France

If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, your employer normally needs a work authorisation before hiring you. The main routes:

• Job search after studies: with a master’s degree or equivalent (e.g. licence professionnelle) from a French institution, you can get the residence card “recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise” for 1 year (not renewable). Apply within 12 months of your diploma if you live in France, or within 4 years from abroad. You can work during this year; to switch to a work residence card, your job must match your studies and pay more than €2,800.53 gross a month.
• Talent – EU Blue Card (carte de séjour “talent – carte bleue européenne”): for holders of a degree of at least 3 years of higher education or with 5 years of professional experience, with a contract of at least 6 months and a salary of at least €59,373 gross a year (2026). It is issued for up to 4 years.
• Salaried worker card (carte de séjour “salarié”): for other permanent jobs – the employer first applies online for the work authorisation.

All residence permits are explained on service-public.gouv.fr.