Terms and Conditions - hospitality internships in France

Article 1 – Purpose

France Internships, represented by its legal representative, Mr. Damien Renaux, a sole proprietorship registered under SIRET number 418 690 608 00025, APE code 9609Z, provides personalised support to hospitality and catering students who are citizens of the European Union (excluding France) and enrolled in an educational institution within the European Union.

France Internships’ mission is to facilitate their integration into host companies in order to promote the success of their professional immersion experience.

Article 2 – Definition of the internship

An internship is defined as a practical learning and professional experience involving a host organisation (private, public, or non-profit), a student, and the educational institution (school, university, or training centre) where the student is enrolled.

It is formalised through an Internship Agreement (Convention de stage), signed by the host organisation, the student, and the educational institution.

Remuneration is not guaranteed and depends on various criteria. Please refer to Article 11 below "Intern status".

Article 3 – Eligibility

To be eligible, the candidate must:

Be enrolled in and pursuing studies at an officially recognised educational institution in their country of residence (recognized by the State, region, or city).
Have a sufficient level of French to successfully integrate into and complete the internship under the best possible conditions.
Provide all documents required by France Internships.
In the case of a non-EU applicant, we will assess the candidate to ensure they meet the legal and administrative requirements for internships in France. France Internships cannot apply for the visa on behalf of the student, cannot guarantee visa approval, cannot replace the school/university.
The visa application is always made by the student via their local French consulate or Campus France.
Candidates must hold a valid visa, be enrolled in a recognised (state or regional) institution, and provide a formal internship agreement (Convention de Stage).
NOTE: an additional fee of 100 euros is required to cover the visa application assistance and handling.
We reserve the right to decline applications where there is a risk of non-compliance with French immigration regulations.

Article 4 – Application deadlines and fees

The candidate undertakes to submit their internship application at least eight (8) weeks before the planned internship start date. This period begins from the date of conditional registration and constitutes a necessary condition for implementing the search and placement service.

At the time of registration, a deposit of seventy-five euros (€75) is required to allow France Internships to begin the internship search. These fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the search. Upon receipt of the deposit, France Internships undertakes to make every effort to secure the desired internship as quickly as possible.

In the event of successful placement, this amount will be deducted from the placement fees.

Article 5 – French language level

A minimum level of French, both spoken and written, is recommended to facilitate good integration within the host company and ensure the smooth running of the internship.

If language training is required prior to the internship, France Internships may offer individual online French lessons and, subject to availability, in-person group courses at French language schools located near the internship site.

These courses remain optional. However, they are strongly recommended for students with a low level of French in order to promote autonomy, professional communication, and adaptation to the working environment.

Article 6 – Insurance

The intern must provide proof of insurance covering civil liability, accident, illness, and medical repatriation.

The internship may not begin without a copy of the insurance certificate. France Internships and the host company cannot be held liable in the absence of valid coverage.

Article 7 – Liability

France Internships acts exclusively as a professional internship placement agency in France. Its sole obligation is to search for and organise the intern’s placement within a host company, in accordance with the requests of the intern and their academic supervisor. France Internships undertakes to exercise the utmost care in the internship search, student support, and assistance provided to all parties concerned: the intern, the academic supervisor, and the internship tutor.

Article 8 – Erasmus+ Mobility programme

Students benefiting from the Erasmus+ Mobility programme undertake to provide all official documents required by the programme. France Internships cannot be held responsible for non-compliance with programme obligations, which remain the sole responsibility of the intern and their educational institution.

Article 9 – Placement fees

Placement fees cover the services listed in the three different packages offered:

Essential - Comfort - Premium

Except in cases of force majeure, fees are non-refundable once the placement has been confirmed.

Reasons may include:

Unforeseeable events preventing the completion of the internship (e.g., natural disaster, fire, flooding, major strike affecting the intern or the company, or an exceptional situation related to public safety or health).
Serious accident preventing the intern from starting the internship.
Mandatory administrative or legal obligations: official cancellation of the programme by the educational institution.
Death of a close relative (parent, sibling, spouse) justifying the intern’s or company’s inability to proceed.

Each reason must be supported by official documentation (medical certificate, administrative notification, official statement, etc.).

Article 10 – Intern’s commitment

The intern undertakes to:

Adopt a responsible and professional attitude, as well as a positive and courteous demeanor toward the staff of the host company.
Respect working hours and the company’s internal regulations and the instructions of the internship tutor.
Follow the tutor’s instructions.
Positively represent their school and France Internships.
Promptly inform France Internships of any serious difficulties.

Article 11 – Intern status

The intern retains their student status throughout the duration of the internship within the host organisation. They do not hold employee status and are therefore not paid as an employee but may receive an internship allowance in accordance with legal rules.

Payment of an allowance becomes mandatory if the internship duration exceeds 2 months (44 days at 7 hours per day), whether consecutive or not, during the same academic year, or in the case of a non-consecutive internship, if the intern completes 309 hours or more during the year.

Below these thresholds, the allowance is optional (to be negotiated between the intern and the company).

Minimum Legal Amount of the Allowance

As of January 1st, 2026, the legal minimum internship allowance is €4.50 per hour of actual presence. This corresponds to at least 15% of the hourly Social Security ceiling (hourly ceiling set at €30 in 2026).

Example: for one month with 140 hours of presence, the minimum allowance is 140 × €4.50 = €630.

This rate is a legal minimum. Some professional awards may provide for a higher amount. In such cases, the more favorable amount applies.

Social Contributions

The allowance paid up to the legal minimum threshold (€4.50 × number of hours) is generally exempt from social contributions (CSG, CRDS, unemployment contributions, etc.). If the host company pays an allowance above the legal minimum, the excess may be subject to social contributions.

Benefits in kind

In the hospitality and catering sector, benefits in kind (meals, accommodation) may be granted to the intern.
These benefits may be included in the calculation of the allowance or considered separately, depending on the applicable collective agreement and current legislation.

IMPORTANT: The information provided above is for guidance only and must be verified and confirmed either by the host company, a certified accountant, or the relevant French social and tax authorities.