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Foreign student in France: Campus France, student residence permit, work and life after your studies

Source: Service-Public, sheet F2231, checked on 1 August 2026, read on 18 October 2026.

To study in France, a non-EU student first applies for a long-stay visa that serves as a titre de séjour (residence permit), called a VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour), with the « étudiant » (student) category. It is valid for 4 months to 1 year. In Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and other countries, the application goes through Études en France (Campus France). Next come the student card (the student residence card), a maximum of 964 hours of work a year, and then, after a master's degree or a licence professionnelle (professional bachelor's degree), a one-year card to look for a job.

Last checked: 18 October 2026. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Check the official page: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231.

Campus France and the Études en France procedure

Campus France says that students living in one of the 75 countries and territories concerned must register through Études en France (page updated on 28 September 2026). Service-Public speaks of 72 countries. Check yours on the Campus France list, which includes Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

The platform is fully online. It runs from registration to the visa application. A fee is charged (the page gives no amount).

  • 1st year of licence (bachelor's degree) (nationality of the country of residence): French or European baccalauréat (school-leaving diploma), Parcoursup (the French higher-education application platform) plus Études en France. With another diploma, you make a demande d'admission préalable (DAP, preliminary admission request). For 2027/2028, the DAP is open from 1 October to 15 December 2026.
  • Licence 2, licence 3 or master: Études en France until you get the student visa.

The student residence permit: conditions, length, cost

Service-Public sets two conditions:

  • be enrolled or pre-enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education or initial training, or in a body for higher professional training;
  • show resources of at least €877.50 a month, unless you passed the competitive entrance exam of an institution that has signed an agreement with the State.

On arrival: you validate the VLS-TS within 3 months and pay a tax of €100, on top of the visa fees.

After 1 year: a one-year student card, renewable (€100 in timbres fiscaux, tax stamps), or a multi-year card (€150). It covers the years left in the study cycle, for example 2 years after a first year of licence. You must then show that your studies are genuine and serious. Repeating a year once per cycle does not, by itself, call this into question.

Renewal: the deadline specific to the student permit

You apply online only, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before your visa, VLS-TS or permit stops being valid. If you miss this period, a regularisation visa fee of €180 is added, except in a case of force majeure (an event beyond your control) or if you show a valid visa.

Documents cited, among others: proof of address less than 6 months old, grade reports (relevés de notes), proof of resources.

Working during your studies: 964 hours a year

With a VLS-TS or a student card, Service-Public (sheet F2713, checked on 7 October 2025) says:

  • 964 hours a year at most (60% of the legal annual working time), without a work authorisation, counted from the issue of the card or the validation of the VLS-TS;
  • beyond that, there is a risk that the permit is withdrawn and its renewal refused;
  • the employer makes a named declaration to the préfecture (the local office of the State) at least 2 working days before hiring;
  • the student card does not allow you to be an auto-entrepreneur (self-employed).

After the degree: the « recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise » (job search or business creation) card

The abbreviation « RECE » does not appear on the official pages read. Service-Public (sheet F17319, checked on 1 June 2026) describes the card like this:

  • who: a student card holder who graduated less than 12 months ago with a licence professionnelle or a diploma at least equivalent to a master. From abroad, the application (VLS-TS) is still possible within 4 years after the diploma;
  • what for: staying 1 year to look for a job or to create a business related to your studies or your research;
  • work: as an employee, without a work authorisation, but in a job related to your studies and paid more than €2,800.53 gross a month; the 964-hour limit does not apply;
  • where and when: the préfecture or sous-préfecture (sub-prefecture) of the place where you live, within the 2 months before the student card ends; a récépissé (receipt) if the file is complete;
  • cost and length: €150 in timbres fiscaux for an application made in France; 1 year, no renewal possible.

Not to be confused with: Service-Public lists separately the autorisation provisoire de séjour (APS, provisional residence authorisation) « 1re expérience professionnelle » (first professional experience), for countries linked to France by an agreement on migration flows.

Moving to a work-based residence card

According to sheet F2229 (checked on 1 June 2026), if you have a contract or a promise of employment and a work authorisation obtained by the employer, you can apply for an employee card or a temporary worker card. You apply within the 2 months before the student card ends. The state of the job market (« la situation de l'emploi ») can be used to refuse your application, except for a métier en tension (an occupation with a worker shortage), or, after a licence professionnelle or a master, for a job linked to your training and paid at least €2,800.53 gross a month.

The employee card (for a CDI, a permanent contract) is valid for 1 year. For a first multi-year card, Service-Public (sheet F15898, checked on 1 May 2026) cites in particular level A2 in French (French language tests (in French)) and passing the civic exam, « carte de séjour pluriannuelle » (multi-year residence card) option (in French), except after age 65. Take the CSP mock test

Refusal, OQTF, missed deadline

In case of refusal, an OQTF (obligation to leave French territory), no answer or a missed deadline, contact the préfecture or a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours can a foreign student work in France? 964 hours a year at most, without a work authorisation, according to Service-Public. The rules are different for Algerian students.

When should I ask to renew my student residence permit? Online, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before your residence document stops being valid. If you miss this period, €180 of regularisation visa fee is added, except in a case of force majeure or with a valid visa.

How much does the job-search or business-creation card cost? €150 in timbres fiscaux for an application made in France. It is valid for 1 year and cannot be renewed.

Does the Études en France procedure apply to students from the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)? Campus France includes Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in its list of countries of residence concerned. Enrolment in a doctorate does not go through it.

Sources

All these pages were read on 18 October 2026. Hexaciv is an independent service, not linked to the administration.

Hexaciv is an independent tool for preparing the French civic exam. This is not an official site and is not affiliated with any ministry. Last updated: 2026-10-18.