Master’s Degree students in France who are reaching the end of their programs no longer need to apply for A.P.S. (“Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour”) at least four months in advance, a major relaxation of administrative burdens on foreign students and employers alike.

According to Decree N°2014-921,  such students seeking employment authorization may now file their Applications for A.P.S. at any time until the expiration of their student permits.  Similar to the U.S. immigration provisions relating to Optional Practical Training, A.P.S. allows foreign graduates opportunities to seek and engage in employment in France. A.P.S. also allows those students the opportunity to remain in France after the expiry of the student permit.

In order to hire a student on A.P.S. without performing a labor market test, French employers need to pay a salary that is at least 1.5 times the minimum wage and offer employment in a position related to the underlying field of study. The new reforms enable both students and prospective employers the opportunity to engage in employment with less burdens relating to timing.