After a master's-level degree obtained in France, can you get a residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS to search for a job or create a business?

You can get a 1-year residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS to look for a job or create a business linked to your studies or research if you are a non-European foreigner with a master's-level degree or equivalent from a French institution. If you live in France, you apply at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your home in the 2 months before your student or student-mobility card expires. If you left France after your studies, you can apply for the VLS-TS if you have a master's-level degree or equivalent from a French institution and you apply within 4 years of obtaining the degree.

Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

If you live in France when you obtain your degree, what steps must you take to get the job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS?

If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must file your application at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your home in the 2 months before the end date of validity of your student card or student-mobility card.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, check the website of your préfecture, because you cannot carry out the procedure in some sous-préfectures.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree and come from a country that has signed a migration flows agreement with France, you can ask for a temporary authorisation to stay (autorisation provisoire de séjour) for a first professional experience.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you make the application in France, you must pay 150 € (droit de timbre of 50 € + taxe of 100 €) by timbre fiscal tax stamps.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If your file for the job-search residence permit is complete, you receive a récépissé receipt while waiting for the préfecture's answer.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, the job-search residence permit is handed to you by the préfecture or sous-préfecture where you filed your application.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

If you went back abroad after obtaining your degree in France, what steps must you take to get the VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise?

If you went back abroad after obtaining your degree in France, you must ask for the long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked « recherche d'emploi/Création d'entreprise » at the visa service of the French embassy or consulate abroad.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you went back abroad after obtaining your degree in France, the France-Visas online assistant gives the list of documents to provide for the VLS-TS recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you went back abroad after obtaining your degree in France, you must validate your VLS-TS within 3 months of your arrival in France and pay a tax that is added to the visa fees.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you went back abroad after obtaining your degree in France, you must pay 100 € by timbre fiscal tax stamps when you validate your VLS-TS in France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, what steps must you take to obtain the job-search residence permit?

If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must file your application for the job-search residence permit at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your place of residence in the 2 months preceding the end date of validity of your talent-chercheur card.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, the procedure for the job-search residence permit cannot be carried out in some sous-préfectures. Check the website of your préfecture for the job-search residence permit procedure.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If your file for the job-search residence permit is complete, you receive a récépissé receipt while waiting for the préfecture's answer.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must pay 150 € (stamp duty of 50 € + tax of 100 €) by timbre fiscal tax stamps for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, the job-search residence permit is handed to you by the préfecture or sous-préfecture where you filed your application.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

Which documents must you provide for the job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS if you live in France when you obtain your degree?

If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide your valid student card or student-mobility card, or a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) validated online, for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide proof of nationality for the job-search residence permit: a passport with pages showing civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas, or another document with a photo such as a consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide a justificatif de domicile (proof of address) dated less than 6 months ago.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, are married and come from a country that allows polygamy, you must provide a sworn declaration that you are not polygamous in France.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide 3 identity photographs.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide proof of health insurance.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide a degree at least equivalent to a master's or a professional bachelor's degree (licence professionnelle) obtained in the last 12 months, or a certificate of final success in the degree if you present the degree later.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree and your goal is to create a business, you must provide proof of a business creation project in a field that matches your training.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must provide a signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

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Which documents must you provide for the job-search residence permit if you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity?

If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide your valid talent-chercheur card, or a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) validated online, for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide proof of nationality for the job-search residence permit: a passport with pages showing civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas, or another document with a photo such as a consular certificate, identity card, consular card, certificate of nationality, etc.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide a justificatif de domicile (proof of address) dated less than 6 months ago for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, are married and come from a country that allows polygamy, you must provide a sworn declaration that you are not polygamous in France for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide 3 identity photographs for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide proof of health insurance for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide confirmation from the research organisation of the completion of research work for the job-search residence permit. You can present the confirmation from the research organisation when the job-search residence permit is handed to you.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity and your goal is to create a business, you must provide proof of a business creation project in a field that matches your training for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must provide a signed copy of the commitment to respect the principles of the Republic for the job-search residence permit.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

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Can you work with the job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS?

During the validity of the job-search residence permit or VLS-TS, you can work as an employee. The employer does not have to ask for a work authorisation (autorisation de travail).Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
During job-search card/VLS-TS validity, salaried work is allowed. Salaried work under the job-search card/VLS-TS must be linked to the applicant's studies. Salaried work under the job-search card/VLS-TS must pay more than 2 800,53 € gross monthly. The job-search card excludes Algerian students. Job-search card rules differ for talent-chercheur card holders.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
The job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS is valid for 1 year.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
The job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) or VLS-TS cannot be renewed.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
The job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) does not concern Algerian students.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

When must you apply for renewal?

If you live in France when you obtain your degree, you must file your application for the job-search residence permit (titre de séjour) at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your home in the 2 months before the end date of validity of your student card or student-mobility card.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04
If you have a talent-chercheur residence card that is reaching the end of validity, you must file your application for the job-search residence permit at the préfecture or sous-préfecture of your place of residence in the 2 months preceding the end date of validity of your talent-chercheur card.Service-Public · Checked 2026-11-04

Renewal planner · the end date of your permit gives the filing window