The "Job Search or Business Creation" Residence Card: A Springboard for Foreign Graduates in France

Each year, France welcomes tens of thousands of foreign students. Many wish to extend their stay after their studies to develop their qualifications or pursue a professional activity. For these young talents, French law provides a specific mechanism: the temporary residence card for "job search or business creation", often called RECE.

Provided for under articles L 422-10 et seq. of the Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum, this residence permit represents a real opportunity for graduates and their future employers alike.

As a lawyer practicing in immigration law, I observe in my daily support of young graduates that a good understanding of this mechanism often makes the difference between a smooth process and administrative complications.

This article presents the essential points to know about the RECE card: eligibility conditions, rights conferred, points of vigilance and practical advice.

1. Who can benefit from the "job search or business creation" residence card?

This residence permit is intended for non-European foreign nationals who meet the following conditions:

• hold health insurance;
• hold a diploma at least equivalent to a master's degree awarded by a French higher education institution accredited at the national level;
• or have completed research work as part of a stay in France under a multi-year "talent researcher" residence card;
• and hold a valid student or talent researcher residence card at the time of application.

The application can be submitted as soon as the diploma is obtained, before the student card expires. It will be filed with the prefecture of the place of residence, often digitally.

The application can also be submitted by a foreign national who has left France after their studies, within four years of obtaining their French diploma. This possibility is often overlooked and is worth keeping in mind.

2. A temporary one-year residence card, non-renewable

The "job search or business creation" card is issued for a maximum period of one year. It is non-renewable, making it a transitional mechanism.

During this period, the holder can:

• search for employment corresponding to their level of qualification and training;
• or create a business linked to their studies or research work.

This flexibility is one of the main advantages of the card: it allows you to remain in France without the obligation to obtain prior work authorization, and thus to benefit from an initial professional experience without restrictions.

In practice, this year goes by quickly: job searching, interviews, contract negotiations. This is why I always recommend thinking about the next steps from the very beginning.

3. What rights does this residence permit confer?

The holder of the RECE card benefits from an expanded right to residence and work for the entire duration of the permit's validity.

a) Right to work

They can engage in any salaried activity, without hourly restrictions, provided that the employment is linked to the qualification obtained and that the gross salary offered by the employer exceeds €2,702.70 as of November 2025.

This amount can sometimes surprise young graduates or certain employers. I recommend checking this point before even applying for or accepting an offer, to avoid disappointments.

b) Right to create a business

The graduate can also launch into the creation or takeover of a business, provided that the project has a direct link to their academic background and is economically viable.

The administration examines in particular the business plan, financial projections and coherence between the training followed and the planned activity. For the project holders I support, I notice that it is often the demonstration of this coherence link that requires the most preparation.

This opening is part of the policy to support innovation and entrepreneurship among young international graduates.

4. An attractive but regulated mechanism

This residence permit is part of an attractiveness strategy, but it remains regulated by the Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum.

A few points of vigilance deserve to be highlighted:

• The non-renewable nature of the permit means you must prepare well for the post-RECE period: work authorization will be necessary to change status, and this process benefits from being anticipated;
• The coherence between the diploma and the professional project remains essential, as does compliance with the minimum salary requirement;
• The entrepreneurial project must be realistic, funded and linked to the training followed.

These requirements may seem technical, but they are entirely manageable when properly anticipated.

Upon expiration of the card, if the holder has found stable employment or realized their business project, they can apply for:

• a "salaried employee" or "temporary worker" residence card;
• or an "entrepreneur/self-employed professional" card, depending on the nature of their activity.

5. Practical advice for foreign graduates

Experience shows that many foreign graduates encounter difficulties when transitioning from student status to employee status. Here are some useful recommendations:

• Anticipate the application: do not wait until the end of the student permit to prepare the file. Prefectures generally require an application submitted between four and two months before the expiration of the previous residence permit. Similarly, it is essential to anticipate the end of the RECE card, which will require significant steps from the young graduate and their employer.
• Carefully prepare your professional project: whether it's a job search or business creation, you must demonstrate a concrete link with your training if you wish to avoid the labor market test requirement.
• Keep documentation: diploma, job search certificates, employment offer letter, business plan… All these documents will be essential for your future status change.
• Pay attention to deadlines: processing can take a long time depending on the prefecture.
• Seek professional assistance: as a lawyer practicing in immigration law, I intervene at different stages of your journey to secure the process: verify eligibility and avoid common mistakes (inadequate contract, lack of link between diploma and employment, late filing…) that can complicate your path.

In Conclusion

The "job search or business creation" residence card offers a valuable opportunity for transition between your studies and your professional life in France. While the legal framework is precise, it is an entirely accessible process when you master its steps and requirements.

I regularly support foreign graduates in these procedures, from the initial RECE application to the preparation for the status change to a professional residence permit.

Each situation is unique: your training, your project, your timeline create a specific combination that deserves personalized analysis.