# Student work rights in France

> Rules for working while studying in France, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.

Source of record: https://versityspot.com/study-abroad/france/work-rights
Confirmation: 26 of 26 sections confirmed against their official source (last 2026-08-08).

## Part-time Jobs

A standard non-EU student residence status generally authorises salaried work up to 964 hours per year, equivalent to 60% of full-time annual working time, without a separate work authorisation for ordinary employment within that allowance. Because the limit is annual, track your cumulative hours rather than relying on a simplistic '20 hours every week' rule.

Different rules apply to some nationalities. Algerian nationals, for example, fall under the 1968 Franco-Algerian agreement and have a different student-employment framework.

Course-linked internships use a convention de stage and their own legal framework. Do not count an internship as ordinary casual work without checking which rules apply.

*Source: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2713*

## Internships

Internships in France are stages and are tightly regulated. The essential document is the convention de stage, a three-way agreement between you, the educational institution and the host organisation. A normal student internship must be embedded in the educational framework; do not accept an informal 'internship' outside the convention system.

In 2026, when the legal duration threshold is exceeded (more than two months, or more than 308 hours during the same academic year), the minimum gratification is EUR 4.50 per hour from the first hour of the internship. A collective agreement can require a higher amount.

Many French degrees use a stage as a direct bridge into employment. Alternance is a different work-study model based on an employment contract and should not be confused with a conventional stage. Use your institution's internship/careers office early because competitive placements fill well before the start date.

*Source: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F32131*

## Post-study Work

For an eligible graduate in France, the residence card or VLS-TS recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise normally gives one year to look for a qualifying job or create a business linked to the studies. The title is non-renewable as a simple job-search year; the goal is to switch to an appropriate work, entrepreneur or talent status once the next basis is secured.

During this year, salaried employment is permitted without the employer obtaining a separate work authorisation, but the job must be related to your studies and must currently pay more than EUR 2,800.53 gross per month. The usual 964-hour student limit does not apply to that qualifying employment.

If you leave France after graduating, eligible graduates can in some cases apply for this post-study route from abroad within four years of obtaining the qualifying French diploma. Nationality-specific agreements can alter the route, particularly for Algerian nationals and countries with migration agreements, so check the official nationality-specific rules rather than assuming the standard title applies identically to everyone.

*Source: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17319*

## Common questions

### What should international students know about work in France?

Standard third-country student status generally allows 964 hours of salaried work per year; some bilateral regimes differ.

### What should international students know about internships in France?

Stages require a convention de stage; in 2026 the legal minimum gratification is EUR 4.50/hour once the duration threshold is exceeded.

### What should international students know about post study in France?

Eligible graduates get a one-year, non-renewable job-search/company-creation status with conditions on qualifying salaried work.