CHAPTER 16 · AFTER YOUR DEGREE
Staying in Franceafter graduation.
After a master's-level degree you can request a 12-month job-search or company-creation permit. Campus France India states that Indian graduates can renew it once. To switch to a work permit you need a job related to your studies paying at least €2,800.53 gross a month. Indian master's graduates can also request a 5-year Schengen short-stay visa.
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- Job-search permit
- 12 months
- Renewable once for Indian nationals per Campus France India
- Salary to switch to work permit
- €2,800.53 gross / month
- Job related to your studies
- Talent Passport (qualified employee)
- €39,582 gross / year
- Permit fee
- €150 in France
Your options after graduating
| Route | Who | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search / company-creation permit (APS / RECE) | Graduates with a master's-level degree from a French institution | Stay and work without the 60% limit while you look for a job or start a company |
| Employee residence card (salarié) | Job related to your studies, paid ≥ €2,800.53 gross/month | Work for your employer; renewable |
| Talent Passport | Qualified employees, researchers, founders, and others meeting thresholds | Multi-year permit up to 4 years; family can join |
| 5-year Schengen short-stay visa | Indian nationals with a French master's (or a semester in France) | Return for interviews, conferences and short work trips |
When to apply
- 01
Before your student permit ends
Apply for the job-search permit in the two months before your student residence permit expires.
- 02
From India later
If you have returned to India, you can still apply within four years of graduating through the visa service, then validate on arrival.
- 03
When you get an offer
Change status to employee or Talent Passport with your contract. Your employer may need to complete steps too.
Long-term residence and citizenship
After several years of legal residence you may request a multi-year or 10-year resident card. French nationality by naturalisation normally requires five years of residence, reduced to two years for those who completed two years of higher education in France with a diploma. Each route has language and integration conditions.
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Your permit options compared
| Status | Who it suits | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| APS / job-search permit | Master's graduates looking for work | Apply before your student permit expires |
| Salarié / Travailleur temporaire | A job offer in your field | Salary at least €2,800.53 gross a month for the simplified change of status |
| Talent Passport — qualified employee | Master's graduates with a well-paid job | €39,582 gross a year in 2026 |
| EU Blue Card (Talent Passport) | Highly skilled jobs | Salary threshold set each year; mobility within the EU |
| Company creation | Graduates starting a business | A real, viable business project |
The 5-year short-stay visa for Indian alumni
Indian students who completed at least one semester of higher education in France and obtained a master's-level degree can apply for a five-year Schengen short-stay visa through Campus France India's alumni scheme. It is useful for interviews, conferences and visits after you return to India.
Path to long-term residence
- Years spent on a student permit count partly towards long-term residence
- A 10-year resident card generally needs five years of regular, continuous residence
- Naturalisation can be requested after five years, reduced to two years for graduates of a French master's
- French language level (B1 for nationality, rising rules) and integration are assessed
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes. You can request a 12-month job-search permit; Campus France India states Indian graduates can renew it once, giving up to 24 months. A qualifying job lets you switch to a work permit.
For the employee permit after the job-search period, the job must relate to your studies and pay at least €2,800.53 gross a month (2026 figure).
You can get a 12-month job-search or company-creation permit, and Campus France India states Indian graduates can renew it once. Switching to a work permit with a qualifying job lets you stay longer.
Graduates of a French master's can apply for naturalisation after two years of residence instead of five, subject to the other conditions, including language level and integration.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
FRANCE GUIDE
Jobs & careers in France
Sectors hiring in France, graduate salary ranges, where to search, French CV and interview tips, and how to turn an internship into a job.
JOBS
Jobs & careers
Thousands of real, open jobs, internships and alternance, with the French words for each job.
FROM INDIA
Coming back to India
Returning to India with a foreign degree: UGC equivalence (formerly AIU), professional council rules, documents to bring home and using your work experience.
CAREERS
Career support in France
How we help with CVs, interviews, internships and your first job in France.
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