Change of status from student to employee in 2026: conditions, procedure and pitfalls to avoid

Published on June 16, 2026 · 8 min read

Coming to the end of your studies and have landed a job in France? To stay legally and work, you must switch from student to employee: this is what's called a change of status. The procedure is done online on the ANEF (Administration Numérique pour les Étrangers en France, the digital portal for foreign nationals in France) and follows precise conditions: minimum salary, work permit, link with your diploma. A single oversight and your file can be refused. Here is everything you need to know to successfully move from a student permit to an employee permit in 2026.

1. What is a change of status from student → employee?

The "student" residence permit only authorises you to work part-time (within the limit of 60% of the annual working time). As soon as you sign a full-time employment contract, this permit is no longer enough: it must be transformed into a permit allowing you to work fully, that is, an "employee" (salarié) residence card (open-ended or long fixed-term contract) or a "temporary worker" (travailleur temporaire) card (short fixed-term contract).

Depending on your diploma and your pay, you may sometimes aim directly for a Talent qualified employee card (formerly "passeport talent"), valid for 4 years and more advantageous. We come back to this below.

2. The conditions to meet in 2026

To obtain an employee permit, several conditions must be met:

• An employment contract (open-ended or fixed-term) with an employer established in France;
• A work permit requested by the employer (see next section);
• A job consistent with your training: the administration checks the link between the proposed position and the diploma obtained in France;
• A sufficient salary (see the table below).

3. The work permit and the labour market test

This is the key step. In principle, before hiring a foreign national, the employer must prove that they have not found an available candidate on the French labour market: this is what's called the labour market test (opposabilité de la situation de l'emploi). In practice, the offer must be published for 3 weeks (on France Travail or the Apec). Fortunately, several situations exempt you from this requirement:

• High salary: if your gross pay is at least equal to 1.5 times the SMIC (minimum wage), the labour market situation is not opposable to you;
• Shortage occupation: if your position appears on the list of shortage occupations applicable in your département, the labour market test is lifted;
• French master's-level diploma: holders of a master's level (Bac+5) diploma obtained in France benefit from relaxed rules.

4. What minimum salary in 2026?

The reference threshold is the SMIC, revalued in 2026. Since 1 June 2026, the gross monthly SMIC is 1,867.02 € (full-time, 35 hours). The "1.5 SMIC" threshold that exempts you from the labour market test therefore stands at around 2,800 € gross/month.

Indicative amounts based on the SMIC as of 1 June 2026. The exact thresholds may change; check on service-public.fr at the time of your application.

5. The ANEF procedure step by step

• 1. The employer files the work permit application on the dedicated platform (foreign labour services);
• 2. You create your change-of-status application on the ANEF ("I request a change of status" section);
• 3. You upload the supporting documents: passport, current student permit, employment contract, diploma, proof of address, etc.;
• 4. The prefecture processes the file and issues a filing certificate then, if needed, a receipt (récépissé);
• 5. You pay the tax and collect your new permit.

6. The processing times to anticipate

Processing a change of status generally takes 2 to 4 months, but this varies greatly depending on the prefecture. In the Île-de-France region, times can be longer. That is why it is essential to file early: as long as your student permit is valid or you hold a receipt (récépissé), you remain in a regular situation. (See our article on processing times by prefecture in 2026.)

7. The most common pitfalls

• Filing too late: an application after the student permit's expiry can be deemed inadmissible;
• Position unrelated to the diploma: the administration may refuse if the training/job consistency is not demonstrated;
• Work permit forgotten by the employer: without it, no employee permit;
• Incomplete file on the ANEF: a missing document or wrong format = the clock restarts or refusal;
• Salary entered incorrectly: an amount just below the threshold can trigger the labour market test.

In the event of a refusal, you have an appeal deadline of 2 months (30 days in the event of an OQTF, obligation to leave French territory). Our article residence permit refusal and appeals details how to proceed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work while my change of status is being processed?

Yes, under conditions. Once your file is registered and the work permit granted, the prefecture can issue you a receipt (récépissé) authorising you to work. Before that, you remain subject to the limits of your student permit.

What happens if my salary is below 1.5 SMIC?

The change remains possible, but the employer will have to demonstrate that no candidate was available (offer published for 3 weeks), unless your position is among the shortage occupations of your département.

Must I complete the civic training before my multi-year card?

In 2026, the 24-hour civic training, followed by an exam, must be validated before a multi-year card is issued. Inquire with the OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration, the French Office for Immigration and Integration) about your situation.