Principle

An internship is a period of practical training undertaken as part of a course of study. It allows students to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during their studies while gaining genuine professional experience.

Many degree programmes now include internships as part of their curriculum. The choice of internship is therefore crucial for students, especially when it is a final-year placement, as it may lead to their first job.

The internship is regulated by Act no. 1.569 of 12 December 2024 pertaining to internships in professional environments.

For any general questions on this subject or additional information, visit the Youth Employment Unit website.

Status of the trainee

The internships governed by the Act apply to students in higher education, that is, post-secondary level.

Trainees maintain their status as students throughout the duration of the internship under the following conditions:

An internship agreement between the educational establishment, the host organisation and the trainee or his/her legal representatives must be signed
The trainee may not, with the exceptions listed in the Act, be over 29 years of age at the time of the internship
The trainee must remain under the educational establishment’s control
The host organisation must assign the trainee tasks in line with the educational objectives defined by the educational institution and which appear in the internship agreement
The trainee is not eligible for any remuneration. However, for any internship lasting more than two months, a gratuity must be paid to the trainee of 27% of the minimum wage or more. If the amount granted exceeds 70% of the minimum wage, the full sum will be subject to social security contributions payable to the Monaco Social Security Funds

Internships not meeting the conditions for mandatory internships

In this case, trainees are considered to be salaried workers.

The host company is subject to the regulations for recruiting salaried workers:

Obtaining an authorisation to hire staff and a work permit
Compliance with the legal or collective bargaining provisions relating to salaried workers
Registering the trainee with the social security organisations
Paying contributions
Taking out "work-related accident and occupational illness" insurance

Assistance of the Employment Service

If you live in Monaco or the surrounding area, you can contact the Youth Employment Unit (Cellule Emploi-Jeunes) who will help you find an internship.

They will put you in touch with companies who may be interested in you as a candidate and will assist you in your dealings with these companies.