After the completion of research or studies, researchers and students shall have the possibility to stay on the territory of the Member State that issued an authorisation under Article 17, on the basis of the residence permit referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, for a period of at least nine months in order to seek employment or set up a business.

For the purpose of stay referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall, upon an application by the researcher or the student, issue a residence permit to that third-country national in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 where the conditions laid down in points (a), (c), (d) and (e) of Article 7(1), Article 7(6) and, where applicable, in Article 7(2) of this Directive are still fulfilled. Member States shall require, for researchers, a confirmation by the research organisation of the completion of the research activity or, for students, evidence of having obtained a higher education diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications. Where applicable, and if the provisions of Article 26 are still met, the residence permit provided for in that Article shall be renewed accordingly.

Member States may require that the application under this Article of the researcher or the student and, where applicable, the members of the researcher's family shall be submitted at least 30 days before the expiry of the authorisation issued under Article 17 or 26.

If the evidence of having obtained a higher education diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications or the confirmation by the research organisation of the completion of the research activity are not available before the expiry of the authorisation issued under Article 17, and all other conditions are fulfilled, Member States shall allow the third-country national to stay on their territory in order to submit such evidence within a reasonable time in accordance with national law.

After a minimum of three months from the issuance of the residence permit under this Article by the Member State concerned, the latter may require third-country nationals to prove that they have a genuine chance of being engaged or of launching a business.

Member States may require that the employment the third-country national is seeking or the business he or she is in the process of setting up corresponds to the level of research or of studies completed.

If the conditions provided for in paragraph 3 or 7 are no longer fulfilled, Member States may withdraw the residence permit of the third-country national and, where applicable, his or her family members in accordance with national law.

Second Member States may apply this Article to researchers and, where applicable, the members of the researcher's family or students who reside or have resided in the second Member State concerned in accordance with Article 28, 29, 30 or 31.