France

This phase rarely works in a linear way — those who have a study place apply for their visa with it; those aiming for a job first clarify professional recognition. The following breakdown is therefore thematic, not chronological. Realistically plan 3 to 9 months for phase 1.

Examining residence permit options

The permit that suits you depends on the reason for migration. The main ones for third-country nationals:

• Talent Passport (L. 421-9 and following of the CESEDA) — for master's graduates or higher with a work contract exceeding a salary threshold (2026: approximately €53,836 gross/year for the "qualified employee" category). Advantage: multi-year residence card of 4 years from the start, simplified family reunification.
• Talent Passport — researcher: for researchers with a master's degree or higher and a hosting agreement with a recognized research organization. No specific salary threshold.
• Employee / Temporary worker (L. 421-1) — work contract approved by the DREETS (formerly DIRECCTE), which checks the "employment situation". More restrictive than the Talent Passport, often valid for one year, renewable.
• Student visa (VLS-TS student) — upon acceptance by a higher education institution, proof of resources (2026: approximately €615/month, i.e., €7,380/year), health coverage.
• Job search / business creation (APS, Provisional Residence Authorization) — only after a French master's degree or higher; not an entry point from abroad.
• Family reunification — for the spouse and minor children of a foreigner in a regular situation for at least 18 months; income and suitable accommodation conditions.

The official portal France-Visas is the single entry point for visa applications. It directs you to the right type of visa after a few questions.

Finding a study place, training, or job

Studies. The official platform for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals is Études en France (managed by Campus France via the "Études en France" spaces in embassies) — mandatory steps before the visa application for concerned countries (around 70 countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, etc.). For other countries, you apply directly to universities via their website or via Parcoursup (bachelor's degree, but reserved for holders of a French/European high school diploma or equivalent recognized) or Mon Master (for master's degrees).

The higher education catalog on enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr lists the ~3,500 master's and bachelor's programs. The Erasmus Mundus programs and French government scholarships (Eiffel, France Excellence) are managed by Campus France. The Campus France spaces in around fifty countries provide free advice.

For a Studienkolleg-equivalent (linguistic and academic preparation before university entry), there are DU FLE (Diploma in French as a Foreign Language) in most universities.

Vocational training. The French apprenticeship system (CFA — Apprenticeship Training Centers) is less open to foreigners than the German system; a "employee" visa + apprenticeship contract is required. France Compétences oversees the system, Pôle emploi lists the contracts.

Job. For a work visa, you need a work contract approved by the DREETS before the visa application. Sources:

• Pôle emploi (pole-emploi.fr) — the largest French job database, ~700,000 offers, accessible from abroad for consultation
• APEC (apec.fr) — Association Pour l'Emploi des Cadres, targeted at executive jobs and bachelor's degree +5 level
• EURES (eures.europa.eu) — European job exchange with a French section
• LinkedIn, Indeed, Welcome to the Jungle — particularly for qualified profiles and tech
• Stack Overflow Jobs — computer science

Specificities of job applications in France: CV of one to two pages without photo (photos are becoming outdated), cover letter very formalized and read, references rarely requested before the interview.

Initiating diploma recognition in advance

The French system distinguishes between academic degrees (university) and professional degrees (BTS, BUT, professional certificate). The attestation paths differ.

Academic degrees: the ENIC-NARIC France center (managed by France Éducation International) issues a comparability certificate between your foreign degree and the French LMD system (Bachelor-Master-Doctorate). Online procedure on phoenix.france-education-international.fr, fees ~€70, processing time 2–4 months. The certificate does not have strict legal value but is widely accepted by employers and universities.

Regulated professions (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, law, teaching): recognition goes through the professional order (Ordre des Médecins via the CNOM, Ordre des Infirmiers, Conseil National des Barreaux, etc.). For non-EU graduates, the PAE — Authorization to Practice Procedure is the key step in medicine (knowledge verification tests, EVC). Processing time: 1–3 years depending on the specialty.

Continuing education / VAE: the Validation of Acquired Experience allows formal recognition of skills acquired through professional experience. Long process (6–12 months) but free or subsidized.

French courses in your home country and language exam

The required level depends on the permit:

• Talent Passport, employee: no level required before entry, but B1 strongly recommended for integration
• Student: depending on the program, B2/C1 (except for programs in English)
• Spouse of a foreigner or French national: A1 before entry for the spouse of a French national; A2 in some cases for family reunification
• Naturalization: B1 oral and written

Where to learn French before departure:

• Alliance française — official network, ~830 locations in 130 countries. Courses and exams. Reference in terms of quality and recognition.
• Institut français — French cultural mission abroad, around 100 institutes worldwide, often attached to embassies. Courses and certifications.
• Free online courses: TV5 Monde Apprendre (apprendre.tv5monde.com), RFI Savoirs (savoirs.rfi.fr) — quality public resources, from A1 to C1, with audio
• Paid online courses: Frantastique, Lingoda, italki — flexible, live with a teacher

Recognized exams:

• DELF/DALF (Diploma in French Language Studies / Advanced Diploma) — reference for A1 to C2, managed by France Éducation International, lifetime validity
• TCF (French Knowledge Test) — level test, 2-year validity, faster to take
• TEF (French Evaluation Test) — private equivalent, accepted by some prefectures

Preparing documents

What you can and must gather from your home country — collection often takes several weeks:

• Passport valid for at least 3 months after the planned stay's end, and with 2 blank pages
• Birth certificate in international format (form E)
• Marriage certificate if relevant (family reunification, tax status)
• School and university diplomas in originals and certified copies
• Transcripts
• Work certificates from recent years — important for professional recognition
• Criminal record (often required for sensitive jobs, but also for naturalization)

For each document, you need a sworn translation into French by an expert translator near a French court of appeal (online directory on cour-de-cassation.fr). Depending on the country, an Apostille of The Hague (signatory countries) or legalization (other countries) may be required. In case of doubt, ask in advance — a rejected document costs 4–8 weeks.

Finding accommodation from abroad

Finding standard accommodation in France from abroad is very difficult. Landlords almost always require a visit, a complete file (3 last French tax notices, 3 last pay slips, guarantor residing in France), and rarely sign remotely. Pragmatic strategy: temporary accommodation for 2 to 3 months, then definitive search from France.

Furnished accommodations and co-living bookable from abroad:

• Studapart — platform specialized for students, rentals from one month, with integrated guarantee
• Lokaviz — service of the CROUS (Regional Centers for University and School Works) for students
• HousingAnywhere, Spotahome — international furnished rentals
• Habyt, NUMA, The Babel Community — co-living, generally in large cities

CROUS: for students, the public network of university residences offers rents between €180 and €400/month in rooms or studios. Apply very early on messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr (DSE — Student Social File). Long waiting lists in Paris, shorter in the provinces.

Standard search on SeLoger, Leboncoin Immobilier, PAP (pap.fr), Logic-Immo: almost impossible without presence in France and French guarantor. To be used instead to spot prices and neighborhoods.

Digital preparation: bank account, SIM, applications

Bank account before arrival:

• Wise (wise.com) — multi-currency, French RIB available, opening without a French address, ideal for transfers from your home country
• Revolut — Lithuanian or French IBAN depending on the time of registration
• N26 — German bank, German IBAN, sometimes accepts temporary addresses
• Bunq (Netherlands) — Dutch IBAN, accessible to non-residents

A French RIB is valuable as many employers and landlords only accept SEPA direct debits on a French RIB. Traditional French banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Mutuel, Banque Postale) generally require a French address — so to be opened in phase 2. The basic banking service is guaranteed by the Banking Law (Article L312-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code) to any person residing in France who cannot open an account elsewhere: the Banque de France designates a bank that must accept the client.

SIM / eSIM:

• French eSIM from abroad: Free Mobile, Orange Open, SFR, Bouygues, B&You offer no-commitment plans from ~€10/month. Activation via mobile app, French line assigned immediately
• International eSIM for travel: Holafly, Airalo, Saily — expensive but immediate, useful for the first few days
• Changing plan after arrival: plans with commitments (mobile + internet box) are cheaper after a few months

Digital identity and applications:

• FranceConnect — unique identifier for public services (taxes, ameli, health card, etc.). Creation possible after obtaining a tax or social security identifier, so in phase 2
• Service-Public.fr — official reference portal for administrative procedures, multilingual
• Ameli (social security), Impots.gouv.fr, Mon Espace Santé: to activate after arrival

Useful applications to install in advance:

• France Visas (official application to track visa application)
• Service-Public.fr mobile
• DeepL or Google Translate with offline mode — to translate administrative letters

Applying for the visa at the consulate

Third-country nationals submit their long-stay visa (type D) application to the French consulate in their country. The procedure almost always goes through France-Visas online, then appointment booking at the consulate or via a service provider (VFS Global, TLScontact depending on the country). Appointment delays: from a few weeks to 6 months depending on the country and period.

Standard documents: application form, passport, ID photos, proof of accommodation (hotel booking suffices in phase 1), health insurance certificate for the first months, proof of resources, work contract / university acceptance / hosting agreement depending on the reason, employer's documents, criminal record for certain visas.

The cost of a long-stay visa is generally €99. The VLS-TS (Long-Stay Visa Equivalent to a Residence Permit) is affixed directly in the passport and serves as a residence permit during the first year — no residence card needed the first year, but mandatory OFII validation (see phase 2).

Financial proof and travel health insurance

There is no blocked account standardized like in Germany, but the consulate requires proof of resources adapted to the purpose of the stay: approximately €615/month for a student (2026), covered by scholarship, guarantor, or bank account. For the work visa, the work contract serves as proof. For family reunification, the resources of the person reuniting are verified.

Travel health insurance is mandatory for the visa application, covering at least the first months (minimum 90 days). Common providers: April International, Mondial Assistance, Chapka Assurances — between €30 and €80/month.

Visa Validation by OFII

If you entered with a VLS-TS (long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit), you must validate your visa with the OFII — Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration within 3 months of your arrival. Without this validation, your status becomes irregular in the 4th month.

The process is done online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. You pay a residence tax (depending on the reason: €50 for students, €200 for employees) in the form of dematerialized fiscal stamps. The OFII then sends a validation certificate by email, which serves as proof of regular stay.

For non-VLS-TS visas (e.g., "skills and talents" visa relaunched in 2024), you must apply for a residence permit at the préfecture within 2 months of arrival — waiting times can be long (3–6 months in Paris, shorter in the provinces).

Social Security Number

The NIR — Numéro d'Identification au Répertoire (social security number) is assigned by the INSEE when you first apply for social security coverage. It functions similarly to the German Steuer-ID and is used for healthcare, taxes, and employment.

Assignment is automatic based on documents provided by your employer (for employees) or by you via the CERFA S 1106 form (health insurance application) submitted to the CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) in your department of residence. Processing time: 2–4 months for the final number. A provisional number is issued in the meantime.

Health Coverage: Health Insurance and Carte Vitale

French health insurance is mandatory for anyone residing legally in France for more than 3 months (PUMA — Protection Universelle Maladie). It consists of two tiers:

• Mandatory scheme (Social Security) — covers on average 70% of routine care. Contributions are deducted from wages for employees or a flat-rate contribution for others (students since 2018: free basic coverage).
• Supplementary health insurance — strongly recommended, covers the remaining 30%. Employers are required to offer company health insurance since 2016.

Request your Carte Vitale as soon as your social security number is assigned: apply online at ameli.fr or at a CPAM office, manufacturing time ~3 weeks. Until then, keep all paper claim forms — the CPAM reimburses retroactively.

Bank Account

If you haven’t opened an online account before arriving, now is the time to open one in France. Standard requirements: passport, OFII-validated visa, proof of address (rent receipt, lease agreement, or accommodation certificate with the host’s ID), sometimes employment contract.

The basic banking service guaranteed by law (Article L312-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code) remains an option if several banks refuse: the Banque de France designates a bank that must accept, without allowing overdrafts but with a payment card and transfers.

Permanent Housing

After arrival, finding standard housing becomes possible but remains competitive in major cities (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille). Landlords require a complete rental file:

• 3 most recent pay slips or employer’s certificate
• Tax assessment (often inaccessible in the first year — bring those from your home country translated)
• Employment contract or certificate
• ID, residence permit
• Guarantor: a person in France acting as a guarantor. If not, Visale guarantee (free, managed by Action Logement) for under 30s and certain employees

Housing benefits: the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) pays the APL — Aide Personnalisée au Logement subject to income conditions. Apply at caf.fr after obtaining your social security number.

Consular Registration

For nationals of certain countries, registering with the French abroad registry has no equivalent — but you can register with the consulate of your home country in France to facilitate passport renewal, voting from abroad, etc.

In-depth Professional Recognition

If you have already applied for an ENIC-NARIC certificate in phase 1, you know the orientation. Now comes the operational step for regulated professions — often only possible once in France.

Medicine: the PAE — Authorization to Practice Procedure is managed by the National Management Center (CNG). Steps: file review, EVC — Knowledge Verification Tests (by specialty), 1–3 year internship depending on the specialty, application for registration with the National Order of Physicians (CNOM). Total duration: 2–4 years for full authorization.

Nursing care: recognition by the ARS (Regional Health Agency) of the region of installation. Faster procedure than in medicine, ~3–6 months.

Teaching: to become a permanent teacher, you must pass a competition (CAPES, agrégation) — foreign diploma recognized via ENIC-NARIC, but the competition remains to be passed. Possibility of becoming a contractual teacher more quickly, without competition, through the rectorate.

Lawyers: for non-EU lawyers, examination of control of knowledge in French law plus passage through the CRFPA (Regional Center for Professional Training of Lawyers) or direct registration for EU lawyers.

Manual trades and craftsmanship: the CMA (Chamber of Trades and Crafts) recognizes foreign professional diplomas. Online procedure on artisanat.fr, fees ~150 €.

Advice: the free drop-in sessions of the MIE — Employment Information Houses or Pôle emploi international guide you to the right contact. They do not process the file but avoid false leads.

Republican Integration Contract (CIR)

For most new arrivals in a regular situation (excluding students and short-stay Passeport Talent workers), the Republican Integration Contract is mandatory. Concluded with the OFII, it includes:

• A civic training of 24 hours on French values and institutions
• A free language training to reach level A1 (up to 600 hours), B1 (200 additional hours) or C1 (100 hours for graduates)
• A professional assessment of 3 hours with a counselor

The training is free and mandatory; not following it may result in the non-renewal of your residence permit. The DELF A2 passed at the end of the CIR is a condition for access to the resident card (10 years).

French Courses Beyond the CIR

To reach B2/C1 (useful for professionalization and naturalization), beyond the CIR:

• Greta — network of the National Education system, continuing education, often eligible for the CPF (Personal Training Account) for employees
• Alliance française in France — paid but recognized quality
• University courses open in continuing education
• Pôle emploi funds language training for job seekers

First Tax Declaration

The first income tax declaration is made the year after arrival, in April–June (exact annual dates on impots.gouv.fr). Online procedure via FranceConnect. Common deductions: actual transportation costs, dual residence (if you maintain a home abroad under conditions), childcare costs.

Bilateral tax treaties between France and most countries avoid double taxation — consult the applicable convention for your country of origin on impots.gouv.fr.

Search for Permanent Housing

If the temporary solution is coming to an end, it's time to look for something more permanent. Tools: SeLoger, Leboncoin Immobilier, PAP (direct rentals without agency), MeilleursAgents (estimates). With a complete file (pay slips, guarantor or Visale, employer's certificate), your chances improve significantly.

DALO — Right to Housing : legal recourse for people in severe housing difficulty. Little-known procedure but useful in overcrowded cities.

After the first few months, the perspective changes. Urgent procedures take a back seat, and other topics come to the fore — those you may have postponed in phases 1–3: preparing for a long stay, bringing your family, changing careers or becoming independent, moving for the second or third time. For a third-country national who arrived between the ages of 16 and 30, this phase is often more comfortable than the initial entry — you have a valid residence permit, a contribution history, stable housing, and, in principle, a level of French approaching B1. However, your options depend on the permit you entered with and the region where you live.

The multi-year residence permit is the intermediate goal of this phase. When renewing your first annual permit, the préfecture (registration office) usually issues a permit valid for 2 to 4 years, depending on the type — four years for the "Passeport Talent" mention, two years for the "salarié" (employee) mention, and one to four years for students, depending on the duration of their course. Compliance with the Republican Integration Contract signed with the OFII is a key criterion: attendance at civic and language training sessions, and obtaining the DELF A2 certificate at the end of the program. The Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile (CESEDA) governs the entire process. As you accumulate supporting documents — pay slips, French tax notices, health insurance certificates — keep them carefully archived: they will form the file for the permanent residence permit after five years.

Changing your status is another major task. Switching from student to employee, from employee to entrepreneur, or changing employers within the same status: each of these transitions must be requested from the préfecture, sometimes via the ANEF — Digital Administration for Foreigners in France portal, and sometimes still in person, depending on the préfecture. For permits linked to an employer (employee mention), a change generally requires a new work authorization. Transitioning to independence (Entrepreneur / Liberal Profession status) requires an economically viable project and registration with the appropriate registry. Family reunification becomes possible after 18 months of regular residence: spouse, civil partner, minor children, subject to stable income and suitable housing for the family composition. The spouse must take a language test at A1 level before departure and sign a Republican Integration Contract upon arrival.

Regional differences matter more than you might think. In Paris, Lyon, or Marseille, préfecture waiting times are notoriously long, and ANEF has become the almost mandatory route to avoid losing months. In provincial cities — Nantes, Rennes, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Grenoble — appointments are often obtained within a few weeks, and human contact remains more accessible. The housing market, cost of living, and availability of French courses in continuing education also vary: Île-de-France concentrates the offer but at very high rents; regional metropolises offer a better cost/services ratio. For the recognition of foreign qualifications, the Centre ENIC-NARIC remains the national contact point, and this is also the time to aim for a B1+ or B2 level: useful for future naturalization, essential for many regulated professions, and for breaking through invisible career ceilings.

Your support network becomes increasingly important in this phase. La Cimade, GISTI — Groupe d'Information et de Soutien aux Immigrés, France Terre d'Asile, ATD Quart Monde, and legal clinics in town halls know the appeals in case of refusal, the paths to regularization, and the pitfalls to avoid. Trade unions (CGT, CFDT, FO) assist with workplace conflicts. For a structural overview of what this phase entails, consult the in-depth article Integration courses and accompanying programs — what each EU state offers.

After five years or more, two paths emerge: a permanent residence permit as a third-country national, or French naturalization. Both are accessible, both confer different statuses, and you are not required to choose immediately — many people live for decades with a residence permit, while others pursue naturalization as soon as possible. The choice depends on your plans, your situation in your country of origin, and what the French passport means to you.

On long-term residence permits, two cards stand out:

• Residence permit (Article L. 426-1 and following of the CESEDA) — valid for 10 years, renewable by right, usually granted after 5 years of regular stay, or immediately in certain situations (spouse of a French national after 3 years of marriage, parent of a French child, dependent ascendant of a French national, former combatant). Conditions: stable and sufficient resources, effective republican integration (signing and respecting the republican integration contract, B1 level of French oral and written since 2024), no threat to public order.
• Long-term EU residence permit — French equivalent of the long-term resident status provided for in Directive 2003/109/CE. Same substantive conditions as the residence permit, but with an additional advantage: intra-EU mobility, allowing you to apply for a residence permit in another Member State through a simplified procedure. The downside: prolonged absences outside the EU can result in loss of this status. If your horizon is strictly French, the classic residence permit is sufficient; if you plan to move to Germany, Spain, or the Netherlands later, the long-term EU residence permit makes sense.

Naturalization by decree, governed by the Civil Code (Articles 21-15 to 21-27), generally requires 5 years of regular residence in France. The period is reduced to 2 years for individuals who have successfully completed two years of higher education in France or provided exceptional services to the country, and it is even shorter for certain categories (refugees, French-speaking nationals of states where French is an official or educational language, subject to conditions). Naturalization by marriage follows a parallel procedure, accessible after 4 years of marriage to a French spouse (5 years if residing abroad). Conditions: stable resources, compatible criminal record, B1 level of French oral and written attested by diploma or approved test, and an individual assimilation interview at the prefecture covering knowledge of France, its history, institutions, and citizens' rights and duties. Dual nationality is widely accepted by France — you do not have to renounce your original nationality; however, the law of your country of origin may differ.

The issue of voting rights deserves clear discussion, as it is often misunderstood. With a residence permit or a long-term EU residence permit, you remain a third-country national, and France, unlike Belgium or Luxembourg, does not grant non-EU nationals the right to vote in municipal elections. This right is reserved for French citizens (all elections) and citizens of another EU Member State (municipal and European elections only). This has been a recurring political debate since the 1980s, repeatedly brought up but never voted on. In practice: as long as you are not naturalized, you can live twenty years in the same municipality, pay local taxes, enroll your children in the neighborhood school, and have no institutional means to influence municipal decisions. This is one of the most visible asymmetries of permanent resident status in France and one of the reasons why some people choose naturalization even when they could have remained with a residence permit.

This phase also raises questions that no form can answer. Becoming French changes something about how you see yourself, even when both passports coexist. Some people view naturalization as confirmation of an already established home, others as a break with their country of origin, and still others as a pragmatic choice regarding mobility, voting rights, or the legal security of a family member born in France. There is no right answer. For a structural context, see the in-depth article Identity after five years — who you are when you're no longer just arriving.