How to Get An Internship in France

The right opportunities can set you on a path to career success before you ever start your job search. Entries on a resume like a big-name company or unique experience in your chosen field make applications stand out in a market flooded with job seekers. Bonus points if they come with the cultural awareness living and working abroad can bring.

From second-language skills to real-life, practical work in your field, the benefits you gain from an internship abroad—especially in a culturally rich, worker-friendly country like France—take your resume from everyday to extraordinaire. Learning how to get an internship in France will get you ready to enjoy all that personal and professional growth.

Whether you’ve been brushing up on your French skills for a first visit to the country or you’re itching to get back after studying abroad, an internship in France adds extra flair to your resume. Here’s how to do it.

Are there France internship visa requirements?

Depending on the length of your internship, visa requirements may change.

One of the first steps to learning how to get an internship in France is making sure you understand France’s internship visa requirements. The visa requirements to intern in France depend on how long your internship will last:

• Internships that do not exceed 90 days: If you’re interning for fewer than three months, you may not need a visa at all. For example, United States citizens who have a valid passport don’t need a visa to enter, study, or intern in France for under 90 days (though starting in 2024, you’ll need the ETIAS travel authorization). Otherwise, you’ll need to get a short-stay visa if your nationality doesn’t entitle you to a visa waiver.
• Internships that exceed 90 days: France does have a long-stay internship visa, known as the Visa long séjour valant titre de séjour mention stagiaire (long-stay internship visa constituting a residency permit), which lets you stay in France for a longer internship that’s part of professional training at a company or public hospital. It lets you enter France, but you’ll also have to have your long-stay internship visa validated by Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII-French Office of Immigration and Integration) right away.

France maintains an official website for visa applications that offers guidance for student trainees (AKA you!). It’ll take some work to gather required documents and apply for your visa, but trust us, it’s worth it for the resume-boosting experience you’ll get in a country that values its workers.

6 other requirements for interning in France

Also required: a love for culture, architecture, and food!

Ready to tap into your intercultural abilities and let your future resume shine? Exact requirements will vary depend on the exact program you choose, but here are some general requirements to intern in France to keep in mind as you start your search for the perfect internship:

• Government conditions: The French government sets specific conditions for students looking to intern in France. Your project either needs to be part of a training course (like a school curriculum, university degree, or qualification) organized in your home country, or part of an EU cooperation program or intergovernmental scheme in education, training, youth, or culture.
• Class standing: Some internship programs may require you to be in a certain year (or beyond) in college or a recent graduate. It’s also possible to do an extracurricular internship after you earn your degree. If you’re doing an extracurricular internship after you graduate, you’ll need to do it within four years of graduation.
• Language: Interning offers an ideal opportunity to practice your French abroad, but you may need to come in with some skills under your belt to start. Many internship placements in France require you to be able to communicate in French and English. While more difficult, it’s possible to find English-speaking opportunities by interning at a start-up or international company, especially in a bigger city like Paris or Lyon.
• GPA: Some internship programs have a minimum GPA for participants. If you don’t meet the GPA requirement, see if the program you’re interested in attending has a policy for evaluating lower GPAs on a case-by-case basis—some do!
• Academic field: Many internships require you to intern in your academic field.
• Training agreement: In order to get your visa to intern in France, you’ll need a convention de stage, an agreement in French signed by you, your educational institution, and the host company. You’ll also need the agreement validated by the French authorities if your placement goes beyond 90 days.

How to intern abroad in France

Figuring out how to get an internship in France goes beyond a simple job search. Keep these steps in mind as you prepare:

1. Decide when and where to intern in France

Paris? Lyon? Montpellier? It’s all up to you!

Before you start searching for your ideal internship, consider the best time for you to do an internship abroad—and where in France you see yourself interning. Do you want to do an internship after graduation or while you’re still in college? If you intern while you’re still a student, is a full-semester internship abroad or an internship experience over the summer best for your goals and academic progress?

Once you’ve identified the best time to go abroad, it’s time to figure out where you’re headed. France offers a wealth of opportunities, from big, international cities to quaint provincial regions, so look at what’s out there and decide where you can gain the best skills for your academic studies and future career.

2. Inquire at your university or start your search

Make use of the resources at your home university if you’re a current student. Your study abroad office, academic advisor, or career center may already have connections with internship programs in France and can point you in the right direction. If you’re interning abroad independent of a university, it’s also time to start searching.

Either way, you’ll want to decide if you’re applying to internships on your own or participating in an internship program through a provider. You’ll also need to decide if you’re going to study and intern abroad simultaneously or just do an internship, and decide if you want to do an internship for credit or just for the experience.

3. Look for opportunities

You have plenty of options at your fingertips to search for internships in France, including:

• Your university: Check with your study abroad office, academic advisor, career center, and job fairs. If your university uses a career platform like Handshake, take advantage and sign up.
• Job websites and social media: Look for websites and groups dedicated to landing a job or internship. Join local and national Facebook groups that focus on searching for internships. Websites like LinkedIn and Indeed frequently have opportunities posted, too. And don’t forget to use GoAbroad’s database for internships in France!
• French websites: Websites like L’Etudiant are another great place to search for internships.
• Company websites: French companies may list internships on their website so you can apply directly. If you don’t see any internships that fit, you can also send a speculative application or reach out to learn more about the company. You never know where that conversation may take you.
• Networking: Make use of your networks to search for opportunities! Maybe you already studied abroad in France and still have connections, or your home university has alumni you can connect with during your search. You can also check out alumni networks for international students like France Alumni.

4. Make sure you meet requirements

Common requirements are GPA, language skills, and a CV/resume.

Whatever you decide—for credit or non-credit, summer or semester, Paris or province—you’re in for a great experience. France is a great place to study and work, so take some time to ensure you meet the requirements to intern in France overall and for your specific program. Check minimum GPA and language-level requirements, gather required paperwork, and then…

5. Apply!

You’ve identified your dream internship in France. Let’s show ‘em why you’re perfect for the role.

Before you hit send on your application, make sure to update your CV with the most up-to-date information about your academic background and work experience. You’ll likely need documents like a cover letter and CV in French, so make sure your translation is accurate and proofread your French grammar and spelling.

6. Impress at your interview

Put on that outfit that lets you feel professional and confident, prepare answers to common questions, and brush up on your knowledge of the company where you’re interviewing. You want to come in prepared so you can speak politely but with confidence, especially if you’re interviewing in your second language. Take the time to do your research so you can exude confidence.

READ: Internships Abroad: Tips For Your Interview

7. Get the job—and get your documents in order

Congratulations, soon-to-be intern! Now that you’ve landed the job, it’s time to gather all required documents (like your convention de stage).

If you do need a visa, make sure you have all supporting documentation, including proof of financial resources, in order. France’s website for student trainees can help you figure out exactly what you need. Then, start the visa application process as soon as possible to make sure you have your visa in hand when it’s time to start your internship.

8. Create a budget

Before spending all your spare change on wine and baguettes (we know it’s tempting!), create a budget for your time abroad. Program fees, housing, airfare, and more can add up, but planning your budget will help you avoid a lot of stress once you’re on the ground for your internship. Oh, and before you go, apply for scholarships and grants to help fund your time in France.

9. Book your flight

Bon voyage!

You’re almost there! Book your flight, pack your bags, and get ready for a cultural and professional experience that might just change your life. Go ahead, France is waiting.

Get matched with 5 internships in France—for free!

How much does it cost to intern in France?

How much it costs to intern in France depends on the length of your program and the cost of living in the city where you intern. You can expect a one-month program to cost around $4,000 to $5,000, then factor in added costs like your flight and day-to-day expenses when building a budget. Here are some costs for interning in France to keep in mind:

• Program fee: You’ll likely pay a program fee up front if you’re interning through a provider. Program fees often include things you might otherwise pay for out-of-pocket, including housing, insurance, and field trips. If not, budget for these items separately. Your program fee may also include on-site support and guaranteed internship placement, making the overall process of interning in France a whole lot easier.
• Tuition: If you’re earning credit for your internship and/or taking a class to complement the experience, you may also have to pay tuition.
• Housing: You need a place to live during your internship, so choose a type of housing that gets you the experience you want and fits your budget. Whether you want to find a place with other students or live with a host family to get more French language practice, you’ll find plenty of options in France. Housing may be provided with your program fee through a provider, but if you’re interning on your own, you’ll want to start looking for student accommodations and budget separately for this expense.
• Daily expenses: Consider factors like meals not included with your housing, cell phone, and local transportation costs to account for the money you’ll spend day-to-day in France.
• Visa and passport: Account for costs associated with your visa if you do need a visa to intern in France. This includes getting a passport if you don’t already have one—even if you don’t need a visa, you’ll definitely need a passport to enter France.
• Personal spending: Don’t forget the fun stuff! From the museums and cultural activities to the food and beyond, there’s so much to experience. Make time to explore your temporary home city, and save money to travel and see more of France while you’re at it.
• Flight: Finally, look up flight prices to your destination in France, and include that in your overall budget.

3 internship programs in France to consider

The right internship program can make all the difference.

It’s time to set yourself apart in a competitive job market and add an international experience to your resume. Not just anyone can say they’ve gained work experience à la française, and these internship programs will help you reach your goal:

1. Intern in France with World Endeavors

• Why? If you’re a current student with intermediate-level French skills looking to elevate your career prospects, this internship program is for you. You’ll get to do a deep dive into your industry with Bordeaux, Nice, or Paris as your classroom. Choose from placements in fields like museum and cultural management, international business, public health, or even wine (and so much more!), then complement your on-the-job learning with two weeks of intensive French courses for practical skills to put to use while you work.
• Where? Bordeaux, Nice, or Paris
• Read World Endeavors reviews

2. IES Internships Paris Summer – Internship

• Why? You’re guaranteed an internship placement when you attend IES Abroad’s internship programs—and there’s no better place to gain work experience than Europe’s hub for culture and international business. You’ll enroll in an academic internship seminar so you can contextualize your experience and connect with other like-minded students, and you’ll have the option to take a French class, too. Make sure you get the full experience by taking advantage of field trips to discover even more of France.
• Where? Paris
• Read IES Abroad reviews

3. AIFS Abroad Internships in Paris, France

• Why? Gear up for a future career in an industry like fashion, business, marketing, or politics with a full-time internship in an inspiring city. Your internship is just the start thanks to the Global Career Readiness Program, which offers interview preparation, career strengths coaching, leadership training, and more. French language skills go a long way, but this program also features opportunities for English speakers.
• Where? Paris
• Read AIFS reviews

Compare these programs side-by-side with MyGoAbroad

Interning abroad in France will light up your resume!

With so many reasons to do an internship abroad in France, it’s no wonder you’re eager to put in your application. You’ll get to hone your skills in a language that can get you hired and prepare you for the future. You’ll gain a new perspective in your chosen field. Best of all, you’ll get to live and work in a place chock full of history, culture, and learning opportunities and call France home while you build a resume to impress future employers.