France Immigration

Moving To France

Moving to France, you will need a French visa to gain entry to France or a work permit if you are a foreign national looking to work and reside in France. If you plan on staying in France for a short period of time, the France Schengen visa will be given to you to help you gain entry to French Territories. Meanwhile, if you are staying in France for longer than 30 days, as part of your immigration process you will have to put in your France visa application for the long stay Schengen visa.

General Requirements For A French Visa Application

To apply for a French visa, there are basic requirements needed. This includes;

• A completed visa application from (For short or long stay visa)
• Passport photographs
• A valid Passport
• Provide evidence of Medical Insurance
• Bank statements, employment offer letter, bank statement of your sponsor, or retire benefit plan.
• Provide proof of accommodation
• A clean criminal record
• And proof of visa fee payment

Work Visa From France

For foreign nationals who are not part of the EU/EEA countries will first need to secure a job before applying for a work permit to legally live and work in France. Your work permit will be taken care of by your employer. Nationals of EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens are allowed to work in France without a work permit. For foreign employees coming into France for less than 90 days, your prospective employers will get you an approved temporary work permit by the French Ministry of Labour.

The Long stay work visas are for employees who are staying longer than 3 months in France for work purposes and have fulfilled the eligibility and requirement criterion.

French Post Study work Visa

French post study work visa is a visa type that permits international students to remain in France for a period of 2 years after the completion of their master's degree program from a French institute. For students taking short term courses for 6 months, they will not be not permitted to remain in France after the duration of their course.

French Work Visa for entrepreneurs / self-employed

This visa type is called Visa de long sejour and it is issued for a period of one year under the Self-employed in regulated 'liberal' profession (entrepreneur/profession libérale) category. On your arrival in France, you are to complete documentations permitting you to start your business activities in France. This should be done within 15 days of entry.

Work Visa (Family)

You are permitted to work without a work permit if your family member resides legally in France who has a highly skilled workers' permit. Non-EEA/EU and Swiss Citizenss will need an authorization to work in France before a visa or residence permit can be obtained.

French Work Visa for ICT (Intra Corporate Transferees)

The ICT work permit (Salarié détaché ICT) are for employees hired by a French company to come to France on a work assignment or contract for a given period of time. Employee whose contracts are for less than a year are given VLS-TS. For Seconded ICT employees whose contracts are for a period of 3years are expected to return to their home country at the end of their contract. Alternatively, they could apply for a change of status to a residence permit that will allow them work and earn salaries in France.

France Work permit Requirements

An employer/company is responsible for applying and submitting of work permit application for an employee. This must be done 2 months before the employee's resumption date.

To apply for a French visa, there are basic requirements needed. This includes;

• Work permit visa application form
• A letter containing the role of the employee
• Commercial License or Tax notice.
• Employees passport or ID
• Copy of a residence permit for employees already in France.
• Employees Resume/ CV

French Residence Permit

For foreign nationals planning to reside in France for more than 3 months are required to apply for a resident permit to allow them stay in France. You can consult or seek assistance from an Immigration lawyer or an Immigration law firm to help you handle the processes. Reiss Edwards team of Immigration specialist can help you with your residence permit processes and immigration matters.

What are the document requirements needed to apply?

Applying for residence permit will require you to apply when you are in France. The requirements for residence permit are stated below;

• A valid passport with your long stay visa stamped.
• Birth certificate
• Photocopy of your passport pages
• Medical Insurance
• 2 passport photographs
• Birth certificate of children and marriage certificate
• Bank statement

How long does it take to respond to my Application?

It takes up to 2months for long stay visas to be processed and for short stay visas takes from 5 working days to 3 weeks processing time.

Talent Passport

The talent passport 'passeport talent' was created by the French Government to help foreign employees and self-employed persons to reside and work in France. This will help boost France economy. The Talent passport allows you to remain in France for the period of 4 years. The Family Members of a Passport talent holder will be issued a Multi-year residence permit. Your spouse and children (18 years old) will be allowed to work with this permit.

French Citizenship

Foreign Nationals who wants to live in France permanently can apply for French Citizenship if they have lived in France for a period of 5years. French Permanent residence allows foreign persons to live in France for a period of 10 years with rights to education, work and health care. A permanent residence holder does not have the right to hold public office or the right to vote since you are not a French Citizen. Becoming a French Citizen also means you are a citizen of European Union (EU) and can have freedom of movement in EU member states.

Note: French immigration law permits Dual citizenship.

How can I obtain French Citizenship?

There are ways you can obtain French citizenship. You can apply for a French citizenship if you have worked and lived in France for 5 years, if you are married to a France citizen for a minimum of 5 years and live together, or born to a France citizen.

French Citizenship for a Spouse

In order to get a spouse citizenship, you should have been married to a French citizen for 5 years, lived together and be fluent in French language to be eligible.

French Tech Visa

French Tech Visa are for non- EU founders, investors and start-up employees to obtain a France resident permit. This visa type also extends to the holders' family members (i.e. minor dependent children and spouse) and is valued for a period of 4years and can be renewed after that.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for French Tech Visa?

The French Tech visa eligibility are:

• It requires you to have a work contract with of at least 3 months with a French company that can recruit workers through the French tech visa.
• The annual salary requirement should be twice the French minimum wage.
• Sign an official work contract and get an official letter that shows the company can recruit through the French Tech visa.
• Put in your application for a long stay and residence permit.
• If you are already in France with a different type of residence permit, you can apply for a change of status 2months before the expiration of the previous resident permit.

Other Visa Types

The other types of France visas are the France Family Visa, France Study Visa and France Visitor Visa.

How Can We Help

Reiss Edwards, are a team of Immigration lawyers and trained immigration solicitors who are competent experts in Global immigration. For further information, enquiries and legal assistance, please email us on info@reissedwards.co.uk.