Intern foreigner in France: long-stay visa or residence card
Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are a foreigner no European, you can stay in France as intern under certain conditions. You must come to France for more than 3 months to follow a vocational training or do an internship in a company or in a public or private hospital for non-profit. You have to take steps to obtain an entry visa for France. If your internship is extended, you must apply for a residence card in the prefecture. We're taking a look at the regulations.
What applies to you ?
Internship in company
You are concerned if you are foreigner and that 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 the issuance of a diploma or a title or the recognition of a level of professional qualification within the framework of one of the following courses:
- School or university curriculum
- Vocational training
- European Union (EU) or intergovernmental cooperation program in the fields of education, training, youth or culture.
You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.
This agreement is between you, the foreign training institution and your host company.
The internship agreement cannot give you the status of employee.
FYI
The duration of the internship cannot exceed 6 months.
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 the basic maintenance allowance paid to the French Government fellows, i.e. €615.
Please note
If you are Canadian, you do not have to have your internship agreement validated.
Validation of the agreement by the administration
The company must, At least 2 months before the start of the internship (or 1 month if your internship is part of a European or intergovernmental cooperation program), have the internship agreement validated by the administration.
This is done either by:
- Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the prefecture
- Internet.
An online service is available:
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
In case of agreement, the agreement referred to 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 to validate your agreement is refused.
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must apply to the competent French authorities in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) mention intern. This visa allows you to enter France and exempts you from applying for a residence card.
THEOfii: titleContent may summon you to complete additional formalities such as a medical examination.
Who shall I contact
Please note
If your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Passport valid
- Tripartite internship agreement, approved by the administration and signed between you, the training institution or your employer established abroad and your host company in France
- Proof of your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France.
Ask the French authorities responsible for submitting your application.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an addendum to the initial internship agreement
To renew your internship, the company that welcomes you must have the administration validate a endorsement to your initial internship agreement.
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
If the administration has not replied within 15 days, the request for validation of the endorsement is accepted.
Request for residence card
If the amendment to your internship agreement is validated, you must request a temporary residence card mention intern. The request is made in the prefecture or sub-prefecture.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
Documents to be provided
- Long-stay visa coming to the end of validity
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo ID card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth 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 the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
- Initial internship agreement and its amendment
- Proof of your resources.
Cost
You have to settle €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of the agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your prefecture.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on the place where your application is submitted).
Continuing education
You are concerned if you are foreigner employee of a company established abroad and you come to France to follow a continuing professional training.
If necessary, your vocational training can be supplemented by one of the following:
- Training provided by a continuing vocational training organization
- Internship in a company with which your employer has business relations.
You must complete your internship as part of an internship agreement.
This agreement is concluded between you, your employer abroad and the continuing vocational training organization in France or the company with which your employer has business relations.
The internship agreement cannot give you the status of employee.
FYI
The initial duration of the internship may not exceed 12 months.
You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France.
The minimum amount per month is set at the monthly amount of the Smic: titleContent either raw or €1,823.03.
Validation of the agreement by the administration
The training organization shall, At least 2 months before the start of the internship, to have the internship agreement validated online by the administration.
This is done either by:
- Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the prefecture
- Internet.
An online service is available:
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
In case of agreement, the agreement referred to 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 to validate your agreement is refused.
Please note
If you are Canadian, you do not have to have your internship agreement validated.
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must apply to the competent French authorities in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) mention intern. This visa allows you to enter France and exempts you from applying for a residence card.
THEOfii: titleContent may summon you to complete additional formalities such as a medical examination.
Who shall I contact
Please note
The initial duration of the internship is 12 months maximum.
If the duration of your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Passport valid
- Tripartite internship agreement, covered by the administration and signed between you, the training institution or your employer established abroad and your training organization in France or the company with which your employer has commercial relations
- Proof of your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France.
Ask your consulate for information on how to submit your application.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an addendum to the initial internship agreement
To renew your internship, the training organization or company with which your employer has business relations must have the administration validate a endorsement to your initial internship agreement.
This is done either by:
- Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the prefecture
- Internet.
An online service is available:
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
If the administration has not responded within 15 days, the request for validation of the endorsement is accepted.
Please note
The internship can only be extended once. The duration of the internship may not exceed 18 months.
Request for residence card
If the amendment to your internship agreement is validated, you must request a temporary residence card mention intern. The request is made in the prefecture or sub-prefecture.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
Documents to be provided
- Long-stay visa coming to the end of validity
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo ID card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth 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 the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
- Initial internship agreement and its amendment
- Supporting documents on your resources.
Cost
You have to settle €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of the agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your prefecture.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on the place where your application is submitted).
Internship in public hospital
You may be affected, under certain conditions, if you foreigner and are a health professional (doctor, pharmacist, registered nurse, etc...) in your country and you come to do a practical internship in France. This internship must take place in a public health institution within the framework of 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 party to the health cooperation agreement and, if different, the organization that pays you.
The internship agreement cannot give you the status of employee.
Please note
The initial duration of the internship may not exceed 6 months.
You must have a minimum amount of resources to live during your stay in France, corresponding to the amount of the gratuity that will be paid to you.
Validation of the agreement by the administration
The receiving hospital must, At least 2 months before the start of the internship, have the probationary agreement validated by the administration
This is done either by:
- Registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the prefecture
- Internet.
An online service is available:
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
In case of agreement, the agreement referred to 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 to validate your agreement is refused.
Please note
If you are Canadian, you do not have to have your internship agreement validated.
Application for a long-stay visa as a residence permit
You must apply to the competent French authorities in your country of residence for a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) mention intern. This visa allows you to enter France and exempts you from applying for a residence card.
THEOfii: titleContent may summon you to complete additional formalities such as a medical examination.
Who shall I contact
Please note
If your internship is less than 3 months, the procedure is different and you short-stay visa.
Documents to be provided
- Passport valid
- Tripartite internship agreement, approved by the administration and signed between you, the training institution or your employer established abroad and your host health institution in France
- Proof of your resources
- Proof of accommodation in France.
Ask the French authorities in your country for the submission of your file.
Who shall I contact
Validation of an addendum to the initial internship agreement
To renew your internship, the hospital that welcomes you must have the administration validate a endorsement to your initial internship agreement.
Have an internship agreement of more than 3 months of a foreigner national
If the administration has not responded within 15 days, the request for validation of the endorsement is accepted.
Request for residence card
If the amendment to your internship agreement is validated, you must request a temporary residence card mention intern. The request is made in the prefecture or sub-prefecture.
Warning
It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.
Documents to be provided
- Long-stay visa coming to an end
- Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
or consular certificate with photo
or photo ID card
or consular card with photo
or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
- Proof of address less than 6 months old
- 3 photos.
If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth 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 the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
- Initial internship agreement and its amendment
- Supporting documents on your resources.
Cost
You have to settle €75 by tax stamps.
The stamps are requested at the time of the agreement on your request or the delivery of your card. Ask your prefecture.
Handing over the card
The card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on the place where your application is submitted).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30Horaires exceptionnels le jeudi 2 avril de 08h30 à 09h45 et de 14h00 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the Ministry of the Interior.
Special provisions applicable to trainee foreigners
Refusal and withdrawal of the residence card
Stamp duty payable and taxes
Renewal of the residence permit
List of documents to be supplied: item 62
FAQ
Service Public
Service Public
Ministry of Social Affairs