Updated October 2026
You have just finished a master's degree, or an equivalent diploma, in France? You can stay to look for a job or to create a company linked to your studies. Many people still call it the APS. Its official name is the residence permit recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise (job search or business creation). Here are the rules in force in 2026.
In short
- For master's graduates in France, and for researchers at the end of their Talent Passport.
- Apply in the 2 months before your student permit ends, or from abroad within 4 years after your diploma.
- The permit is valid for 1 year and cannot be renewed. Indian nationals can get up to 2 years.
- To change to a work permit, you need a job linked to your studies paid more than €2,800.53 gross per month.
Graduating soon? Take the free eligibility test
Who can apply
- Graduates in France: you hold a student residence permit and you obtained, in the last 12 months, a licence professionnelle, a Mastère Spécialisé, a Master of Science labelled by the CGE, or a diploma at least equivalent to a master's.
- Graduates who left France: you can apply from abroad within 4 years after your French diploma.
- Researchers: at the end of your Talent Passport researcher card, once your research is finished.
Algerian nationals follow different rules, under the Franco-Algerian agreement.
Good to know for Indian nationals: under the France-India agreement on migration and mobility, Indian graduates with a French diploma at least equivalent to a master's can get an APS of 12 months, renewable once, so up to 24 months. Nationals of some other countries with a bilateral agreement can also get an APS for a first work experience.
When and how to apply
- In France: apply in the 2 months before your student permit ends. Never let your student permit expire before you apply.
- From abroad: apply at the French consulate for a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) "job search / business creation", within 4 years after your diploma. Then validate it online within 3 months of your arrival.
- Cost: €150 in France (€100 tax and €50 stamp duty). From abroad, the visa fee, then €100 when you validate the visa.
12 monthsvalidity of the permit, not renewable (up to 24 months for Indian nationals)
€2,800.53gross per month: the minimum salary to work and change status in 2026
2 monthsbefore your student permit ends: the period to apply in France
The documents usually requested
- Your passport
- Your current student residence permit, or your Talent Passport researcher card
- Your diploma, or a certificate of success (attestation de réussite) from your school
- Proof of address in France
- ID photos
- For a business project: a short description of your project
The prefecture may ask for more documents. Answer quickly: your file is not complete until you do.
What the permit allows
- Look for a job, or create a company, linked to your studies
- Work as an employee in a job linked to your studies and paid more than €2,800.53 gross per month, without a work authorisation for your employer
- The student limit of 964 hours a year no longer applies
At the end: change to a work or business permit
- Job linked to your studies, paid at least €2,800.53 gross per month: residence permit salarié or travailleur temporaire
- Qualified job paid at least €39,582 gross per year: Talent Passport "qualified employee"
- Highly qualified job paid at least €59,373 gross per year: EU Blue Card
- Company creation: entrepreneur / profession libérale card, or Talent Passport "project founder"
Apply before your permit ends. See our
change of status and
Talent Passport services.
Be careful: a refusal can come with an order to leave France (OQTF), with very short deadlines to appeal. Contact us as soon as you receive a refusal.
How TSA helps you
- We check if your diploma qualifies, and the right date to apply
- We prepare your file and your appointment with you, in your language
- We check with you if a job offer allows the change to an employee or Talent permit
- We prepare your change of status before your permit ends
- In case of refusal or OQTF, our partner lawyers take over before the court
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Our Paris team supports people from all over Asia, from the first visa to French nationality. We speak English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Sinhala and other Asian languages.
Official sources: Service-public.fr, job search or business creation permit (checked 1 June 2026) and French Senate report on the France-India migration and mobility agreement
