Different Types Of Visa To France -A Complete Guide
France offers different kinds of visas to people who wish to travel to the country for a short visit and for those who wish to move there as residents. You can choose a short-stay visa or a long-stay visa depending on your purpose of visit. Here is a complete guide of visa to France.
Short-stay visas are for those people who
wish to be in France for less than 90 days. Those who wish to stay longer have
to apply for a long-stay visa.
Why
France Is A Favourite Among International Travelers And Migrants?
A nation of historical importance, France is
rich in heritage and culture. This
nation is famous for its cuisine, alpine peaks, and vineyards, museums for
classical art, medieval towns, amazing beaches, and the fashion industry which
makes it one of the top destinations in the world for tourists.
France is considered ‘the destination’ for
lovers of art and artists. The good education system, welcoming nature of the
French and quality lifestyle continues to attract international students and
migrants to this beautiful country.
What Decides The Type Of Visa To France That An International Traveler Requires?
The type of visa that you’ve chosen depends on whether you are going there as a tourist, a student, an employee, for medical and health care, for internship/training, as a volunteer, or to join a family member.
Visa to France also depends on how long you are planning to spend in France.
No, not all international travelers and
migrants require a French visa. The requirements for visa depend on the country
you belong to.
Citizens
Belonging To The EEA, EU, Switzerland
If you
are a citizen of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or
Switzerland you do not require a visa to study, work, and visit or migrate to
France.
Non-EU,
EEA And Swiss Nationals
The
people who live outside the EEA, EU or Switzerland require a visa to go to
France.
Depending
on whether they plan to stay in France for a period less than 3 months or more
than that they’ll have to apply from one among the short-stay or long-stay visas.
Short –Stay Visa Or French Entry Visa
The French entry visa/ the short-stay visa is
for international travelers who wish to be in France for a maximum of 90 days.
Given below are some of the short-stay visas in France.
Schengen
Visa
France is one of the 26 European nations that make up the Schengen area. The countries in the Schengen area are
Austria
Liechtenstein
Belgium
Luxembourg
Czech Republic
Malta
Denmark
Netherlands
Estonia
Norway
Finland
Poland
Germany
Portugal
Greece
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
Iceland
Spain
Italy
Sweden
Latvia
Switzerland
Lithuania
All these nations have a common visa and
there are no border controls between these countries.
You can
enter France using a Schengen visa and be there for 3 months in 6 months.
This
visa does not allow you to take a contract for work or do a part-time job while
in France.
This
visa cannot be renewed while you are still in the Schengen area.
3 Types Of Schengen Visa To France
Uniform Schengen Visa For Short-Stay
This visa allows you to be in the European territory of France which is mainland France
National Visa For Short-Stay
This visa is meant for travelers who intend to be in the overseas territories of France.
These are places that lie outside the European territory
Schengen Visa For Airport Transit
This visa is meant for international travelers who have to make a brief stop at a French airport while traveling to another country.
You are not allowed to leave the ‘international travel zone’ of the airport
Not all foreigners require the airport transit visa
Check beforehand to see if your native country is on the list of countries that require a transit visa in France
You require a Schengen short-stay visa if you have plans to go outside the airport even if it is for a day.
As mentioned earlier a Schengen visa is not necessary for citizens coming from the Swiss, EEA and EU areas. A Schengen visa is also not required if you are a citizen of any one of the following countries too:
Canada
Japan
Israel
Republic of Korea
New Zealand
Australia
USA
A short-stay visa is also not required in the
following cases.
If you
have a residence permit in France
If you
have a residence permit of any one of the countries in the Schengen area
Applying For A Short-Stay Visa To France
You require
a valid passport with all the necessary supporting documents
Sufficient
funds to support your entire stay in France
Submit
your visa application along with all the documents of proof and visa fee at the
French consulate or French embassy within your resident country.
The visa
granted could be a single-entry visa or a double entry visa or a multiple entry
visa and could be valid up to a maximum of 5 years.
French
Long-Stay Visa
The
foreigners who wish to be in France for a period above 90 days and up to a year
require a long-stay visa to do so.
The
long-stay visa is also referred to as the D-Visa or the French national visa
Long stay visas can be
used for the following
To get
yourself enrolled in a University/college
To get a
job in the French territory
To get
permanent residency in France
To join
a family who has been living in France
For
research
To be an
intern
The following are exempted from a long-stay
visa
People
from the Vatican, Andorra, San Marino, and Monaco
Nationals
belonging to Switzerland/ EEA/EU
If you
have a long-term status of residence in one of the countries in the Schengen
area
Students
who’ve been doing their education in France since the age of 16
If you
are a third-country national who has a short-stay visa that shows you are a family
member of a French national
All the other nationals must get a long-stay
visa to enter France and remain there for a period above three months.
Different Types Of Long-Stay Visas To France
Given below are some of the long-stay visas
to France.
French Student Visa (Long-Stay)
All foreign nationals who wish to pursue a course in a school or college or university in France require a student visa.
Proof of enrollment from the college or university is necessary to get this visa
With this visa, you are allowed to live and study in this country
International students can also work for specific hours using a student visa
The different types of student visas are
given below
Student
Visa For Minors (Under 18 Years Of Age)
For
minor students who wish to pursue an education in a public/private school
Primary/secondary/higher
secondary education
Parents
live outside France
The
validity of this visa is for 11 months
Student Visa For Students Above 18 Years
For
students who wish to pursue a degree/diploma/post-doctoral degree
Confirmation
of enrollment in a recognized institution in France
Au Pair Visa
Based on
an agreement (Au Pair agreement) between the host family in France and the
applicant
For
foreign nationals who wish to stay temporarily with their family in France
Aged
between 17 years and 30 years
It is a
study visa that allows you to stay longer than 3 months
You can
work for 5 hours per day
French Visa For Interns/Trainees
To do an
internship in France
Language Assistants Visa In France
You can apply for this visa only if you are single
French Family Visa
This visa is procured to join a family member who is a resident/a citizen of France/EU you have to apply from one among the family visas. Given below are some of the family visas in France.
Family Visa For An
Immediate Family Member Of A French Citizen
Spouse
Child
below 21 years of age
Your
Parents/Grandparents
Parent/Grandparent
of the spouse
Spouse’s
older relative
Family Visa For A Family
Member Of Resident In France (The French Resident Do Not Belong To The EU/Swiss/EEA
Nations)
The
resident in France has to prove that he/she has sufficient financial and other
means to support the family member who intends to move to France.
The
applicant can also provide details if they have sufficient financial means to
support their stay in France.
Family Visa For The
Relative Of An EEA/EU/Swiss National
Dependents
who are less than 21 years of age
Spouse
An older
relative who is dependent
A
dependent relative of the spouse
Family Visa For A
Person Who Holds A ‘Talent Passport’
Resident
permits will be granted to the family members of a foreigner who holds an EU
Blue card or a Talent passport
Visa For Adoption
Visa for French/international citizens who are residents in France to adopt a child from another country and bring him/her to France.
Work Visa To France
To work in France for a period above 3 months you require a long-stay visa for work. You have to fulfill certain requirements and eligibility criteria to get a work visa in France. Some of the work visas to France are given below.
Visa To Run A
Business/Company In France
This
visa allows you to establish a company/business in France
You are
required to submit proof that you have sufficient funds to establish a business
in France
Visa For Salaried
Workers
You can
work in France for a year with this visa
Your
contract for work has to be submitted along with the visa application
Work Visa For
Independent Workers/Professionals In France
For
working professionals like doctors/engineers/lawyers
Before
applying to make sure you understand your job requirements and criteria for
eligibility in France
Sports Visa: Long-Stay
For
Sportsmen/women who wish to remain in France for a year to engage in activities
related to sports
They
have to apply as ‘salaried workers’ if they are getting paid for their sports
activities
They
have to apply as ‘visitor ‘if they are being sponsored by a sports club in
France
Visa For International
Organization Work
To do an
official project/assignment in France for an International organization
Visa For Doing
Volunteer Work In France
To do voluntary humanitarian work in France
The organization for which you are working must be recognized in France
Religious Order Visa: Long-Stay
This visa is applicable for a catholic/protestant Christian priest/missionary to come to France to perform religious duties.
A letter of invitation from the religious institute where you have been appointed is mandatory
Working Holiday Visa To France
It is a multiple entry visa valid for a year
Visa cannot be extended
Youngsters can come to France and learn about this beautiful nation while doing a paid job there
This visa is granted to the citizens of 13
countries
Russia
Uruguay
Taiwan
Canada
Australia
Argentina
Chile
Japan
Hong Kong
New Zealand
Mexico
Colombia
South Korea
The applicant must be between 18 and 30 years of age
No criminal records
Sufficient means to support themselves during the beginning of your stay in France
A return ticket to your native land
Good health records
To Be A Permanent Resident In France
Once you
have lived in France for 5 years continuously you can apply for this visa
The required
years of stay in France will be lesser if you’ve received a degree from a
University in France or if you’ve married a French citizen
You can
apply for a long-term EC card that can be renewed
Through
the process of nationalization, you can apply for citizenship in France
Once
you’ve received citizenship you can enjoy all the rights and benefits of a
French citizen including the right to vote.
Understand what visa you require to move to
France. Submit a visa application form along with all the supporting documents
and the required fees. The visa application has to be submitted at the French
embassy/consulate in your native country.
Once the application has been processed successfully and the authorities are convinced that you are a genuine applicant the visa will be granted.