the minimum wage: the labour market test applies to you again.
• Filing after the 60th day: you lose the extension certificate and pay €180 more.

How much does it cost?

Since 1 May 2026, a first "employee" or "talent" card costs €350. The "job search" card costs €150. Your employer also pays a tax, even if you already lived in France.

Contract	Employer tax
12 months or more	55 % of the gross monthly salary, capped at €2,567.15
More than 3 months and under 12 months	€74, €210 or €300 depending on the salary

And after the first year?

After a year on an "employee" card, you can aim for the multi-year card. Since 2026, it requires level A2 and a civic exam in principle. According to some prefectures, a year of higher education in France exempts you. Our guide to the civic exam sets out the position.

Then think about residence permit renewal every year, within the right window.

Other common status changes

A student status change is only one case among others. A "visitor" card holder, for instance, undertakes not to work. To become an employee, they need a work authorisation. Some prefectures refuse to process such applications, although courts have held that refusal unlawful.

Likewise, an employee starting a business goes through an opinion from the foreign labour unit. Their activity must earn them at least the minimum wage. Finally, the "private and family life" card allows work without any authorisation.

When to consult a lawyer

A lawyer helps you pick the safest permit and the right moment to file. They also check that your contract and salary meet the thresholds. If you are refused, our article on residence permit refusal sets out the remedies.

An immigration lawyer answers within 20 minutes. The official conditions also appear on the service-public status change page.