Post-Graduate Residence Permit in French Law: RECE Regime, Conditions, Application Process and Right to Work

How to obtain a post-graduation residence permit in France? This comprehensive legal guide explains the RECE (recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise) status, who can apply, the one-year residency right, work opportunities, salary thresholds, company formation, and the requirements for transitioning to professional residency.

In French law, a post-graduation residence permit is a special transitional regime established to prevent foreign students from having to leave the country immediately after completing their studies. At the heart of this area today is the “carte de séjour ou VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise,” officially known as the “carte de séjour ou VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise.” This status allows individuals, after obtaining a certain level of diploma in France, to remain in France for an additional year , seeking employment or establishing their own business. It also serves as a key bridge between the classic student residence and a professional residence. Service Public explicitly states that this mechanism provides young graduates with the opportunity to stay in France and develop their career or company in line with their education or research. ( Service Public )

In France, the post-graduation residency regime, while often referred to as "APS" in practice, is actually officially structured as RECE status. However, the Service Public also notes that for citizens of certain countries with immigration agreements with France, an additional APS pour une première expérience professionnelle (APS for a first professional experience) may be available. Therefore, post-graduation residency in France is a single area of ​​residence, but it can vary depending on the basis of the application. The general rule is RECE for foreigners who have obtained a degree in France; for some countries with specific agreements, there are additional APS channels. (Service Public)

The main purpose of this article is to systematically explain who can apply for a post-study residence permit in French law, which diplomas are covered, when and how to apply, under what conditions one can work during this period, at what salary thresholds one can switch to a professional card, and which residence status a graduate who starts a business should pursue, rather than simply reducing it to the phrase "you can stay for another year." This is because the post-study regime in France, while a convenience, is a technical right that can easily be lost if applied for at the wrong time or with the wrong documents. (Service Public)

What is a post-graduation residence permit?

In French law, a post-graduation residence permit is a temporary and non-renewable status granted to a foreign student after completing their education, allowing them to remain in France to gain their first professional experience or establish a company related to their field of study . The Service Public explicitly states that this status can be issued in both the form of a temporary residence permit ( carte de séjour temporaire) and, in some cases, a VLS-TS (Voluntary Residence Permit), that it is valid for one year , and that it is non-renewable. The relevant provisions of CESEDA (French Civil Service Law) also stipulate that this permit is valid for 12 months and, as a rule, cannot be renewed . ( Service Public )

This regime has two main objectives. Firstly, it allows graduates to complete their education their first professional experience . Secondly, it enables graduates project to establish a company . CESEDA article L.422-10 requires the applicant to either wish to complete their education with their first work experience or to present a project to establish a company related to their education or research. Therefore, post-graduation residency in France is not a completely free and aimless extension; it is a special status that links the diploma with a professional future. (Legifrance)

In this respect, RECE is not an extended version of the student card. A student residence permit is issued for educational purposes; RECE, on the other hand, is issued for transitioning to the job market or entrepreneurship after graduation. This difference is important in practice because while the student card focuses on the educational institution and academic rigor, the RECE focuses on a business or company project. However, this project is not entirely arbitrary; the job or company must be related to the graduate's education or research. (Service Public)

Who can apply for a post-graduation residence permit in France?

According to Service Public, to benefit from this regime, the applicant must first have resided in France with a student card or student-mobility program card . They must also possess a specific level of degree obtained in France within the last 12 months. These degrees include a licence professionnelle , Mastère Spécialisé , Master of Science (labeled Conférence des grandes écoles), and another French degree at least equivalent to a master's degree . The CESEDA implementation provision also requires that a French degree at least at the master's level, or one included in the list defined by the decree, be obtained within the last 12 months. ( Service Public )

It is important to note that not every French diploma automatically grants this right. Since French law specifically targets qualified post-graduation residency permits, it only covers diplomas at least at the master's level or certain professional diplomas specifically stipulated in the legislation. Therefore, short-term certificates, preparatory programs, or any training below this level do not directly grant RECE (Residency for Graduate Education). The basis of the application is determined by the official French equivalent of the diploma and its place in the relevant legislation (Service Public)

Furthermore, this right has an important dimension not only for graduates who remain in France, but also for those who leave the country after graduation. According to Service Public, even if a person leaves France after receiving their diploma, within a maximum of 4 years . This shows that French law does not limit the right of post-graduation stay only to those who remain in the country continuously, but also allows for return within a certain period. (Service Public)

When and how to apply?

In France, timing is crucial for obtaining a post-graduation residence permit. According to Service Public, if a person is already in France, they must submit their application before their current student card or VLS-TS expires . This statement is very important because an application submitted after the student status has ended can be considered a late and irregular application, risking irregular status. (Service Public)

The procedure changes if the application is made from outside France. A graduate who returns to their home country or another country after receiving their diploma will, according to the Service Public, apply for a VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise (graduation/employment/employment creation). This application must be made within 4 years of the diploma's issuance date. Therefore, both the authority and the type of document differ between applications made within France and those made from outside France. For domestic applications, the prefecture is involved; for applications from abroad, the consulate and the France-Visas system ( Service Public ) are generally involved.

The required application documents are also officially defined. According to Service Public, these include a passport, proof of address no older than 6 months , photographs, a valid student card or online verified VLS-TS, a suitable diploma or certificate of achievement obtained within the last 12 months, proof of health insurance , a project document showing that the purpose is to establish a company and its connection to education, and also a commitment to respect the principles of the Republic . If the file is complete, the applicant is given a récépissé while awaiting a response . ( Service Public )

The system is also clear in terms of cost. According to Service Public, the total tax and stamp duty payable on this application 75 euros. The same source states that if the prefecture does not respond to the file 4 months, the application will be considered rejected. Therefore, a post-graduation residence permit in France cannot be managed with a "let's wait, if there's a response, there's one" mentality; the four-month implicit rejection rule must be taken into account. (Service Public)

What rights does this status grant to the graduate?

The most important advantage of RECE status is that it allows the holder to legally stay in France for an additional year . However, the effect of this right is not limited to the stay alone. According to Service Public, this card, or VLS-TS, also gives the holder the opportunity to work for pay during this period, and the employer does not have to apply for a separate work permit . This is a key legal advantage that significantly facilitates the graduate's transition to the French job market. ( Service Public )

Furthermore, a significant limitation on student status has been removed. Service Public explicitly states that the annual 964 hours , or 60% of the legal working time, applicable to student status, does not apply to RECE status. This indicates that the graduate is no longer considered a part-time student worker, but rather a foreigner genuinely seeking and able to work full-time. (Service Public)

However, the right to work is not entirely unlimited and does not apply to every job. According to Service Public, the job taken related to the graduate's education or research and monthly salary higher than €2,734.55 . In other words, RECE does not grant the graduate free access to the general job market; rather, it grants a qualified transition right linked to their diploma. This shows that French law designed post-study status not for low-paying, non-diploma employment, but for qualified integration. (Service Public)

Which card will the graduate switch to if they find a job?

In French law, the fundamental principle of the RECE (Residency for Graduates of Education) is that, at the end of a one-year transition period, the graduate transitions to a permanent or more stable professional status. According to the Service Public, if the graduate finds suitable employment during this period, they can apply for different residence permits depending on the salary level and the nature of the job. If the job is related to their education and the monthly gross salary is at least €2,734.55 , the graduate a salarié or travailleur temporaire (temporary worker permit; moreover, in this case, the la situation de l'emploi(job market test) is not invoked against them. This is one of the most important advantages of the post-study transition. (Service Public)

If the salary is higher, the graduate can directly move to more advantageous "talent" programs. According to Service Public's table, if the annual gross salary is at least €39,582 , one can enter talent – ​​salarié qualifié ; if at least €41,386.48 , talent – ​​professions médicales et de la pharmacie ; and if at least €59,373 , carte bleue européenne . In short, RECE acts as a bridge not only to the classic employee card but also to highly qualified foreign statuses if the salary and profile are sufficient. ( Service Public )

There is also a specific threshold for graduates working in the arts. According to the same official figures, if the income is at least €1,276.12 , and a certain portion of this comes from paid artistic activity, then talent-professions artistiques card can be considered. This detail shows that the post-graduation system in France is not limited to a single model of engineer/corporate employee; there are also special pathways in the field of culture and art. (Service Public)

What happens if a graduate wants to start a company?

The RECE status is designed not only for seeking employment but also establishing a company . Article L.422-10 of the CESEDA explicitly stipulates that a graduate can benefit from this status if they submit a project to establish a company in a field related to their education or research. The Service Public also documents showing a project to establish a company related to education . This demonstrates that the graduate can remain in France not only as an employee but also as an entrepreneur. (Legifrance)

at the end of the one-year period, the company project has been realized and has gained economic credibility, the graduate can pursue one of two main cards according to Service Public: entrepreneur/profession libérale or talent – ​​porteur de projet. CESEDA also regulates that transitioning to these cards is possible at the end of the period if the company is established and viable . Thus, the post-study regime becomes a migration tool that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship in France. (Service Public)

The key point here is that the idea of ​​starting a company should not be left as an abstract intention. Even in the RECE application process in France, they want to see a connection between the project and the diploma or research area; in the subsequent stages, they expect proof that the business is established and economically viable. Therefore, for a graduate wishing to start a company, the business plan, field of activity, registration documents, and income projections are at least as important as the employment contract. (Legifrance)

Special offer for talent-chercheur holders

In France, not only graduates with a classic student degree but also researchers with talent-chercheur status can benefit from a similar transition regime after completing their studies. According to Service Public, a person whose talent-chercheur card is about to expire and who has completed their research can also apply for a recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise card. This card is also valid for one year , grants the right to paid work during this period, and the employer does not have to obtain a separate work permit. ( Service Public )

For researchers, the work must be related to their research and the monthly gross salary must exceed €2,734.55 . After a one-year transition period, a researcher who finds suitable employment can switch to one of the following statuses according to CESEDA: salarié , travailleur temporaire , passeport talent , carte bleue européenne , or passeport talent-chercheur . This status can also affect the family of a person who previously held a talent-chercheur card ; in some cases, the law provides for the issuance of a talent-famille card to family members for the remaining period . ( Service Public )

Special regimes: migration agreement countries, Algerians and Europeans

Service Public states that for citizens of certain countries with immigration agreements with France, an additional APS pathway may be available for initial post-graduation work experience . This is a special channel in addition to the general RECE regime. The same page also warns that different rules may apply to Europeans and Algerians . Therefore, the post-study residence permit does not work in the same way for every foreigner; specific regimes related to citizenship must also be taken into account. ( Service Public )

The existence of these special regimes has an important methodological consequence, particularly for Turkish citizens: the applicant must always first check whether they fall under the general RECE regime or a treaty system specific to their citizenship. In French law, the immigration and residence regime can deviate from general rules through bilateral agreements with certain countries. This conclusion is a natural inference from the cautionary logic of the official website. (Service Public)

Risk of rejection and the most common errors in implementation

In France, the most common mistake in applying for a post-graduation residence permit is overlooking the fact that the application must be submitted before the current student card expires . A second major mistake is assuming that the degree obtained falls under the RECE (Residency for Graduate Education) category, without this being legally confirmed. A third significant error is assuming that any job found during the job search process is acceptable; however, according to official regulations, the job must be related to the field of education or research and must meet the salary threshold. A fourth mistake is believing that this card can be extended; the Service Public and CESEDA clearly state that the status cannot be renewed . ( Service Public )

Another common misconception is the belief that one can work directly in France with a residence permit obtained in another EU country. The Service Public's work authorization page clearly states that a residence permit issued by another EU country does not grant the right to stay or work in France; if necessary, one must re-enter the French visa/residence application process. Therefore, the right to stay in France after graduation is a status specific to the French system and must be protected. (Service Public)

Conclusion

In French law, a post-graduation residence permit is a special status, albeit with technical requirements, that facilitates the transition of a foreign student from education to professional life. The basic mechanism, officially called a carte de séjour or VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise , allows graduates to remain in France for an additional year , seeking employment or establishing a company related to their field of study. This status is non-renewable ; however, when used correctly, it enables individuals to transition to more permanent professional statuses such as salarié , travailleur temporaire , talent , carte bleue européenne , or entrepreneur/profession libérale ( Service Public ) .

Therefore, for someone planning to stay in France after graduation, the main strategy is not to think "I'll stay another year," but to determine in advance what goal they will use that year for. If the goal is a career, suitable salary and field connections should be established; if the goal is entrepreneurship, the seriousness and viability of the project should be prepared from the outset; and if located outside France, the 4-year return window should not be missed. In French law, the RECE regime, when used correctly, is a strong career and settlement bridge; when used incorrectly, it remains only a temporary extension. (Service Public)