01
Job-search permit
- Valid student residence permit (apply before it expires)
- Master's-level diploma or certificate of success
- Passport, photos and proof of address
- Proof of health cover and resources
- €150 permit fee, paid by tax stamp
STUDY · WORK · STAY
PR in Francefor Indian students.
Yes, it is possible. Study in France, use the 12-month job-search permit, move to a work permit or Talent Passport, then apply for the 10-year resident card after five years. French nationality can come after two years if you completed two years of higher education in France.
THE SHORT ANSWER · OCTOBER 2026
Study, work, then a 10-year card.
- Job-search permit
- 12 months
- Renewable once for Indian graduates, per Campus France India
- Salary to switch to a work permit
- €2,800.53 gross / month
- Job related to your studies
- Talent Passport (qualified employee)
- €39,582 gross / year
- Up to 4 years; family can join
- 10-year resident card
- After 5 years
- B1 French, civic exam, income ≥ minimum wage
- French nationality
- From 2 years
- After two years of higher education in France with a diploma
- Resident card fee
- €350
- €250 if you already hold a valid permit
THE ROADMAP
From student to resident.
Each step needs a valid permit before the previous one ends. Gaps in your papers are the most common reason a five-year count restarts.
- 01
Study in France
Complete a master's-level degree at a French institution. Work up to 964 hours a year, do your end-of-studies internship and get your French moving towards B1. - 02
Job-search permit (APS / RECE)
Apply in the two months before your student permit ends. You can work without the student hour limit while you look for a job or set up a company. - 03
Work permit or Talent Passport
With a job related to your studies paying at least €2,800.53 gross a month, switch to an employee permit. Qualified employees earning at least €39,582 gross a year can get a Talent Passport for up to four years, and family can join. - 04
10-year resident card
After five years of legal, uninterrupted residence on qualifying permits, apply for the 10-year card: income at least at minimum wage, French at B1, the civic exam and health cover. - 05
French nationality
Naturalisation normally needs five years of residence, reduced to two if you graduated from a French higher education institution after two years of study. Sufficient French, the civic exam and a prefecture interview are required.
DOCUMENT CHECKLISTS
What to keep for every stage.
Start one folder on day one: permits, payslips, contracts, tax notices and certificates. Prefectures may ask for more depending on your case.
02
Work permit or Talent Passport
- Signed contract or offer related to your studies
- Salary at or above the threshold for your permit
- Diploma and job-search permit
- Employer documents, where required
- Payslips once you start
03
10-year resident card
- Five years of residence permits, with no long gaps abroad
- Payslips, contracts and French tax notices
- French B1 certificate
- Civic exam certificate
- €350 fee (€250 if you hold a valid permit)
04
French nationality
- Valid residence permit when you apply
- Proof of residence for 5 years, or 2 with a French degree
- Proof of sufficient French (diploma or test)
- Civic exam certificate and stable income
- €255 fee; answer within 18 months
AVOID THESE
Six mistakes that cost students years.
- Starting French too late: B1 is required for the 10-year card, so begin in your first year.
- Letting a permit lapse: renew well before it expires, and apply for the job-search permit before your student permit ends.
- Long absences: more than six months in a row, or ten months in total, can break the five years for the long-term resident card.
- Skipping French tax returns: you need tax notices for every year when you apply.
- Accepting a job below the threshold or unrelated to your degree when switching from the job-search permit.
- Not keeping payslips, contracts and certificates in one folder from day one.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP
French passport, Indian roots.
India does not allow dual citizenship. If you take French nationality you give up Indian citizenship, and can then apply for an OCI card to live, work and own property in India without a visa. Many Indians in France stay on the 10-year resident card for exactly this reason.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Checked against official pages.
Thresholds and fees change every year. Figures on this page were checked in October 2026; confirm them on the official page before you apply. Althéa gives guidance, not legal advice, and refers complex cases to a qualified immigration lawyer.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes. The usual route is study, then a job-search permit, then a work permit or Talent Passport, then a 10-year resident card after five years of legal residence with B1 French, the civic exam and income at least at minimum wage.
Plan on about five years of legal, continuous residence on qualifying permits before the 10-year resident card. French nationality can be requested after two years of residence if you graduated from a French higher education institution after two years of study.
To switch from the job-search permit to an employee permit, the job must relate to your studies and pay at least €2,800.53 gross a month. The Talent Passport for qualified employees needs at least €39,582 gross a year in 2026.
Yes. The 10-year resident card requires French at level B1 and success in the civic exam. Naturalisation also requires proof of sufficient French and the civic exam, plus an interview at the prefecture.
No. India does not allow dual citizenship, so taking French nationality means giving up Indian citizenship. You can then apply for an OCI card to live and work in India without a visa.
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.
FROM INDIA
Month-by-month timeline
Month-by-month study abroad plan from India for a September 2027 start: tests, applications, scholarships, loans, visa, flights and a document checklist.
FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
DESTINATIONS
Destinations
France today, with six more countries coming soon: each has a complete research guide.
JOBS
Jobs & careers
Thousands of real, open jobs, internships and alternance, with the French words for each job.
ANSWERS
FAQ
Quick answers to the questions students and parents ask us most.
NEXT STEP
Book a consultation
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