To get an internship agreement quickly, gather all the information from the start (company SIRET number, supervisor, dates, tasks, stipend) and go through a school or provider that can prepare it fast. At EDU Business Institute, it's ready within 24 to 48 business hours once your file is complete, and a priority option gets it to you within 2 business hours.
It's a classic scenario: the company says yes on a Thursday, wants you in on Monday, and you realise the agreement doesn't exist yet. And the internship can't start without it. The good news: in most cases, the delay doesn't come from the document itself, but from missing information.
Why must the agreement be signed before the first day?
Because it's what makes the internship exist. The French Education Code (article L124-1) requires an agreement signed by three parties: you, the host organisation and the school or training provider. As long as a signature is missing, you aren't an intern in the eyes of the law.
Starting "in the meantime" puts everyone at risk: you, because you aren't properly covered, and the company, which is taking someone on with no framework. To understand exactly what this document contains, read our article What is an internship agreement?.
What information should you have ready to move fast?
This is what saves (or costs) the most time. Before doing anything, gather:
About you
- full name, date of birth, phone and email;
- your most recent qualification.
About the company
- the organisation's legal name and its SIRET number;
- the exact address of the workplace (if it differs from the head office);
- the supervisor's first name, surname, job title and email.
About the internship
- the start and end dates;
- the internship title and main tasks;
- the gross monthly stipend and any perks;
- planned leave.
A typical case: Thomas has landed a four-month internship at an estate agency. On the day he fills in his file, he's missing the SIRET number and his supervisor's email. It takes him two days to get them. Processing, on the other hand, took only a day once everything was in. The lesson: ask the company for this information at the same time as you accept the offer.
How long does it really take?
It depends on who issues the agreement.
- Your school or university: timelines vary a lot between institutions and times of year. Sometimes allow several days, sometimes longer at the start of the academic year.
- EDU Business Institute: the agreement is prepared within 24 to 48 business hours of receiving a complete file. Your course login details arrive within 24 hours of enrolling.
On top of this comes the time it takes the company to sign. Let your supervisor know in advance that a document is on its way, and ask who signs on their side: that's often where things drag.
Is there an even faster option?
Yes. At EDU Business Institute, the VIP Service gets you your agreement within two business hours. Conditions: the request must be made on a business day (Monday to Friday), between 9 am and 7 pm, with a complete file. Outside these conditions, the 2-hour turnaround doesn't apply.
A few honest details: the VIP Service costs €29 on top of the standard price, and it can't be refunded once the agreement has been issued. It isn't covered by our refund policy either. It's useful when your internship really does start in the next few days, not as a reflex.
How can you speed up the signature on the company's side?
An agreement ready in 24 hours can still sit on a manager's desk for a week. A few habits help avoid this bottleneck:
- identify the signatory as soon as you accept the offer: it isn't always your supervisor, sometimes it's the director or the HR department;
- let them know a document is coming, with the start date at the top of your message;
- check spam folders: e-signature emails sometimes end up there;
- send a polite reminder after 48 hours if nothing happens, mentioning the start date.
A typical case: Amina receives her agreement on a Tuesday. She had told her supervisor about it the day before, asking who would sign. The office manager signs the same day, and Amina starts as planned the following Monday.
What if I no longer have a school?
This is often the real reason things get stuck. Once you've graduated, or if you're changing careers, your former institution generally can no longer issue you an agreement.
The solution is to go through a training provider. At EDU Business Institute, you enrol in one of our 9 online courses of 200 hours, open to all profiles, and the agreement is linked to that course. We cover these situations (career change, gap year, job hunting) in our article Internship agreements for adults.
Which mistakes waste time?
The most common ones, based on the files we handle:
- A missing or incorrect SIRET number. Check it in the official company directory before sending it.
- Tasks that are too vague. "Helping the team" isn't enough. Three or four concrete tasks, linked to your course, make the agreement clear for everyone.
- An internship that's too long. An internship can't exceed 6 months with the same organisation per academic year (article L124-5). A request for 7 months will be blocked.
- A forgotten stipend. Beyond two months of presence, it's mandatory (article L124-6). An agreement offering less than the legal minimum can't be issued.
- A supervisor who can't be reached. If nobody signs on the company's side, the agreement stays on hold.
How much does it cost, and what happens if the company says no?
At EDU Business Institute, enrolment costs €299, course and agreement included, payable in 3 instalments with Klarna. One enrolment covers up to 6 months of internship in total: if your first internship only lasts 3 months, you can get a new agreement free of charge for the remaining months.
Companies are free to set their own internal rules. If the company turns your agreement down, our refund policy applies: €250 refunded, €49 application fee kept, on request within one month of receiving the agreement, with the company's written refusal. The details are on our internship agreement page.
FAQ: urgent internship agreements
My internship starts on Monday: is it still possible?
Often, yes, if your file is complete and the company can sign quickly. With the standard 24 to 48 business hours, a complete request submitted early in the week usually leaves enough time. For a last-minute request, the VIP Service (€29) gets you the agreement within 2 business hours.
Can I send my file at the weekend?
Yes, but it will be processed from the next business day. Timelines are counted in business hours.
My internship dates change after signing: do I have to start all over again?
No. An amendment signed by all three parties is enough to change the dates, tasks or supervisor.
I don't have a company yet: can I still enrol?
Yes. You can start the course and send the internship details as soon as you've found one. Our guide How to find an internship can help with your search.
Build your experience through an internship
Whether you are a student or already a graduate, move from theory to practice: choose your program and your internship can start within a compliant framework.
