France post-study visa transition — student to work

2026.05.26 · 11 min

Before your student card expires, 3 paths to choose from: RECE · Direct Salarié · Passeport Talent.

3 paths to stay after graduating

After your bachelor's or master's, to stay in France you must change status. If you do nothing, your student card expires and you become undocumented. The decision must be made in advance.

Three main options:

• RECE (Recherche d'Emploi ou Création d'Entreprise) — 1-year temporary permit for job hunting or starting a business
• Direct Salarié — immediate transition if you already have a contract
• Passeport Talent — 4-year card for Master+ holders with high-paying qualified positions

When to act

Official rule: file the change-of-status request within the 2 months before your student card expires (service-public.gouv.fr/F2229).

Realistic recommended schedule:

• Start of your last semester: decide which option to target
• 3-4 months before graduation: start gathering documents (diploma, transcripts, etc.)
• 2 months before student card expiry: file the official request

Option 1: RECE — 1-year temporary permit

The RECE (Recherche d'Emploi ou Création d'Entreprise) is a temporary 1-year permit designed for the student → job/business transition.

Who qualifies

• Holders of a Licence professionnelle or a Master's (or equivalent)
• Diploma recognized by France (foreign diplomas require equivalence recognition)

Duration and activity

• Validity: 12 months (one-time only, not renewable)
• Activity: job search or starting a business — full-time work allowed (no 60% limit like student visa)
• Before it ends, switch to Salarié or Passeport Talent

Procedure

• Online via ANEF (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr)
• "Change of status request" → select "Job search or business creation"
• Documents: diploma, ID, proof of address, financial resources, signed Contrat d'engagement républicain (CER)

Option 2: Direct Salarié

If you already have a job lined up at graduation, you can skip RECE and go directly to Salarié status.

Requirements

• Employment contract: CDI (permanent) or CDD ≥ 12 months
• Work authorization requested by your employer at DREETS
• Minimum salary: €2,734.55 gross/month for a job related to your studies (Master level, 2026)

⚠️ "Related to your studies" means: the job must clearly match your diploma. Marketing Master → marketing job OK. Marketing Master → café server = high refusal risk.

Procedure

• "Change of status" on ANEF
• Attach: contract, work authorization, CIR signature attestation (mandatory from Salarié status onwards), signed CER
• Processing 1-3 months; récépissé issued so you stay legal during review

Option 3: Passeport Talent

Most advantageous card for higher-degree graduates. 4-year validity (vs. 1-year renewable for Salarié).

Requirements (typical case: Salarié qualifié)

• Master's or equivalent (BAC+5)
• Diploma recognized by France
• High-salary job: threshold ≈ 2× SMIC (exact amount updated annually — check service-public)
• CDI or CDD of at least 1 year

Advantages

• 4-year card (vs. Salarié 1-year renewable)
• Spouse gets Passeport Talent (Famille) — direct access to full-time work
• Exempt from CIR (Talent holders are exempt from the Integration Contract — CESEDA L.413-7)

Which option? Decision flow

Based on your situation:

• At graduation have a job + Master+ high salary → Passeport Talent
• At graduation have a job + average salary (€2,734.55+) → Direct Salarié
• At graduation no job / still searching → RECE (1 year)
• Toward end of RECE year → switch to Salarié or Passeport Talent
• PhD → consider the specific Passeport Talent - Chercheur category

If refused

Steps to follow after a refusal notification:

• Recours gracieux: within 2 months of the notification, request re-examination at the same préfecture
• Recours contentieux: file with the Tribunal administratif — lawyer recommended
• Look at another title: marriage/PACS (VPF), PhD (Talent - Chercheur), family reasons, etc.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. No job found during RECE — what happens?

RECE is not renewable. Return home or change to another status (marriage/PACS, doctorate, business start-up…). Consult a lawyer before expiry.

Q2. PhD — which path?

Dedicated Passeport Talent - Chercheur category. With a hosting agreement (convention d'accueil) from a research institution, conditions are more favorable. Details on service-public/F16922.

Q3. Does the 2026 80% civic exam apply to new Salariés?

Yes. For the 1st multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) or 1st resident card. This includes a first multi-year Salarié card and first Passeport Talent. Not applicable to simple renewals of temporary cards.

Q4. Does CIR apply to student → Salarié transitions?

Students are exempt from CIR, but once you switch to Salarié status, CIR becomes mandatory. Passeport Talent remains exempt (CESEDA L.413-7). RECE, being temporary, doesn't require CIR.

Q5. How much does RECE cost?

Exact amount changes yearly. Check service-public.gouv.fr/F2229 for current rates. Tax + stamp duty: roughly €100-150 at issuance.

Q6. Foreign degree (Korea, China, etc.) — RECE-eligible?

French diplomas are prioritized. For a foreign diploma, an equivalence recognition (ENIC-NARIC or similar) is needed. Expect 2-6 months.