You may be planning to work during your stay in France to help finance your studies. Work regulations for foreign students in France can vary from one situation to another. This sheet provides details of the regulations that apply in each case.

> If you are a citizen of an EU Member State (except : Romania and Bulgaria. See below).

You are entitled to work in France without any restriction.

> If you are a citizen of Algeria.

In accordance with the Franco-Algerian agreement, you must apply for a "autorisation provisoire de travail" (temporary work permit) from the relevant "service main-d’œuvre étrangère" of DIRECCTE (Direction Régionale des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l’Emploi) > see address on your residence permit. The period of validity of the temporary work permit will depend on the employment contract presented, and may not exceed twelve months. You must apply for a new temporary work permit if you change employer. You may not work more than 822.5 hours annually (= 18.5 hours per week). 

> If you are a citizen of another country.

CASES :

You come from a non-EU country and are travelling on a short-stay student visa (visa C) :
You must apply for a autorisation provisoire de travail (temporary work permit) from the relevant DIRECCTE (Direction Régionale des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l’Emploi) > see addresses below.

You come from a non-EU country with a long-stay student visa (visa D) :
To work in France, you will need to show to your employer your student residence permit ("titre de séjour étudiant") or your long-stay visa equivalent to residence permit ("visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour"), validated by OFII.
More information on long-stay visa and residence permit >>

You come from Romania or Bulgaria :
To be able to work in France, you must apply for a student residence permit ("titre de séjour étudiant") at Préfecture de police de Paris, from monday to friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm :
- from the 5th of september to the 10th of november 2011, at Cité internationale universitaire de Paris : Service d'accueil des étudiants étrangers, Maison internationale, 17 boulevard Jourdan
75014 Paris, RER B / Tramway ligne 3 : Cité Universitaire.
- from the 11th of november 2011 to end of august 2012, at Centre de réception des étudiants étrangers : 92 boulevard Ney, 75018 Paris, Métro : Porte de Clignancourt (ligne 4).

N.B.: If you are a citizen of Romania or Bulgaria, and do not intend to work during your stay, you will not need to apply for a residence permit. Moreover, if you have obtained in France a Master 2-level qualification, you are entitled to work without a residence permit and without any restrictions.

CONDITIONS :

Not more than 964 hours per year:
As a foreign student (citizen of a non-EU country or of Romania or Bulgaria) you must not work more than 964 hours annually (472 hours for a 6 months' stay), i.e. 20.5 hours per week. 

Preliminary declaration of your employer:
Employers wishing to hire a foreign student must make a preliminary declaration ("déclaration préalable à l'embauche") at the Prefecture (Prefecture of the Police of Paris) that provided the temporary residence permit the student possesses or the Prefecture in the place of residence of the student who has a long stay visa serving as a residence permit, two business days before the hire date. This declaration must be made two business days before the hire date, by e-mail at prefpol.dpg-sdae-6b-declar-prealable-etudiant@interieur.gouv.fr,
or by registered letter with acknowledgement due.

A copy of both sides of the student’s temporary residence permit (or the renewal receipt) or a copy of the long stay visa serving as a residence permit must accompany the declaration that includes the following information:
-    Company name or first and last name of the employer, employer’s address, registered company number (numéro du système d’identification du répertoire des entreprises et de leurs établissements ) or, if the latter is not provided, the number under which social security contributions are paid,
-    First and last names, nationality, date and place of birth of the employee,
-    Expected date of hire,
-    Nature, duration of contract and number of work hours per year,
-    Number of the foreigner’s temporary residence permit or long stay visa serving as a residence permit

For further information, see the Préfecture de Police de Paris website >> 

> If you are going to take an alternating-training course (“formation en alternancce”).

Since the annual working time specified in the alternating training contract exceeds 964 hours, you must apply for a autorisation provisoire de travail (temporary work permit) from the relevant DIRECCTE (Direction Régionale des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l’Emploi) > see addresses below.
N.B. : Algerian students are not allowed to take an alternating-training course.

More informations on www.alternance.emploi.gouv.fr. 

> If you wish to work as an intern.

Students working under internship agreements do not need to apply for work permits.

DIRECCTE (Direction Régionale des Entreprises, de la Concurrence, de la Consommation, du Travail et de l’Emploi) ADDRESSES :

- If you live in Paris:
DIRECCTE de Paris
Service de la main d’œuvre étrangère
19/21 rue Madeleine Vionnet
93 000 Aubervilliers (Metro line 7 station Corentin Cariou, then free water shuttle [navette fluviale] on Saint-Denis' canal).
Opening hours: 9.30am to 12am, Monday to Wednesday.

Mailing address :
Direccte Ile de France
UT 75
Bureau Main d'oeuvre étrangère de Paris
35 rue de la Gare
CS 60003
75144 Paris Cedex 19

Tel.: 01 70 96 20 00
E-mail: dd-75.direction@direccte.gouv.fr

- If you do not live in Paris, please contact the DIRECCTE in your département.
Download the list of DIRECCTEs in the Ile-de-France region >>

WORKING IN FRANCE AFTER YOUR STUDIES:

You’ll have to apply for a "changement de statut d’étudiant à salarié”.
- More information on Service-public.fr (in french) >>
- Apply for a « changement de statut » in Paris (in French) >>
(You have to show a work contract).

OTHER INFORMATIONS SOURCES:

 The information pages in the "Travailler" section provide jobseeking advice for students >>

Picture : Waitress at Café des Deux Moulins, Paris 18ème. © Flickr Alaspoorwho