Settling in the country you study in is a feasible choice for many, but not everyone manages to do so. Lack of awareness, improper planning, inadequate funds, etc., may be some of its reasons. However, valid information, appropriate steps, planning, and budgeting can quickly get you a permanent residence card in the country of your choice.
Since recent years France has been amongst the top European countries for study abroad aspirants. France has a network of around 3,900 public and private education institutions. In 2019, 10,000 Indian students chose to pursue higher studies in France. Most of them opt for higher education there, intending to acquire a PR in France after completing their course. But is getting a PR in France easy? What are the steps that one needs to follow? This blog will dwell at length about France PR for Indian students and other international students, the types, and desired ways to apply for it.
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Pre-Requisites to Apply for PR in France
The primary requirement for PR in France for Indian students is to get a student visa. It is worth mentioning that there were 358,000 International students in France during 2020-2021. It clearly shows that the visa acceptance rate of international students in France is really high. For a France visa, you need to first get an admit from a recognized university in France to pursue a masters degree. Depending on your study type and duration of the course, you may apply for different kinds of student visas.
Let us have a look at the different visas that you must acquire to be eligible to apply for France PR after study:
Type of Visa |
Duration |
Short Stay Visa |
3 months |
Long Stay Visa |
3 months to 1 year |
The long-stay visa is also known as the VLS-TS visa which comes in the form of a stamp or sticker into a passport of a foreign national and allows them to enter and stay in the French territory up to 1 year.
Once your student visa is approved and you land in France, and start your courses at the reputed French universities, the next step is to get started with the process of PR in France for international students. Let us go through the steps to applying for PR in France after study:
Ways to Apply for PR in France for Indian Students
To apply for a France PR for Indian students after completion of their courses, one may opt for APS visa or an EU Blue Card. Let us find out the specifications about both of them in details below:
APS Visa
APS (Autorisation Provisoire de séjour) is a special temporary visa status given to students who pursue an RNCP certified course or in a public university course. There are countries including India having an agreement with the government of France that allows foreign students to stay in the country upto 1 year after completion of their courses. According to the French government’s new scheme, it can also be extended to a period of another 12 months. You may look for jobs or start your own venture by acquiring an APS visa during that time.
You must fulfill any of the following criteria to get an APS visa:
- Have vocational degrees
- Have a certified masters degree in Engineering, Management, Veterinary Science, or a degree from a recognized institution of Political Studies, etc.
- Plans to have your own start-up in France
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Blue Card
Another way of getting a France PR for Indian students is Blue Card. Blue Card in France is an immigration permit equivalent to US Green Card. It allows talented, highly skilled international graduates to explore a wide range of career opportunities in France. The Blue Card is issued for a maximum duration of four years and can be renewed. For that, you must be employed at a recognized organization in France. Your contract must be valid for atleast 1 year with a salary 1.5 times the average salary set for the particular year.
You must fulfill any of the following criteria to get a France Blue Card:
- A masters degree or equivalent
- Work experience of minimum 5 years
- A job contract valid for 1 year
- Gross annual pay of at least 1.5 times the average annual gross salary set by decree, i.e. €53,836.50 as of January 1, 2022.
- Proof of abiding by national legal requirements (for regulated professionals)
Suggested: Everything about Post Study Work Permit in France
Documents Required for PR in France for Indian Students
Now that we have discussed the ways to apply for France PR after study, let us have a look at the list of required documents:
- Passport with copies of the main pages
- Two copies of the completed application
- Four passport photographs
- Birth certificate
- Proof of residence
- Proof of medical insurance
- Employment contract
- Proof of sufficient financial stability
Canada offers quality educational, convenient student life, part-time work permit during the course of study and post-study, as well as flexible immigration and visa policies. Analyze the information above and plan your PR in France after study accordingly. For further assistance, get in touch with our Counselors at Yocket now!