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Foreigners trainee in France: long-stay visa or residence card
Verified 01 January 2024 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Concerns foreigners who are not nationals of the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway
Supplementary document of the contract stating that the two parties have agreed to amend, adapt or supplement the contract
If you are a foreigner no European, you can stay in France as trainee under certain conditions. You must come to France for more than 3 months to take a vocational training or do an internship in company or in a public hospital. You must go through the process to obtain an entry visa for France. If your internship is extended, you must apply for a residence card in the prefecture.
What applies to you ?
Internship in company
You are concerned if you are foreigner you come to France to do a company internship as part of a training organized in your country of residence.
Your training must lead to a diploma or to the recognition of a level of professional qualification under:
- a school or university course,
- or vocational training,
- or a European Union (EU) or intergovernmental cooperation program on education, training, youth or culture.
You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.
This agreement is between you, the training institution abroad and your host company.
The traineeship agreement cannot give you the status of employee.
The company must, at least 2 months before the start of the internship, have the internship agreement validated online by the administration.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
In the event of agreement, the relevant agreement is transmitted to you before your entry into France.
If the administration has not replied within 30 days (or 15 days if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program), the request for validation of your agreement is refused.
You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France.
The minimum amount per month shall be fixed at the monthly amount of the basic maintenance allowance paid to the French Government grant holders, i.e. €615.
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must ask the consulate in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS) mention trainee. This visa allows you to enter France and waives the need to apply for a residence card. However, there are steps you need to take with theOfii: titleContent, after your entry into France.
Who shall I contact
Please note
if your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you are under the short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Your valid passport
- Tripartite traineeship agreement, signed by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer abroad and your host company in France
- Justifying your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France
Ask your consulate to submit your application.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an amendment to the initial traineeship agreement
To renew your internship, the company hosting you must have validated by the administration a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
If the administration has not replied within 15 days, the request for validation of the amendment shall be accepted.
Application for a residence card
If the amendment to your traineeship agreement is validated, you must apply for a temporary residence card trainee.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.
Documents to be provided
- Expiring long-stay visa
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular attestation with photo
or photo ID
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
- Proof of domicile less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the security)
- Initial traineeship agreement and its addendum
- Justifications on your resources
Cost
You need to pay €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your local prefecture.
Card Delivery
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your residence (depending on the place where your application is filed).
Continuing education
You are concerned if you are foreigner an employee of a company established abroad and who you come to France for continuing vocational training.
Your vocational training may, if necessary, be supplemented by a traineeship:
- in a company in the same group as yours,
- or in a company with which your employer has a business relationship.
You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.
This agreement is concluded between you, your employer abroad and the organization for continuing vocational training in France.
The traineeship agreement cannot give you employee status.
It has to be validated, unless there are exceptions.
General case
The training organization must, at least two months before the start of the training period, have the traineeship agreement validated on-line by the administration.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
In the event of agreement, the relevant agreement is transmitted to you before your entry into France.
The administration takes a decision within 30 days (or 15 days if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program). After this period, the request for validation of your agreement is refused.
You're Canadian
Your internship agreement does not need to be validated.
You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France.
The minimum amount per month shall be the monthly amount of Smic: titleContent crude either €1,766.92.
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must ask the consulate in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS) mention trainee. This visa allows you to enter France and waives the need to apply for a residence card. However, there are steps you need to take with theOfii: titleContent, after your entry into France.
Who shall I contact
Please note
if your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you are under the short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Your valid passport
- Tripartite traineeship agreement, covered by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer established abroad and your training organization in France
- Justifying your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France
Ask your consulate to submit your application.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an amendment to the initial traineeship agreement
To renew your internship, the training organization that welcomes you must have the administration validate a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
If the administration has not replied within 15 days, the request for validation of the amendment shall be accepted.
Application for a residence card
If the amendment to your traineeship agreement is validated, you must apply for a temporary residence card trainee.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.
Documents to be provided
- Expiring long-stay visa
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular attestation with photo
or photo ID
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
- Proof of domicile less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the security)
- Initial traineeship agreement and its addendum
- Justifications on your resources
Cost
You need to pay €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your local prefecture.
Card Delivery
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your residence (depending on the place where your application is filed).
Internship in public hospital
You are concerned if you are foreigner and have either a PhD in medicine or a diploma in nursing and you come to France for a practical internship. This training course must take place in a public health institution under an international hospital cooperation agreement.
You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.
This agreement is between you, the host hospital and the organization that is a party to the health cooperation agreement and, if different, the organization that pays you.
The traineeship agreement cannot give you employee status.
The host hospital must, at least 2 months before the start of the training period, have the training agreement validated by the administration.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
In the event of agreement, the relevant agreement is transmitted to you before your entry into France.
The administration takes a decision within 30 days (or 15 days if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program). After this period, the request for validation of your agreement is refused.
FYI
if you are a canadian, your internship agreement does not need to be validated.
You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France, corresponding to the amount of the bonus you will be paid.
The hourly rate of the bonus is equal to the minimum of €4.35 per training hour, corresponding to 15% the hourly ceiling for social security (either €29 x 0.15).
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must ask the consulate in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as residence permit (VLS-TS) mention trainee. This visa allows you to enter France and waives the need to apply for a residence card. However, there are steps you need to take with theOfii: titleContent, after your entry into France.
Who shall I contact
Please note
if your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you are under the short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Your valid passport
- Tripartite traineeship agreement, covered by the administration and signed between you, the training establishment or your employer established abroad and your host health establishment in France
- Justifying your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France
Ask your consulate to submit your application.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an amendment to the initial traineeship agreement
To renew your internship, the hospital hosting you must have validated by the administration a agreeable at your initial internship agreement.
Have a foreigner national sign a traineeship agreement of more than 3 months
If the administration has not replied within 15 days, the request for validation of the amendment shall be accepted.
Application for a residence card
If the amendment to your traineeship agreement is validated, you must apply for a temporary residence card trainee.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on your prefecture's website.
Documents to be provided
- Expiring long-stay visa
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular attestation with photo
or photo ID
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality under 6 months with photo
- Proof of domicile less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board).
If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.
- Proof of payment of stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the security)
- Initial traineeship agreement and its addendum
- Justifications on your resources
Cost
You need to pay €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your local prefecture.
Card Delivery
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your residence (depending on the place where your application is filed).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Cost: free service
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
Special provisions applicable to trainee foreigners
Special provisions applicable to trainee foreigners
Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card
Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card
Renewal of residence permit
Stamp duty payable and taxes
List of documents to be supplied: point 62
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr