Edutecoach

What’s it’s like to graduate and stay for finding a job in France- a semi-presidential Republic with its capital in one of the country’s largest city; a prominent cultural and commercial center- Paris. A developed country, the country indeed has a high nominal per capita income, and its advanced economy ranks amongst the largest in the world making its list into one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and an official nuclear-weapon state.

All educational programs in France are regulated by the Ministry of National Education and Youth (officially called Ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse).

Non-European students or let’s say international STUDENTS can stay in France after their graduation if they have a promise or evidence of employment/ a work contract and have been paid at least one and a half times the minimum wage i.e. 2,220 euros gross per month.

If an international Student has a professional Bachelor’s, a Master’s-level degree or is in the process of starting a company and seeks to request employment (without having the promise of employment), he/ she may do so by requesting an Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS – temporary resident permit) valid only for twelve months (non- renewable).

This Temporary Residence Permit, or APS (for “Autorisation Provisioire de Séjour”), allows international STUDENTS to remain in France for one year after the end of their studies. During this period, an international student can look for relevant jobs without restriction or prepare for the creation of a company in a field corresponding to their Training. Until a work contract has been signed, for a fixed period of time (CDD) or indefinite (CDI), foreign graduates with an APS are authorized to work under the same conditions as if they were students i.e. to a maximum of 964 hours per year, or approximately 20 hours per week.

If an APS is to expire, one must change their status and request a residency permit adapted to their situation.

Now, if anyone have an indefinite or fixed-time work contract validated by the DIRECCTE (Direction régionale des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l’Emploi – Regional Department of Competition, Consumption, Work and Employment) and are paid at least one and a half times the minimum wage, he/ she can request a temporary “employee” or “temporary worker” resident permit visa. In addition, if an individual have created a company or developed an unpaid activity and can prove the viability, he/ she can request a temporary “freelance entrepreneur” resident permit visa or a multi-year “freelance entrepreneur – talent passport” resident permit for starting a company. Likewise, if one is involved in research, that individual will be able to request a multi-year “researcher-talent passport” resident permit visa as a researcher.