Do countries like France, Germany, or Italy offer post-study work visas after MFin for Indian students?Can I get a full-time job in Europe after doing MFin from these countries?

Question

I’m planning to apply for a Master’s in Finance in Europe and want to understand how post-study visas work in countries like France, Germany, and Italy. How long can international students stay after graduation? Is the visa extension automatic or do we need a job offer? Also, is it easy to convert it into a work visa later?

V Gupta · Accepted Answer

A lot of Indian students think the real challenge is getting into a good MFin program &mdash; but the real game starts after graduation, when visa timelines start ticking fast.

France gives a 2-year post-study visa, no job offer needed. Many use this window to apply at firms like BNP Paribas, Capgemini, and Soci&eacute;t&eacute; G&eacute;n&eacute;rale. Once hired, switching to a work permit is straightforward, as long as the salary meets the required threshold.
Germany offers an 18-month job search visa, which allows full-time work during that time. Most MFin grads who get jobs in Frankfurt or Munich switch to the EU Blue Card &mdash; which is valid for up to 4 years and even leads to PR.
Italy is tighter &mdash; just 12 months of stay-back. While firms like UniCredit and EY do hire MFin grads, most students either move to Germany or apply to multinational firms that have a presence across borders.

One thing to keep in mind is language barriers can slow things down in Italy and France. Germany is more flexible for English-speaking roles, especially in fintech and corporate banking.
For more details you can read this blog on "Top Masters in Finance Colleges in Europe 2025"

Ishaan M · Answer

A lot of students think staying back in Europe after a master&rsquo;s is complicated, but for finance grads, it&rsquo;s actually quite structured.
&bull; In France, an MFin grad can get a 1-year APS visa to look for work. With a CDI job and salary above a certain threshold, it can turn into a residence permit. &bull; Germany offers an 18-month post-study visa for job search. It doesn&rsquo;t require a job offer upfront. Once employed, switching to the EU Blue Card is common. &bull; Italy allows a 12-month extension after studies via &ldquo;Permesso per attesa occupazione.&rdquo; Job offers from companies that sponsor are key here. &bull; Some MFin grads in Germany start with internships or working student roles and convert them to full-time jobs later. &bull; A helpful trick: apply to companies that are familiar with these visa pathways &mdash; global firms and finance multinationals usually have in-house teams that handle this process smoothly.

Aarushi S · Answer

Yes, countries like France, Germany, and Italy do offer post-study work visas to Indian students after completing an MFin, and each has slightly different rules.
In France, students get a 2-year post-study visa (APS) after finishing a master&rsquo;s. You don&rsquo;t need a job offer to apply &mdash; the visa gives you time to search and start working. Once you land a full-time role (minimum salary around &euro;38,000&ndash;&euro;40,000/year), it can be converted into a work permit.
Germany gives 18 months after graduation to find a job. You must apply for a job-seeker visa, but it&rsquo;s not tied to a specific employer. Once you get a contract (usually with a salary of &euro;45,000+), you can apply for a residence permit or EU Blue Card, which is easier for STEM/finance jobs.
In Italy, the stay-back period is 12 months. It's called &ldquo;permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione.&rdquo; You can convert it into a work permit once hired, but the timeline is tighter than France or Germany.

V Ritik · Answer

Yes, France, Germany, and Italy all offer post-study work visas for Indian students after completing an MFin degree. These visas allow students to stay back and look for full-time roles. In France, graduates can apply for a 12-month APS (Provisional Stay Permit) after finishing the program. If a job contract is secured&mdash;usually with a minimum salary of around &euro;38K&mdash;it can be converted into a full work permit.
Germany gives an 18-month job-seeker visa automatically post-graduation, and the transition to a work visa is smooth once full-time employment is secured. Italy provides a 12-month stay permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) for job search after the course. One big plus in Germany is that many finance roles don&rsquo;t mandate German if the company is international. However, in France and Italy, knowing at least basic local language helps, especially outside major cities. The key is to start networking and interning early, ideally during the MFin itself.