Which students are eligible for work-linked training?

If you are a French student or an international student from the EU

  • You can sign an apprenticeship contract if you are under 30.
  • You can sign a professionalisation contract if you are under 26 years old.
  • Students over 26 can sign a professionalisation contract as part of their studies or to resume training by registering with Pôle Emploi.

If you are an international student outside the EU

You can sign an apprenticeship contract (up to the age of 30) or a professionalisation contract (up to the age of 26) under certain conditions.

If you hold a valid residence permit mentioned in article R. 5221-2 - paragraph 11 - you can sign : 

  • An apprenticeship contract (under 30 years of age) at the end of or during the first year of your stay if you can prove that you are enrolled in a training course leading to a degree conferring the grade of Master - labelled CGE (this is the case for the EM Normandie Grande École Programme) or included in the list provided for in 1. of article D. 313-16-51 of the Code de l'Entrée et du Séjour des Etrangers et du Droit d'Asile.
    💡 The temporary work permit is no longer compulsory with a student visa for alternating students under an apprenticeship contract outside the European area - provided that they have a valid "student residence permit". *
  • A professionalisation contract (-26 years old) at the end of a first year of stay. 
    💡 The temporary work permit is mandatory in this case.

Attention: for a request for a professionalisation contract if you are over 26 years old - your residence permit does not allow you to register on the list of jobseekers to obtain the number needed to draw up the contract (Art. R 5221-48 of the Labour Code). You can try to submit a file to the DREETS which will study your application and decide whether to issue a provisional work permit.

Reference text: decree n°2021-360 of 31 March 2021

Information/application procedures for visa or residence permit

*: In case of doubt about whether or not a work permit is required for an apprenticeship contract you must refer to your employer/HR department and contact your reference DREETS: https://dreets.gouv.fr