Visas and Residence Permits

Do you come from a country outside of the European Union (except Algerian citizens) and are you conducting research or teaching at a university in France for more than 90 days? The « Talent Chercheur » (researcher – talent) residence permit is made for you!

Are you an Algerian citizen and are conducting research or teaching at a French university for more than 90 days? The « scientifique – chercheur » (scientist-researcher) status is made for you.

When you are a PhD student, eligibility requirements for the visa and residence permit « Talent Chercheur » or « Scientifique – Chercheur » may vary based on your situation.

You are a PhD student registered with a French university (in a PhD program or an international joint thesis program) and you will stay in France for more than 90 days.

Your spouse will be joining you in France for more than 90 days and is from a non-European country (outside of the EU / the European Economic Area / Switzerland)? Spouses of researchers will need a long-stay visa to enter France and a residence permit to be legally staying in France.

For visa and residence permits for stays over 90 days, what are the rules for children under and over 18?

Individuals in possession of a visa with the student designation «ETUDIANT E1 Valider en ligne » valid for a period of more than three months are exempted from applying for a temporary residence permit during their first year in France.
Holders of this visa must have their visa approved after an online process to be done once in France, turning the visa into the equivalent of first residence permit. This process is mandatory for all holders of this visa.

Individuals in possession of a long-stay visa with the designation « étudiant » (student) and « carte de séjour à solliciter » (residence permit to be requested) must apply for a residence permit in the first two months after their arrival in France.
The same applies for holders of a short-stay visa with the reference « étudiant concours » (competition student) who passed the competition test for which the visa was issued. It is recommended to look for information about the process by contacting the school, acc&ss Paris Centre or the préfecture in charge according to the home address in France.
Holders of a « mineur scolarisé » (student under 18) visa must apply for a student residence card within two months of their 18th birthday and not later. This procedure should be anticipated: look for information by contacting your school, acc&css Paris Centre or by writing to the prefecture of your place of residence.

Students who wish to stay in France after the expiry date of their residence permit must apply for a renewal of their VLS TS or residence card between 2 and 4 months before the expiry date, on the ANEF web site (Administration Numérique des Etrangers en France).

Foreign students who have just obtained in France a professional degree (licence professionnelle) or the equivalent of a master’s degree or higher degree may apply for a residence permit mention « Rechercher d’emploi Création d’entreprise » or RECE (Job Search Business Creation) or a temporary ahtorization (APS), non-renewable, to seek employment in France.