Finishing your studies in France and want to stay and work? You need to move from your student card to a work permit, and the right permit depends mostly on your degree, your salary and your timing. Here are the options, the 2026 thresholds and the mistakes that cost the most.

In short

  • When to file: between 120 and 60 days before your student card expires.
  • « Salarié » (employee) card: a permanent contract and a work authorisation requested by your employer.
  • « Talent – qualified employee » card: a master's obtained in France and at least €39,582 gross a year, no work authorisation.
  • EU Blue Card: at least €59,373 gross a year, no work authorisation.
  • No job offer yet: after a master's, a one-year « job search or business creation » card.
  • Decision deadline: 90 days after a complete application (since 30 October 2026).

Which permit to apply for

A « change of status » is not a single procedure: you apply for a new permit, and your situation decides which one.

« Salarié » card

For a permanent contract paid at least the minimum wage or your collective-agreement minimum. It lasts one year, renewable, and your employer must obtain a work authorisation. With a fixed-term contract, it is the « travailleur temporaire » card instead.

« Talent – qualified employee » card

For a master's obtained in France (or a degree labelled by the Conférence des grandes écoles) and a salary of at least €39,582 gross a year. It covers the length of the contract, up to 4 years, with no work authorisation. It is often the most comfortable option, but the threshold is strict: what counts is the annual gross salary in the contract. See the talent – qualified employee card.

EU Blue Card

For a highly qualified job of at least 6 months, with a 3-year degree or equivalent experience, and at least €59,373 gross a year. No work authorisation either. See the EU Blue Card.

The work authorisation: what is checked

For the « salarié » card, the authorities normally check two things: the labour market (a shortage occupation, or a job advert with no suitable candidate) and the link between the job and your studies. That link is checked even if you did not complete your degree.

The master's graduate advantage. If you obtained a master's, a professional bachelor's or an equivalent degree in France within the year, and your contract is linked to your studies and pays more than 1.5 times the minimum wage (over €2,800 gross a month since 1 June 2026), the labour-market test does not apply. You still need the work authorisation, but the main hurdle is gone.

When to file: before your student card expires

File between 120 and 60 days before your student card expires. This is not a detail: it is what entitles you to an attestation de prolongation d'instruction if your card expires before the decision. The Conseil d'État confirmed this for a graduate who filed too late: no attestation, and his employment contract was suspended.

In practice, you often need a signed contract, or at least a firm job offer, before your degree is even awarded. Since 30 October 2026, the préfecture must decide within 90 days of a complete application.

Your student card expires in less than four months? A short consultation is enough to choose the right permit and plan your dates.

No job offer yet: the « job search or business creation » card

This is the former « APS ». With a master's, a professional bachelor's (licence professionnelle) or a CGE-labelled degree obtained in France, you can apply for a one-year card to look for a job or start a business.

  • During that year, you can already work in a job linked to your studies, paid more than 1.5 times the minimum wage.
  • If you find such a job, you then move to an employee or talent card without the labour-market test.
  • If your plan is to start a business, you will need to show at the end of the year that it exists and is viable.

This card must also be requested before your student card expires. A standard bachelor's degree does not qualify.

Starting a business: the micro-entreprise trap

Many students plan to launch a micro-entreprise during their studies and then « switch » to an entrepreneur card. It is rarely that simple. The student card lets you work as an employee, up to 964 hours a year, but not run a self-employed business. And the entrepreneur card requires proof that the business is viable and supports you.

So you need to show a business is viable before you hold the permit that lets you run it. A micro-entreprise registered too early can weaken the file as easily as strengthen it. There are ways out of this loop, but they depend on your degree, your timing and the legal form of the business. See the entrepreneur card.

Mistakes that lead to refusal

  • Filing too late, after the 60th day before your student card expires.
  • A job unrelated to your degree.
  • A salary just below the threshold, for example calculated without contractual bonuses, or a part-time job.
  • Applying for the wrong card, such as « salarié » with a fixed-term contract.
  • An employer that is not compliant with its social or tax obligations.
  • Working full-time too early: above 964 hours a year, a student is working without authorisation.

A refused change of status often comes with an order to leave France, so it pays to secure the file before you apply.

When to get help

  • Your student card expires in less than 60 days and nothing has been filed.
  • Your salary is close to a threshold, or the job's qualification level is debatable.
  • You do not have a master's, or your degree is from abroad.
  • Your employer is a small company that has never hired a foreign national.
  • You want to start a business rather than be employed.
  • The préfecture is not responding and your card has expired. See préfecture not responding: what to do.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start working before I get the new permit?

With a valid student card, only up to 964 hours a year. If your card expires while an on-time application is pending, the attestation de prolongation generally lets you work, on conditions that depend on the permit you applied for.

What is the minimum salary to switch from student to employee?

At least the minimum wage or the collective-agreement minimum for the employee card; over €2,800 gross a month to avoid the labour-market test with a master's; at least €39,582 gross a year for the talent card; €59,373 for the EU Blue Card.

Can a foreign student set up a micro-entreprise?

The student card only provides for salaried side work. Self-employment during your studies raises a residence-rights issue and can complicate the move to an entrepreneur card. Have your plan checked before registering.

What if my student card expires during the procedure?

If your application was complete and filed on time, the préfecture must give you an attestation de prolongation d'instruction. If it was filed too late, you are not entitled to one: act quickly.

Related reading

Two ways to move forward

Choose the right permit and timeline. In a consultation, your degree, your contract, the threshold that applies and your filing deadline are reviewed. Book a consultation.

Hand over the application. The firm prepares the file with you and your employer, follows the process and steps in if the préfecture is slow. Describe your situation and you will receive a proposal for full assistance.

General information under French law as at 31 October 2026. It is not legal advice for your situation.