September 5, 2025

Registering as a Job Seeker After Studies: Obtaining the APS Extension

Registering as a Job Seeker After Studies: Obtaining the APS Extension - Main Image

Finishing your French degree is exciting—but so is the ticking clock on your student residence permit. If you want to stay in France to look for your first job or launch a start-up, the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS)—officially renamed “Recherche d’emploi / Création d’entreprise (RÉCE)” since 2024—is the bridge you need. This guide explains, step by step, how to register as a job seeker, file for the 12-month APS extension, and avoid the mistakes that cost many graduates their future in France.

Smiling international graduate holding a diploma and checking documents on a laptop, with the Eiffel Tower in the background symbolising the transition from student life to professional life in France.

1. APS / RÉCE at a Glance

Feature APS / RÉCE Standard Student Card
Purpose 12-month stay to look for work or create a company Study only
Work Rights Up to 964 h/yr (≈60 % full-time) 964 h/yr
Change-of-Status Fast-Track Yes—CDI ≥ 1.5 × SMIC → Employee or Talent Passport No
Renewable? Once, only in limited cases (e.g., thesis defence delay) Yes, while enrolled
Online Portal ANEF “Je change de situation” ANEF “Je renouvelle”

Legal basis: Articles L422-20 to L422-22 of CESEDA and the 12 January 2024 decree that merged APS into the RÉCE sub-category.

2. Who Is Eligible in 2025?

  1. Non-EU/EEA graduates who obtained one of the following in France in 2024-2025:
    • Master’s degree (or higher) from a state-recognised institution
    • Professional licence (Licence Professionnelle) or DUT/BUT with a diplôme de niveau 6 followed by at least 12 months of salaried work during studies (internships excluded)
    • “Titre d’ingénieur diplômé” or Grandes Écoles degree (Bac+5)
  2. Hold a valid student residence permit at the time of filing.
  3. Apply within four months before the permit’s expiry—and before leaving France.
  4. Show sufficient resources (currently €615 net per month) or a job offer below 1.5 × SMIC.

Tip: If you already have a work contract paying ≥ 1.5 × SMIC, skip APS and apply directly for the “Passeport Talent – Qualified Employee” track. See our guide on the 2025 quota system for work permits.

3. First Administrative Step: Registering as a Job Seeker

French law does not require Pôle emploi registration to obtain APS, but it is strongly advised because:

  • It proves active job search when the prefecture asks for updates.
  • It counts waiting days toward future unemployment benefits (ARE) once you switch to an employee card.
  • Registration generates a “Contrat de recherche d’emploi” that can strengthen your dossier.

How to register in 2025:

  1. Create an account on pole-emploi.fr
  2. Select “Jeune diplômé étranger – APS” in the status drop-down.
  3. Upload your degree attestation and student permit.
  4. Attend or request a remote induction interview within 30 days.

4. Preparing Your APS File: 2025 Checklist

  • Copy of passport (ID page + entry stamps)
  • Copy of current student residence permit (+ récépissé if renewal underway)
  • Degree certificate or provisional graduation attestation (Attestation de réussite)
  • Latest student transcripts (bulletins de notes)
  • Job-seeker registration proof (Pôle emploi screenshot or convocation)
  • Evidence of resources ≥ €7 380 for 12 months (bank statements, scholarship letter, parents’ affidavit)
  • Proof of address < 6 months (EDF bill, rental contract)
  • 3 × ID photos (passport size, ICAO standard)
  • €75 tax stamp (timbre fiscal) only payable on approval

Common Pitfall #1: Submitting an internship contract as proof of resources. Prefectures reject it because it ends before the 12-month APS validity.

5. Filing Online via ANEF: Step-by-Step

  1. Log in with FranceConnect+ (see our France Connect tutorial).
  2. Click “Je demande un titre de séjour” → “Recherche d’emploi / Création d’entreprise”.
  3. Fill the CERFA No. 16071*03 form auto-generated by ANEF.
  4. Upload scans (PDF < 5 MB, JPG < 3 MB). Combine multi-page documents.
  5. Submit; ANEF issues an instant “Attestation de dépôt”. Print it—airlines accept it as proof you can re-enter France if you travel.
  6. Wait for prefecture instructions (average 6–10 weeks in 2025). Track status under “Mes démarches en cours”.

If the portal shows “Pièces complémentaires demandées”, you have 30 days to respond or the file will auto-close.

6. Your Rights During the 12-Month APS

  • Work up to 964 hours per year (≈20 h/week). Exceeding triggers URSSAF fines and jeopardises future permits.
  • Leave and re-enter France as often as you like within Schengen rules.
  • Switch to another status at any time—no need to wait until APS expires.
  • Start a company (micro-entrepreneur, SASU, etc.) once you register with URSSAF and update ANEF.

Simple horizontal timeline illustrating the year after graduation: Month 0 graduation → Month -2 to 0 apply APS → Months 1-12 job search/limited work → Find CDI ≥ 1.5 SMIC and switch to employee or talent passport.

7. Upgrading to a Work or Talent Passport Permit

If you obtain:

  • A CDI or CDD ≥ 12 months paying at least 1.5 × SMIC gross (≈€2 640 in Sept 2025),
  • or seed funding of €30 000+ for your start-up,

you can apply online under “Je change de statut”. Attach your contract or business plan. The prefecture must give you an answer within two months; silence equals acceptance (Article L432-4 CESEDA), though in practice prefectures still issue the physical card.

8. Frequent Obstacles and How to Solve Them

Problem Why It Happens Solution
“Diplôme non reconnu” message School not in MESR database Upload school’s Arrêté d’homologation and contact ImmiFrance for a template explanatory note.
File stuck at “En cours d’instruction” > 90 days Prefecture backlog Send a Rappel de délai via ANEF message box; if no reply in 30 days, file a référé mesure utile in the Tribunal Administratif.
Salary below 1.5 × SMIC Employer budget limits Negotiate perks after reaching wage threshold (e.g., pay basic salary 1.5 × SMIC + bonuses).
Travel with expired permit but valid APS récépissé Airline ignorance Carry translated Instruction NOR : INTV2005116J + Schengen border guards memo.

9. How ImmiFrance Can Help

  • Pre-filing eligibility audit (free 15-minute call)
  • Professionally assembled ANEF dossier (PDF merging, certified translations)
  • Real-time monitoring and prefecture follow-up
  • Lawyer referral if deadlines are missed or a refusal/OQTF is issued
  • Transition strategy to Passeport Talent or Entrepreneur/Liberal after job offer

Our clients obtained an APS in 94 % of cases in 2024—becoming full employees or founders within eight months on average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew the APS after one year? Only if you are waiting to defend your thesis or a mandatory professional exam. Renewal is capped at 24 months total.

Do internships during APS count toward the 964-hour limit? Yes. All paid activities, including internships and freelance gigs, add to the annual quota.

What happens if I leave France for more than six months? Absences over six consecutive months void the APS. You would need a new visa to return.

Is health insurance still mandatory? Yes. Once no longer a student, you must register with CPAM as a job seeker; see our CPAM registration guide.

Can undocumented graduates apply? No. You must hold a valid student permit at filing. Explore our article on work-based regularisation if your status already lapsed.

Ready to Secure Your Post-Study Future?

Don’t let paperwork derail your French career ambitions. Book a free eligibility call with an ImmiFrance adviser today, or explore our affordable APS filing packages starting at €249. Visit immifrance.com/consultation or call +33 1 84 60 28 02 to get expert support from people who live and breathe French immigration.

Your degree is the first key—ImmiFrance hands you the rest of the ring.