To enter France, visit the country or settle there to work, it is necessary to complete some steps, more or less long, including a passport application. For European and Swiss citizens, the steps are very light. The entry requirements may then differ, as may the procedures for obtaining residence permits.

Entry conditions in France

Foreigners can enter for a few days or a few months in France. Entry conditions vary according to their country of origin and their motivations. In some cases, their entry may be refused. Here's all you need to know about stays in France.

Stays in France less than three months

European citizens can enter and move freely in France for a period of three months. They may or may not be accompanied by members of their family. This stay of a maximum duration of three months can have several reasons: tourism, employment, internship, etc.

Nationals from countries outside Europe must have a short-stay visa, a long-stay visa and a hospitality certificate. Foreigners may then be denied the right to enter French soil in different situations.

Stays of more than three months

Europeans who are members of the European Economic Area or inactive Swiss can reside freely in France. After a legal and uninterrupted stay of more than five years in France, they acquire the right to stay permanently.

For a stay in France, foreign residents must have a valid ID and health insurance. In addition, they must have sufficient resources to avoid burdening the country's social assistance system.

On the other hand, European nationals are free to work and live in France. The professional activity exercised may be non-salaried (depending on public employment) or salaried. The residence or work permit is not compulsory. After five years in France, they also obtain a permanent right of residence.

Obtain a visa for France

In order to obtain a visa for France, you must contact the visa department of the consulate or the French embassy of your country of origin. Depending on the services, it may be necessary to make an appointment. For a large part of foreigners, getting a visa is an essential requirement for entering France. Some are, however, exempted as nationals of the Member States of the European Union, those of the Member States of the European Economic Area and the Swiss.

Obtain a visa in France

To obtain a visa for France, you must be able to specify the duration and reason for your stay. Short-stay visas are for a duration of 90 days to 6 months. Thus, they are solicited for tourism, business trips, visits, training, internships and paid activities (suggesting obtaining a work permit). Visas of long duration therefore concern studies, work, access to private institutions ...

To apply for a visa for France, you must have several supporting documents:

  • A valid piece of identification
  • Documents relating to the trip;
  • The reason for the stay in France;
  • The address of the accommodation;
  • The length of stay in France;
  • A work permit, if applicable;
  • Livelihoods (resources).

A form will have to be completed depending on the type of visa requested. Documents must be original and duplicated. Embassies and consulates decide whether or not to grant visas. Deadlines can vary enormously from one country to another. Nevertheless, it is important to know that a visa remains valid only for a period of three months following the date of issue. Formalities must therefore be undertaken accordingly. The visa is affixed directly to the passport of the national. It is therefore necessary for him to own one.

Formulate a passport application

In France, applications for a French passport are made at town halls. French nationals abroad make the request to the embassies and consulates of the country where they are. The presence of the holder is essential to take fingerprints for the document.

The conditions to be fulfilled for a passport application

Those who wish to obtain a passport must provide their valid identity document, in the original version accompanied by a photocopy. The passport amount is then between 96 and 99 euros. Finally, passport applicants must provide proof of address.

The delays in obtaining the passport depend on the place and time of the request. It is therefore preferable to carry out this process several months before the date of the stay in order to be certain of obtaining the permit on time. A passport is then valid for 10 years. At the end of this period, the passport will be renewed.

To conclude

Europeans and Swiss can move and settle freely in France, provided they are not a burden for the social assistance system. They must therefore benefit from a sufficient source of income such as a job or a self-employed activity in France. After five years, they get the right of permanent residence. Foreign nationals will have to apply for a visa to settle and work temporarily in France. They can go to the French embassy or consulate in their country of origin.