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Before coming to France: applying for a visa
Depending on your situation, a visa may be required for entering France. Applying for a visa takes time, so we strongly advise you to anticipate the process. To find out what type of visa you need, you can use the online tool France-Visas.
For stays of up to 90 days: the “Schengen” short-stay visa
This visa is for stays of up to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. It should be noted that certain nationals are exempt from the short-stay visa requirement to enter the Schengen area, of which France is a member:
- Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino
- Nationals of countries listed on the common Schengen list (Annex 2 of Regulation (EC) 2018/1806).
For stays longer than 90 days: the long-stay visa
This visa is for stays of more than 90 days, except for nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and the Holy See, who may stay in the European territory of France without a visa for longer than 90 days.
The “talent-researcher passport” visa was created to facilitate the arrival of international researchers in France. In order to obtain it, you must have a hosting agreement, which sets the framework of your research residency in France and will be required to process your visa application. To learn more about the hosting agreement, please consult the fact sheet. Download the “Hosting agreement” fact sheet.
If you come to France for a period of between 4 and 12 months, you will be issued a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) mentioning “talent-researcher passport”. Once you have arrived in France, you will have to validate it online.
Download the practical PTC VLS-TS sheet If you come to France for more than 12 months, you will be issued a simple visa mentioning “talent-researcher passport”. Once you have arrived in France, you will have to apply for a residence permit.
Download the fact sheet PTC 1st application
If you are not eligible for the hosting agreement scheme and if you register at UNICAEN as a doctoral student, you will be issued a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) mentioning “student”. Once you have arrived in France, you will have to validate your visa online.
The conditions under which Algerian nationals may be admitted to reside in France are governed by the Franco-Algerian agreement of 1968.
If you come to France for more than 12 months, you can apply for a “scientist-researcher” visa mentioning “residence permit” to be requested within 2 months of your arrival. To obtain this visa, you must have a hosting agreement, which is essential for processing your visa application. Do not hesitate to consult our fact sheet “Convention d’accueil” to learn more about this document. If you come to France as a student, you will be issued a “student” visa.
Upon arrival in France: the steps to be taken
When you have arrived in France, you will have to complete certain procedures depending on the type of visa you have been issued. Most of these can be done online, on the ANEF website (Administration Numérique pour les Etrangers en France – Digital Administration for Foreigners in France), which allows most of the residence permit procedures to be carried out electronically.
All the procedures are to be carried out online, on the ANEF website. Please note that people who apply for a “talent-researcher passport” residence permit for the 1st time may be issued a multi-annual residence permit, which is of equal duration to that indicated on the hosting agreement (up to a maximum duration of 4 years).
Download our PTC fact sheets: 1st application | Renewal | VLS-TS to be validated online
The validation of your VLS-TS is to be done online.
Download the “Student” fact sheet.
To stay in France for more than three months, you must apply for a residence certificate within three months of entering France. This is to be done at the Préfecture.
For more information, please contact the EURAXESS Service Centre.
