French Tripartite Internship Agreement
Mandatory French internship agreement under law no. 2014-788, signed by the school, the host company, and the intern.
When does the mandatory gratification kick in for 2026?
As soon as the intern's effective presence exceeds two months — that is, more than 308 hours (44 days at 7 hours/day) during the same academic year, whether consecutive or not, under article L.124-6 of the Code de l'éducation. Critically, the gratification is owed from the very first hour worked, applied retroactively — not merely from the start of the third month. This retroactive rule catches many host organisations off guard, so tracking cumulative hours from day one is essential.
Source: Service-public.fr — Convention de stage (F16734) · updated 2026
About this form
The convention de stage tripartite (three-party internship agreement) is the mandatory legal framework for any work placement integrated into a French school or university programme. Required under loi n°2014-788 of 10 July 2014, it is a binding contract between three legal parties under article L.124-1 of the Code de l'éducation: the educational institution, the host organisation, and the intern (or their legal guardian if a minor). In practice, both the school's référent teacher (academic supervisor) and the company's designated tutor also sign — though neither is a co-contracting party in the strict legal sense. The agreement sets out the intern's duties, dates, weekly hours, the gratification (statutory stipend) and supervision arrangements. Any placement exceeding two months of effective presence (more than 308 hours, i.e. 44 days at 7 hours/day) triggers a mandatory gratification of at least 15 % of the hourly social-security ceiling (plafond horaire de la Sécurité sociale, PHSS). The reference rate stood at 4.35 €/hour in 2024; the 2026 rate must be confirmed on urssaf.fr before signing.
Worked example
Léa, a BTS (two-year vocational diploma) student, completes a 4-month, 35 h/week placement at an SME. Because the duration exceeds 2 months (308 hours), the gratification is mandatory and retroactive from day one. Using the 2024 reference rate of 4.35 €/hour: approximately 151.67 hours of monthly presence × 4.35 € ≈ 660 € gross per month, fully exempt from social security contributions because it equals the statutory minimum. For 2026, the amount will be higher as the PHSS is revised each 1 January — always verify the current rate on urssaf.fr before the convention is signed.
How to fill out the form
- Identify and record all three legal parties in full: the educational institution, the host organisation (including its exact legal name and SIRET business registration number), and the intern — or their legal guardian if under 18 — with complete contact details for each party.
- Describe the intern's assignment precisely: the tasks and missions entrusted, the skills to be developed, the exact start and end dates, and the agreed number of weekly hours of presence at the host organisation.
- Appoint a référent teacher on the educational institution's side and a company tutor (tuteur) on the host's side; both are responsible for supervising, supporting and evaluating the intern throughout the placement and must be named in the agreement.
- Calculate and record the gratification: it is mandatory beyond 308 hours of effective presence (more than two months), at a minimum of 15 % of the PHSS in force — verify the 2026 rate on urssaf.fr, as the 2024 reference rate was 4.35 €/hour. Also document associated benefits: 50 % transport reimbursement, canteen or meal-voucher access, and any authorised leave entitlements for placements over two months.
- Collect all signatures before the internship begins, provide the intern with their own signed copy, and register them in the dedicated section of the registre unique du personnel (the mandatory single staff register) — or in a standalone document reserved for internship agreements — keeping this entry strictly separate from the employees section, as required by article L.1221-13 of the Code du travail as amended by loi n°2014-788.
Good to know
- The gratification is retroactive from hour one if presence exceeds 308 hours (44 × 7 h days, i.e. more than 2 months): budget using the PHSS in force at the time of signing — the 2024 rate of 4.35 €/h does not apply in 2026. Verify the current rate on urssaf.fr before any agreement is signed.
- A waiting period equal to one-third of the previous internship's duration must elapse before the same position can be filled by a new intern (article L.124-11 of the Code de l'éducation), unless the previous intern terminated the placement themselves.
- Respect the quotas: hosts with 20 or more employees cannot have interns exceeding 15 % of headcount; smaller hosts are capped at 3 simultaneous interns (article L.124-8). Breaches carry a 2,000 € fine per intern, rising to 4,000 € for repeat offences within the year (article L.124-9).
Frequently asked questions
When does the mandatory gratification kick in for 2026?
As soon as the intern's effective presence exceeds two months — that is, more than 308 hours (44 days at 7 hours/day) during the same academic year, whether consecutive or not, under article L.124-6 of the Code de l'éducation. Critically, the gratification is owed from the very first hour worked, applied retroactively — not merely from the start of the third month. This retroactive rule catches many host organisations off guard, so tracking cumulative hours from day one is essential.
What is the minimum gratification amount in 2026?
At least 15 % of the PHSS (plafond horaire de la Sécurité sociale — the hourly social-security ceiling), defined under article L.241-3 of the Code de la Sécurité sociale as the annual PASS (plafond annuel de la Sécurité sociale) divided by 1,600 hours. In 2024 this worked out to 4.35 €/hour (PASS 2024 = 46,368 €; PHSS = 29 €). The PASS is revised every 1 January by ministerial order, so the 2026 rate exceeds the 2024 figure — check urssaf.fr for the exact current amount. Stipends at this legal minimum are exempt from social security contributions under article L.242-4-1 of the Code de la Sécurité sociale.
What is the maximum length of an internship?
Six months per academic year per host organisation, corresponding to 924 hours of presence (6 months × 22 days × 7 hours), under article L.124-5 of the Code de l'éducation. Exceeding this limit entitles the intern to seek judicial reclassification of the relationship as a full employment contract (contrat de travail). Employers should note that the six-month cap applies per academic year, not to a rolling 12-month window.
Who must sign the convention de stage tripartite?
Three parties legally conclude the agreement under article L.124-1 of the Code de l'éducation: the educational institution, the host organisation, and the intern (or their legal guardian if under 18). In practice, the school's référent teacher and the company's tutor also sign, bringing the total to five signatories. These two additional signatories are formally designated in the document but are not co-contracting parties in the strict legal sense.
Is the intern entitled to the same benefits as employees?
Not identical benefits, but several key ones. Under article L.124-13 of the Code de l'éducation, the host must reimburse 50 % of public transport costs between home and workplace, and must provide access to the company canteen or meal vouchers (titres-restaurant) on the same terms as employees. For placements over two months, the agreement must include provisions for authorised absences and leave. Interns do not, however, accrue paid annual leave (congés payés) or seniority — they are not employees.
What penalties apply if an internship is found to be abusive?
If an intern is found to occupy a permanent staff position, they may seek judicial reclassification as an employment contract under article L.124-7 of the Code de l'éducation. Breaching intern-quota rules (article L.124-8) or the maximum permitted duration exposes the host to an administrative fine of up to 2,000 € per intern affected, rising to 4,000 € for a repeat offence within the same year under article L.124-9.
Official sources
Updated on 2026-06-27
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