Trainee residence permit in France: agreement, resources and extension
An internship of more than three months in France needs an agreement approved by the prefecture, then a long-stay visa marked stagiaire.
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Internship in France: resources to plan
Minimum resources for the internship
€3,690
| Per month | €615 |
| Maximum length | 18 months |
| Card stamps | €150 |
A non-EU national coming to France for more than three months for an internship or training receives a long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked stagiaire, then, if the internship is extended, a temporary trainee card. There are three frameworks. In a company, as part of a course followed in your country of residence, the internship lasts six months at most and you need resources of €615 a month, €3,690 for six months. In continuing education, for an employee of a foreign company, the initial length can reach twelve months and you need €1,867.02 a month, the gross minimum wage, which is €22,404.24 over a year. In a hospital, under an international health cooperation agreement, the resources match the stipend paid. In every case, the prefecture must approve the internship agreement (convention de stage) at least two months before the start, and the internship can be extended only once, never beyond 18 months. The trainee card costs €150 in tax stamps. An internship agreement never gives employee status.
Three internship frameworks, three resource levels
The Service-Public.fr page sets out three situations, separate from the status of a student enrolled at a French institution. The framework determines how long you can stay and the minimum resources you need.
| Framework | Agreement between | Maximum initial length | Resources per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | you, your training institution abroad, the host company | 6 months | €615 |
| Continuing education | you, your foreign employer, the training body or partner company | 12 months | €1,867.02 |
| Hospital | you, the hospital, the health cooperation body | 6 months | amount of the stipend |
The continuing-education minimum is the gross monthly minimum wage (Smic), raised on 1 June 2026. A year of continuing education therefore requires €22,404.24; a total length of 18 months requires €33,606.36. Resources can be shown by any means: a grant, pay from your foreign employer, a bank statement. The permit is set out in section L426-23 of the CESEDA, the French immigration code, with details in sections R426-16 to R426-22.
Your budget by internship length
The table applies the official monthly minimums to common lengths. In a company, the internship is capped at six months, so longer rows do not apply. In continuing education, the initial length is twelve months, with one possible extension up to 18 months in total. These figures are minimum resources you must be able to show, not fees you pay: they prove to the prefecture and the consulate that you can support yourself in France during the internship. Proof can combine several sources, for example a stipend from the host and savings, as long as the monthly total reaches the minimum.
| Length | Company internship | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| 4 months | €2,460 | €7,468.08 |
| 6 months | €3,690 | €11,202.12 |
| 12 months | beyond the maximum | €22,404.24 |
| 18 months | beyond the maximum | €33,606.36 |
The timetable: the agreement comes first
Nothing happens without a three-party internship agreement approved by the authorities. The host sends it to the prefecture by recorded delivery at least two months before the start, or one month for an internship under a European or intergovernmental cooperation programme (this shorter period does not apply to continuing education). For an internship starting on 1 March 2027, it must be sent before 1 January 2027, or before 1 February 2027 under a European programme. Beware of silence: with no answer within 30 days, or 15 days for a European programme, approval is deemed refused. Send it early and follow up.
- Signed agreement, approved by the prefecture and sent to the trainee before departure.
- Application at the consulate for a long-stay visa marked stagiaire, with passport, approved agreement, proof of resources and proof of accommodation in France.
- Arrival: the VLS-TS replaces a residence card while it is valid; OFII (the French immigration and integration office) may call you in, notably for a medical check. The visa is validated online within three months, which the VLS-TS validation calculator works out.
Extending the internship: amendment, then trainee card
To go beyond the initial length, the host has an amendment to the agreement approved. The silence rule is reversed here: with no answer within 15 days, the amendment is accepted. For an amendment sent on 15 December 2026, tacit approval would be reached on 30 December 2026. You then apply at the prefecture, usually by appointment, for a temporary residence card marked stagiaire, bringing the expiring visa, your passport, proof of address under six months old, the original agreement and its amendment, and proof of resources.
The card costs €150 in tax stamps (timbres fiscaux) at the reduced rate of the schedule in force since 1 May 2026. Stamps are requested on approval or when the card is handed over, so check with your prefecture before buying them. The internship can be extended only once, and the total never exceeds 18 months.
What the trainee permit does not allow
The agreement does not create an employment contract: a trainee is not an employee, and the permit does not allow other paid work. Moving to a job in France requires a new permit, employee or talent, with its own conditions, and the "which permit" tool helps you find the right one. Students enrolled at a French institution fall under the student residence permit instead. Before you leave, keep in mind that the date of the prefecture’s approval, not the date you sign the agreement, is what unlocks the visa application at the consulate; plan the two-month margin into your start date. Reference: the official page on foreign trainees in France. General information, not legal advice.