Working in France while a student

International students have the right to work in France if they have a residency permit and are enrolled in an institution that participates in the student health plan of the French social protection system (Sécurité Sociale). Even first-time visitors to France and students enrolled in the first year of postsecondary education enjoy the right to work.

The work week in France (annually averaged) is 35 hours. French law allows international students to work no more than 884 hours in a given year. That translates to half-time employment (19.5 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time during vacations.

EduFrance, along with French educators and policymakers, does not believe that full-time work is consistent with student status.

Supplementing your income by working while studying is a common practice.

You won't be able to meet all of your expenses by working half-time, but you should be able to earn extra spending money.

The minimum hourly wage in France (known as the SMIC, for salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance) is 7,61 Euros gross, that is, before withholding of mandatory social-benefit taxes, which come to approximately 20 percent of the gross payment.

Working in France after your studies

At the end of your course a firm can recruit you even if you aren't a national of the European Community.

You must request a change of status (from being a student you become a salaried employee) and in order to do so, you have to follow a specific procedure.

According to your place of residence, you will obtain the necessary information concerning how to put together your application from the town hall, main police station, sub-prefecture or prefecture.

You must present, among other documents, a work contract or an offer of employment from a French company.

To assess your application the administrative services will take into consideration a certain number of criteria, such as the company's motivation, your profile or the length of your studies.

When your application is accepted you will be issued with a temporary residence permit for workers.