Study in France Post-Study Work 2026

Post-study work is often the ROI question for France. Details below; full destination context is in the country guide.

Can I Work While Studying in France?

Yes. Student visa holders can work up to 964 hours a year, roughly 20 hours a week, calculated on a pro rata basis if your residence card is valid for less than 12 months.

France's minimum wage (SMIC) sits at approximately €11.88 gross an hour as of January 2026, meaning a student working 15 hours a week for 10 months can earn a meaningful share of their living costs, particularly outside Paris where costs are lower.

What Is the APS? (Post Study Work Permit)

After graduating, eligible students can apply for the APS, officially renamed the RECE (Recherche d'Emploi / Création d'Entreprise) permit since a 2024 reform, though APS remains the commonly used term, particularly for students from countries with a specific bilateral agreement with France.

• Eligibility: generally requires a Master's degree or equivalent from a recognised French institution, including Licence Professionnelle, specialised Master's, or an accredited Grande École engineering or business degree
• Standard duration: 12 months, though duration can vary by nationality, with some bilateral agreement countries seeing different arrangements, so confirming your specific country's terms directly with Campus France is worth doing rather than assuming a fixed figure
• Work rights during APS: full time work in any field, not just your area of study, with the standard 964 hour student cap no longer applying once you hold the permit
• Converting to a long term work permit: once you secure a job paying at least 1.5 times the SMIC, roughly €2,730 to €2,830 a month depending on the exact rate applied, you can convert to a Salarié work permit without your employer needing to prove no local candidate was available, a genuine practical advantage over a standard work visa
• Passeport Talent route: for higher earning graduates, roughly 2 times the SMIC, this alternative permit offers up to 4 years of residency and a smoother path toward long term settlement