Renewing your residence permit

Sciences Po can advise and guide you through your first request or the renewal of your residence permit.

How and when do I renew my student residence permit?

Your renewal request must be made from your computer, tablet or smartphone 24/7, imperatively between 2 to 4 months before the expiry date of your residence permit (after this period, a renewal request can be accepted up to 6 months after the validity date but a fee will be applied (PDF in French, 52 Ko)) if you fall into one of the below categories:

• holder of a student VLS TS or VLT TS mobility visa;
• other reason but wishing to obtain a student residence permit;
• holder of a student residence permit.

Algerian nationals holding a residence permit must apply for renewal 2 to 4 months before the expiry date.

Please note

• You may view the status of your application through the ANEF online portal.
• You will be informed by SMS, by e-mail or directly on the ANEF portal of an appointment inviting you to come and collect your residence permit card (PDF, 80 ko) at the Prefecture of your place of residence. If you are not contacted within two months, contact the Prefecture via their contact form to obtain information regarding your request and if you don't receive a reply, we suggest you book an appointment to collect the card. 
• The Student Services Centre remains available to support and advise you throughout the process.

For other situations (eg: long-term EU resident card or another APS “autorisation provisoire de séjour”, etc.), contact the prefecture (if you live in Paris, use their contact form, for other cities, please refer to their webpage).

Which documents are required?

The necessary documents to submit your request are listed on Service-Public. 

You will need to provide all documents relating to your personal information, your address, your current academic and financial situation in electronic format (Pdf, Jpeg, Png).

Our advice

• Renew your residence permit scrupulously following the indicated timeline to avoid additional costs and being in an irregular situation. If you arrived in France with a student visa, the expiration date of your residence permit is indicated on your visa.
• Make sure you upload the requested document to the corresponding section on the ANEF platform, adding a French translation if your documents are in another language.
• Take your e-photos in a designated photo booth or at a professional photographer.
• Requests for documents (certificate, diploma, transcripts, etc.) can be made online using this form. Otherwise, you will need to contact your programme secretariat.
• Your priority should be to submit your application on time. If needed, upload a short explanation letter in PDF format explaining the absence of a required document(for example: your transcript is not yet available). This will enable you to respect the required timeframe (4 months and no less than 2 months prior to the expiration of your residence permit). You will be offered the opportunity to upload your documents later or the prefecture will directly invite you to do so. 
• Check the validity of your passport, which must go beyond three months after the end of your studies in France.
• Remain in France during the processing of your residence permit renewal application if your visa or residence permit has expired or will expire soon.
• If your residence permit expires a few months before your graduation, follow the procedure for renewing your residence permit to request an extension of your stay until your estimated graduation date. Upload a short explanatory letter in PDF format or fill in the comments space at the end of the procedure, explaining your request.

Third year students

• If you plan to pursue your academic project at Sciences Po after your year abroad, consider renewing your student residence permit.
• If your  student residence permit is close to expiration, you may not have all the requested documents in order to request renewal: explain the situation to the Prefecture and provide the documents to support your case (upload a short explanatory letter in PDF format or explain your situation in the comments space at the end of the application form). 
• If you plan to return to France for your studies and you do not have a student residence permit or a valid certificate of extension of instruction/favorable decision (“attestation de prolongation d’instruction/de décision favorable”), you will have to submit a new student visa application while abroad via Campus France in most cases.

Students undertaking an international dual degree at the Master's level

• To apply for a “Recherche d'emploi et création d'entreprise (RECE)” residence permit, you need, among other things, a student residence permit that was valid at the time of graduation. 
• If you wish to apply for a RECE upon graduation, request the renewal of your French residence permit, even if you are studying abroad.

Working in France

A student residence permit allows you to work a maximum of 964 hours per year in France (approximately 20 hours / week). It is sometimes possible to request an exemption. To do so, your employer must request a work permit for you. 

Algerian nationals will have to apply for a work permit and, if granted, will be able to work 850 hours a year.

NB: The hours worked in the context of an internship do not count towards this total number of hours. 

Stay informed (FR) and do not hesitate to contact the Student Services Center for any questions. 

After graduation

With your degree certificate or proof of achievement and depending on your situation, you may be eligible to apply for one of the following residence permits as listed below:

• Residence card - Job search/company creation (if your program meets the requirements).
• Temporary residence permit (APS).
• Talented passport (Passport talent).

Please check the procedure that applies to you here: “International student: how to work in France after your studies?” (FR)

If you are hired for employment that meets the criteria established by the government, and your student residence permit is still valid, you have the possibility to change your status.

Log on to your personal space on Sciences Po Carrières to learn more about professional opportunities in France. 

Loss of passport or residence permit

If your passport or residence permit is lost or stolen, you should report to the nearest police station as soon as possible to make a declaration (access the online pre-declaration (FR)). Next you must apply for a new passport at your embassy. Following these steps, you can request a duplicate of your residence permit (FR).

Re-entry Visa

The re-entry visa is issued on an exceptional basis, if you are able to prove that you have a residence permit in France. The relevant Prefecture authorizes the deliverance of the visa to return to France in the following circumstances:

• a student has lost their residence permit abroad;
• a student has started the renewal procedure before departure but has left France without having collected his or her new residence permit (please refer to France Visas).

Useful links

• ANEF portal: Validation of the Visa VLT-TS and 1st request / renewal of the student resident permit;
• Renewal of a residence permit (non student) (FR);
• Service Public – Official website of the French Administration (FR);
• La Préfecture de police (FR);
• Recherche d’Emploi et Création d’Entreprise (RECE);
• Temporary Resident Permit (“APS");
• Passeport talent;
• Application for naturalisation.