--- title: "France Graduate job search 2026: income €2,801+/mo needed" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/graduate-job-search/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- France · Work # France Graduate job search **Income needed:** €2,801+ a month ≈ $3,130 Residence card or VLS-TS "recherche d'emploi / création d'entreprise" (graduate job search) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** €2,801+ a month ≈ $3,130 (Income of over EUR 2,800.53 a month (≈ $3,130) · Gross monthly pay required for an employment taken during the card, which must relate to the studies. A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Card fee when applying in France: EUR100 tax plus EUR50 stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Tax paid when validating the VLS-TS after arrival, in addition to the visa fee, for applicants who left France after graduating.) - **First stay:** 1 yr (Card or VLS-TS valid 1 year; not renewable.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-European nationals; Algerian nationals are excluded.) ## Key facts Graduate job search is a work route for France. Applicants need income of €2,801+ a month ≈ $3,130. You can stay 1 yr. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Money needed:** €2,801+ a month ≈ $3,130 - **Government fees:** €150 ≈ $170 · €100 ≈ $110 - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fees €250 ≈ $280 in total (2 fees); income to show €2,801+/mo ≈ $3,130. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: €150 ≈ $170 · €100 ≈ $110** - EUR 150 (≈ $170) Card fee when applying in France: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. - EUR 100 (≈ $110) Tax paid when validating the VLS-TS after arrival, in addition to the visa fee, for applicants who left France after graduating. **Shown, not spent: €2,801+/mo ≈ $3,130** - EUR 2,800.53 a month (≈ $3,130) Gross monthly pay required for an employment taken during the card, which must relate to the studies. **Renewal: 1 year max, no extension** The card or VLS-TS is valid 1 year and cannot be renewed; at the end you can ask for a work or business card if you found a job or created a company. [Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17319) **Where to apply: Abroad or in-country** Graduates living in France apply at the prefecture; those who returned abroad apply for the VLS-TS from abroad. [Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17319) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Can't be renewed: 1 year in total at most - Needs earlier residence or an existing status in France - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from Algeria ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a non-European national (Algerian students are excluded). - Applicants in France hold a student or student mobility-programme card. - A French professional licence, specialised master, Master of Science or other degree at least equivalent to a master, obtained in the last 12 months. - Applicants who left France after graduating can apply within 4 years of the diploma, for a VLS-TS. #### What you must show - Employment during the card must relate to the studies and pay more than EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month. #### Documents - Health insurance proof, passport, photos and the signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic. - Proof of a business-creation project related to the field of study, if that is the aim. #### Steps 1. In France, apply at the prefecture in the 2 months before the student card ends. 2. Apply for the VLS-TS from abroad, then validate it on arrival. #### After you arrive - The card lasts 1 year and cannot be renewed. - At the end, employees can move to a salaried card at EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month or higher, or a talent card for higher pay. ## When you become tax resident How France decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year in total** - **Tax residence:** Tax domicile rules in Art. 4 B CGI. - **Income tax:** Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026. [All tax rules for France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **Full official text** One-year non-renewable card for graduates of a French master-level degree or professional licence to look for a job or create a business related to their studies; employment during the card must pay over EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month. (source 1) #### What you must show and pay - Income of over EUR 2,800.53 a month (≈ $3,130) · Gross monthly pay required for an employment taken during the card, which must relate to the studies. (source 1) - A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Card fee when applying in France: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. (source 1) - A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Tax paid when validating the VLS-TS after arrival, in addition to the visa fee, for applicants who left France after graduating. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a non-European national (Algerian students are excluded). (source 1) - Applicants in France hold a student or student mobility-programme card. (source 1) - A French professional licence, specialised master, Master of Science or other degree at least equivalent to a master, obtained in the last 12 months. (source 1) - Applicants who left France after graduating can apply within 4 years of the diploma, for a VLS-TS. (source 1) - Employment during the card must relate to the studies and pay more than EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month. (source 1) - Health insurance proof, passport, photos and the signed commitment to respect the principles of the Republic. (source 1) - Proof of a business-creation project related to the field of study, if that is the aim. (source 1) - In France, apply at the prefecture in the 2 months before the student card ends. (source 1) - Apply for the VLS-TS from abroad, then validate it on arrival. (source 1) - The card lasts 1 year and cannot be renewed. (source 1) - At the end, employees can move to a salaried card at EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month or higher, or a talent card for higher pay. (source 1) #### Stay - Card or VLS-TS valid 1 year; not renewable. - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Not renewable according to our source. #### Nationality Non-European nationals; Algerian nationals are excluded. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. #### Work Employment related to the studies at more than EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month; the 60% working-time cap for students does not apply. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Carte de séjour ou VLS-TS "recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17319) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Graduate job search and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Graduate job search | Needs income of €2,801+ a month ≈ $3,130 | 1 yr | – | | [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/ict-posted-employee/) | Needs income of €1,867+ a month ≈ $2,090 | 3 yr | – | | [Employee residence card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/employee-residence-card/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Seasonal worker card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/seasonal-worker/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | – | | [Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/) | Needs income of €67k+ a year ≈ $75k | 4 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Graduate job search? Income of over EUR 2,800.53 a month (≈ $3,130). Gross monthly pay required for an employment taken during the card, which must relate to the studies. A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170). Card fee when applying in France: EUR100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Tax paid when validating the VLS-TS after arrival, in addition to the visa fee, for applicants who left France after graduating. ### How long can I stay on the Graduate job search? Card or VLS-TS valid 1 year; not renewable. ### Can I work on the Graduate job search? Employment related to the studies at more than EUR2,800.53 (≈ $3,130) gross a month; the 60% working-time cap for students does not apply. ### Who can apply for the Graduate job search? Non-European nationals; Algerian nationals are excluded. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. ## More in France [Talent · Renowned person](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-renown/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/working-holiday/) [Entrepreneur / freelancer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/entrepreneur-liberal/) [Talent · Artist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-artistic/) [Talent · Business creator](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-business-creator/) [Talent · Innovative project](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-innovative-project/) [Talent · Innovative co. employee](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-innovative-company-employee/) [Talent · Employee on assignment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-employee-on-assignment/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 1 official source.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Carte de séjour ou VLS-TS "recherche d'emploi/création d'entreprise"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17319) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.