Published on: November 04, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
APS (Master) or Carte de séjour Recherche d’emploi ou création d’entreprise is a job-search or business creation resident permit given to students, who had graduated from a college or university in France.
This article shares the various options to submit an APS or CdS RECE application inside and outside France (visa). To learn more about APS, you can refer to the detailed article APS & CdS RECE: French Job Search Or Business Creation Resident Permit
Topics Covered 📚
- Application Inside France
- List of Prefectures
- Documents Required
- Application Outside France (Ex: India or Belgium)
- Documents Required
- Sources & References
Inside France
The process is online or offline (by appointment or by post) depending on your local prefecture. This information can be easily found on the website of the prefecture.
Some prefectures might ask you to send an email with all your relevant details, especially your 10-digit student resident permit number. Please refer to section 2 in the following article, How To Contact The Prefecture In Your City?
List of Prefectures
Here are a few examples, click the respective links below and follow the process.
| Prefecture | Application Process |
Paris (75) Versailles (78) Mantes-la-Jolie (78) | APS Master or CdS RECE (1st application or renewal) sp-etrangers-versailles@yvelines.gouv.fr |
Essone (91) Nanterre (92) | |
Antony (92) & Boulogne Billancourt (92) | |1st Application for APS Master or CdS RECE | Renewal of APS Master |
| Bobigny (93) | APS Master or CdS RECE |
| Val-de-Marne / Creteil (94) | APS Master | CdS RECE |
Some areas in (94) | APS Master or CdS RECE for ARCUEIL, CACHAN, CHEVILLY LARUE, FRESNES, GENTILLY, L’HAY-LES-ROSES, LE KREMLIN BICETRE, RUNGIS, THIAIS & VILLEJUIF |
| Cergy (95) | pref-sejour@val-doise.gouv.fr (send email) |
| Argenteuil (95) | pref-rdv-etr-argenteuil@val-doise.gouv.fr (send email) |
| Lyon (69) | APS Master or CdS RECE |
Grenoble (38) & Valence (26) | APS Master or CdS RECE |
| Toulouse (31) | haute-garonne.gouv.fr (Changement de statut) |
| Nantes (44) | APS Master or CdS RECE |
| Douai (59) | nord.gouv.fr (download the doc & apply by post) |
List of Documents required
The various documents required to apply in France,
- Copy of your Passport.
- Copy of your birth certificate – apostilled & translated.
- Copy of a valid student resident permit.
- Copy of address proof: rental receipts and a utility bill (electricity, gas, wifi, etc) less than 6 months old. If someone is hosting you, a copy of your Attestation d’hébergement, a copy of their national ID card or resident permit, and a utility bill.
- Tax stamp of 75€ for CdS RECE (not applicable for APS Master given to Indians, etc).
- Copy of Attestation des droits from Ameli website. It explains the social security coverage.
- Copy of your Master’s degree or an equivalent certification. If the degree is not yet available, you can start the APS application using the course completion certificate (attestation de reussite). But the APS will not be issued without the final degree certificate.
Outside France (Ex: India or Belgium)
The APS visa application can be submitted outside France within 4 years of graduation. The documents are usually submitted at a local VFS office in your country of residence and processed by the local French Embassy or consulate. On france-visas.gouv.fr apply for a “Job Search/Business Creation visa”. Choose “Business” as your plan and you will find the relevant options.
List of Documents required
Here are the various documents required to apply outside France, within 4 years of graduation,
- Application form downloaded from france-visas.gouv.fr
- Copy of your Passport.
- Copy of your birth certificate.
- Copy of your expired French student residence permit held at the time of your graduation in France.
- Copy of French address proof less than 3 months old: a rental contract. If someone is hosting you, a copy of the Attestation d’hébergement, a copy of their national ID card or resident permit, and a utility bill.
- Copy of health insurance for a year.
- Copy of your Master’s degree or an equivalent certification obtained in France.
- Proof of financial resources for a year.
A detailed APS visa example is available at VFS: APS – French Job search or Business creation visa Application experience in India.
Sources & References
- APS Master service-public.fr
- Bilateral agreements about Professional mobility between France & various countries immigration.interieur.gouv.fr
- Recherche d’emploi – Création d’entreprise france-visas.gouv.fr
- Création d’entreprise : quelles sont les démarches à effectuer ? economie.gouv.fr/entreprises
- Comment faire pour embaucher un salarié étranger ? service-public.fr
