How To Get A Visa For France part 2 – Part one is here.

Requirements to Get a Visa to France

Visitors to France are generally granted a three-month tourist visa upon their arrival. Still, citizens of the following countries will be required to obtain a Schengen Visa prior to arriving in France if planning on staying for more than three months.

France is one of 26 member countries within the European Union that comprises the Schengen Area. The area operates under a single external border, and free movement is allowed for citizens of all member countries. 

The Schengen area includes some European micro-states located inside the main territory, like Monaco or Vatican City, but excludes major European countries like Great Britain, Spain, or Germany.

Citizens of most South American countries can stay in France for three months without a visa. The following list details the required steps and conditions that must be met to receive a French Tourist Visa:

1. Be an American citizen with a valid passport. The only exceptions for this requirement are Nigerian citizens under the age of 16 and over 65 and travelers entering France for humanitarian reasons.
2. Fill out the visa application online at www.diplomatie.gouv.fr.After filling out the form; you will receive a confirmation email containing an appointment time for your interview at the nearest French Consulate or Embassy located in your state/region of residence within 7 to 10 working days. Please bring this confirmation email to your interview.
3. You must schedule an interview at the French Consulate or Embassy located in the state/region of residence for which you will be applying. Travelers applying from a different area of residence will need to make a second visit without a pre-arranged appointment and pay a fee to process the application. You must plan to be in line for at least an hour prior to the embassy’s opening time.
4. Prepare all necessary documents, which include: one completed visa application form, 1 passport-sized photo (taken within 30 days of your interview), a valid United States passport that is not expiring for at least three more months. The passport must have at least two blank pages for the visa, and one page is preferred.
5. Be prepared to provide documentation detailing your reason for visiting France (i.e., French friends or family, tourism, business meetings, etc.). If you are traveling with a group of individuals coming together for similar reasons, you can prepare one letter detailing this information and simply hand it to the interviewer. If you are applying as a family, you will need separate letters for each family member.
6. In addition to the above-listed documents, if coming to visit family or friends in France, you must also provide proof that the individual hosting you is a French citizen, a valid passport for at least three months beyond the date of your intended return to the United States and a copy of their residency permit or carte de séjour.
7. Have a confirmation letter from an approved travel agency providing trip details. If you are traveling as part of a group tour, this can be a group letter, with details on each individual’s trip.
8. Pay the application fee. The cost of the visa varies depending upon which country you are a citizen of and increases in price if applying for two or more visas at once. U.S citizens pay 70 Euros per person when applying for just one traveler and 74 Euros for two. If you are applying with three or more people, the fee is 60 Euros per person and 64 Euros for four or more travelers.
9. Have your fingerprints taken. If you have never been fingerprinted before, the person taking your prints will take both index fingers and charge you 10 Euros per set.
10. Keep in mind that all of your documents must be in French or accompanied by a certified translation into French. However, it is best to bring original documents (never copies), often accepted over certified translations.

Why Living In France As A Foreigner?

France, the country of wine and cheese! The world-famous destination for tourists, especially rich ones who buy fancy houses in Provence or Normandy! France the home to over 70 million people, though one-third are immigrants or descendants thereof.

It is also one of the most popular destinations for expatriation, but while many want to live in France, few manage. We will explain why so many want to move to France and what they should consider before doing so.

1.    Taxes

If you have ever met an American living in Paris, the chances are that he paid almost nothing for rent enjoyed free public transport and accessible healthcare. The truth is that many states in the US offer similar benefits to attract high-income people to live there, but the overall tax rate is so high that people pay more than their fair share of taxes.

2.    Expensive Rent

Renting in France is expensive. There are many reasons for this, including high taxes, which indirectly increase the cost of housing. While most French people pay between 30% and 40% of their income on housing, it’s not unusual for a foreigner to spend 50 or 60%, especially in Paris.

Some ways to keep housing expenses manageable are to ask family members to house you or get a job in France before moving there, which will help you find an apartment.

3.    The Language Barrier

One of the largest problems foreigners face when arriving in France is the language barrier. French is not an easy language to learn, both because of its complex grammar and over 100,000 words.

In some areas of France, knowing a few words of French might be enough to get you by, but in Paris or other major cities, people will generally only speak French. You can improve your understanding chances if you stick to simple sentences and avoid slang.

4.    Closed-Mindedness

France is famous for its national pride, independent spirit, and patriotism, reflected in some of the world’s best art. However, this nationalism is often accompanied by closed-mindedness towards anything foreign.

People are generally lovely to foreigners but show little inclination to integrate them into French society. This attitude can be difficult to deal with, especially if you’re hoping to find a French wife or husband.

5.    Things to See and Do

France is a world-class tourist destination, famous for its beautiful landscapes and architecture, good food, and diverse culture. Visitors will often tell you that France has the best food in Europe (or even in the world) and that many regions of this country feel like completely different destinations.

6.    Traffic Jams

In many European countries, traffic jams are a regular part of life due to high levels of automobile ownership and inefficient public transport systems. France is no exception, with commuters from surrounding suburbs spending up to 2 hours each way in traffic. Traffic jams are particularly bad in Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse, where the number of cars on the road increases every year.

Conclusion

As a foreigner, the prospect of spending a year in France can be daunting. Although it’s not impossible, gaining a visa to come to France and immigrate for work or school is very difficult. But we’ve got you covered! Worry less, and refer to this article for more information.

How To Get A Visa For France part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

France is the 8th most visited country in the world. It has a cultural history that goes back to the middle ages, and its architecture, language, landscape are fascinating to any traveler. It is also known for its cuisine, where many dishes are served with cheese.

If you are American, you can enter France without getting a visa if you come for no more than three months. However, even though it is free to enter France, American citizens cannot stay there without having any papers on them at all times. If they don’t have these papers and someone asks them for their passport or identification while in France, they will be deported.

Working in France is only allowed for people who are not American. People from the United States must have a work permit to be employed in France. If you are neither American nor an unemployed citizen of that country, no visa is needed if you wish to enter France legitimately.

However, if your plans include staying longer than three months, you must apply for a French visa. There are different types of visas depending on your reason to be in France, and they require different documents.

If you plan to live in France permanently, you need to apply for a long-term visa before coming there. If this is your goal, you need a full dossier with all kinds of documents. We’ve got you covered today, as we’ve compiled the ways to get a visa to France.

Overview of the Types of Visas to France

Many people want to spend time in France, whether for business or pleasure. Many may not realize different types of France visas will be required while living and working in the country.

The visas offer certain protections and rights while also coming with several restrictions. By knowing about these types of visas, individuals can understand their rights while in France. Without further ado, below are the types of visas for France.

1)    Long-Stay Visa

This is the most common form of France visa. It allows an individual to visit or live in France for a specific period, typically 90 days out of every 180 days. This means that it is valid for stays up to 3 months but cannot be used for more than six consecutive months.

Those married to a French citizen may request this type of visa to remain in France with their spouse. Those who have secured employment or worked at least ten hours per week for three months may also apply. Another way to get this type of visa is participating in an internship program.

2)    Short-Stay Visa

This type of visa is typically for tourists as it allows a person to visit France as a tourist for up to ninety days. However, those who plan on traveling/touring multiple countries within Europe may also use this visa type to travel from country to country. Those attending a conference or business meeting in France may also use this type of visa to attend and return home afterward.

3)    Long-Term Student Visa

An individual who plans on studying at a French institute or university must apply for this type of visa. France offers benefits to those students who wish to stay in the country for an extended period, as long as they are enrolled in a recognized school and keep up with their coursework.

4)    Short-Term Student Visa

This type of France visa is not as common but is available to those who plan on attending a business meeting or conference in the country. It typically lasts for less than 90 days, but that may vary depending on the reason for traveling.

That being said, it can also be used by students who are in between semesters, or for those who plan on studying in another country but still want the benefits of a full-time student visa.

5)    Temporary Worker Visa

This type of France visa may be issued if an individual plan to work in the country for less than ninety days. They must have a job already lined up and will work for that company exclusively during their time in France. Those who plan on working as seasonal workers or interns are not eligible for this type of visa.

6)    Residence Visa

This type of France visa is only available to individuals who are planning on living in the country for more than three months at a time. Those who have secured employment in the country may also apply. It typically lasts for four years but may be renewed for an additional period if necessary.

7)    Family Member Visa

If an individual is married to a French national or is the child of a French national, they may also apply for this type of France visa. It typically lasts for four years but may be renewed if necessary. Spouses must prove that they are legally married and will remain in France with their spouses during this period.

8)    Retiree Visa

France offers retiree visas to individuals over the age of fifty-five and who meet certain financial requirements. They must prove they can financially support themselves for at least one year without working during that time. This type of France visa allows an individual to stay in the country for up to five years and also allows them to work in the country if they wish.

9)    Journalist Visa

Journalists and reporters must apply for this type of France visa to gather information and write about the country and culture free from government interference. This type of visa typically lasts for ninety days but may be renewed if necessary.

10) Paid Activity Visa

If an individual is planning on working as a freelancer, short-term consultant, or for a limited time during their stay in France, they must apply for this type of France visa. It may be renewed if necessary and typically lasts for up to ninety days, depending on the length of employment.

10 Ways to Get a Visa for France

Ask Your Employer for a Visa

While France is not known to be an easy country to immigrate to, if you are a legal employee of a French company, it may be much easier. Your employer can petition for certain types of visas that allow people with special skills or talents important to the French economy to live and work in France under specific conditions.

Be a Student

If you are an international student in France studying at a French college or university, your tuition fees are waived under the condition that you have enough money to live without needing to work during your stay in France. This type of visa is referred to as ‘vie privée et familiale,’ It allows you, students, to extend their stay in France for as long as they remain a student, or until the end of their course, whichever comes first.

Enter France under a ‘Treaty’

For those with a valid job offer from a French company and family members living in France, you may be eligible to receive an intracompany transfer visa, a family member visa, a long-stay student visa, or a short stay visa. That being said, there is no such thing as a ‘treaty visa,’ and only limited categories of people actually qualify.

Get Married

If you plan on marrying a French citizen and have that person petition for you, then you qualify to live in France under specific conditions. You will first need to obtain an entrance card from your embassy before making the trip to France, and once you do so, you can petition for a long-stay visa from within the country.

Go To France as an Au Pair

Similar to being a student, if you can find someone in France willing to take on the responsibility of taking care of children while looking after their house and family, you may be eligible for an au pair visa. This means that you are not only able to work legally but also don’t have to pay taxes on what you earn, so long as you can support yourself on it.

Be a ‘Self-Employed’ Entrepreneur

If you meet certain criteria, such as having enough money to start up your own business in France and the ability to work without needing special regulation, then you can petition for a long-stay visa that allows you to be self-employed in France.

However, becoming an entrepreneur in France is not very easy, and it requires a lot of planning and paperwork. The visa is only valid for one year, after which you may apply to have your status changed from ‘entrepreneur’ to ’employee,’ or if you make enough money and hire employees, you may apply for an entirely new type of work visa.

Get Freelance Work

If you are a freelancer in France who can provide clients with adequate proof of your services, then there is no reason why you cannot apply for a long-stay visa that allows you to work as an independent worker or freelance. You may also extend this type of visa even further if the business is booming and you are earning enough from it.

Have Serious Health Problems

If you are suffering from a severe illness, causing you to need continuous medical care in France, then the French government may be willing to pay for your treatment if they believe that it will benefit the country in some way. This type of visa is only valid if the treatment in France cannot be found in your own country, but it is one of the most accessible types of visa to get in France.

Be Retired

Similar to having severe health problems, if you are a retiree in good standing with your former employer, you may be able to move to France and become financially independent under specific conditions. Although this is not always easy, if you have the funds to support yourself in France, you may petition for this type of visa.

Get a French parent

After you turn 18, if your parents are now French citizens and you want to become one yourself, then this is possible with relative ease. This is because; the government has made provisions for people born in France and living abroad to be naturalized as a citizen of France, even if they were not born into that nationality themselves.

Furthermore, this is also possible if you were born in France, but your parents never naturalized, and you were then raised in another country.