France! The country that dreams are made of.
I have never met anyone in my life who does not have France in their places to visit list. Most people want to go to France to visit the Eiffel Tower and enjoy a freshly baked croissant and some warm wine. But France has so much more to offer. Paris isn’t the only city worth visiting in this country. And if I might dare to say, it is not even the most beautiful one. There is so much to see in France and so much to explore.
The best way to explore France is to live there. But moving to another country is not easy. What do we even know about French immigration? Do not worry! We got you covered. In this article, we will discuss in detail everything there is to know about immigration to France. We will also take a look at the information given in the france immigration official website about the different visa types and their requirements.
But before we get into all the nitty gritties of immigration and paperwork and all the legal stuff, let us talk a little more about the more important things, like why should you move to France.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider immigration to France, for the few people in the world who are not yet in love with this country:
Food
The first thing that comes to mind when we think about France is french food. The mouthwatering butteriness of a freshly baked croissant or the deliciousness of the savory coq au vin; the comfort of the Cassoulet or the familiarity of the Bœuf bourguignon, French food is all about cooking with love, feeding with love and eating with love. Along with a sumptuous meal you could try a glass of delicious red or white wine. The French are very particular about their wine and food pairings, so do not forget to ask your server or le serveur for the wine that best pairs with your meal.
A few french wines that you must try are Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Château Beychevelle, Domaine de-la Romanee Conti and Château La Fleur-Pétrus, among others, or you could also head to Champagne and enjoy a class of lovely champagne.
Climate
The weather of France is beyond gorgeous. Even though it rains often in some major cities in France, most of the country experiences a beautiful and sunny summer from May to September.
During these months, France is flooded with tourists who are soaking in the beauty of this country. Imagine if you are living in France, you can experience the country all year round and not only when it is crowded with millions of people from all over the world.
Culture
However modern and fashion forward the country might become, the essence of French people lies in their love for family. In France, it is considered very important to spend time with your loved ones. Having meals together is a tradition in many French families.
Fashion
Paris, the capital of France, is also the fashion capital of the world. Imagine living in the midst of the place that has given birth to some of the best designers in the world and walking among all beautifully dressed people. Maybe you could also finally wear all those fashionable clothes that you have been hoarding, which you haven’t found the right place to wear yet.
Safety
The lifestyle of people in France is generally relaxed and so, the crime rates in the country are significantly lower than its neighboring countries. There is also a huge difference in the crime rate in the cities and rural areas. Staying in areas that are smaller towns is generally considered to be safer than cities. When you live in a smaller town, you could just be living right behind a lake or in the middle of lush greenery.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of the people of France is very relaxed as compared to the rest of the country. In recent years, the approach of French people towards work has shifted drastically. The hours of the work week have been reduced to 35 hours from 40. Anything above 35 hours is considered as overtime and needs to be compensated accordingly. In addition to bank holidays and national holidays, the people in France get five weeks of paid vacation in a year. If you are used to living in a city where everything is really fast paced, moving to France might need a little bit of adjustment, as the life here, even in cities is generally a little relaxed. Doesn’t all of this make working in France seem like a really attractive proposition?
So much to explore
The entire country of France is covered with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. France is home to the gorgeous white mountainous Alps and also the sandy beaches with crystal clear waters of the French Riviera. The transportation system within France is very easily accessible and affordable. Even when you take a train from one city to another to travel within France, the journey will take you through some picturesque locations. You would not be able to take your eyes off the gorgeous scenic beauty this country has to offer.
I do not know about you, but after reading all of these amazing things about the country, I am ready to move to France. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we need to find out more about immigration to France from India and how much does it cost to move to france. The French immigration system is very straightforward, simple and inexpensive, and so it is an ideal choice for potential migrants who are hoping to start a new life in the country. In the next section of the article, we will cover topics like all about france immigration visa, france immigration requirements, how to immigrate to france, about the long term visa for france, and france permanent residence.
Types of Visas for immigration in France from India
Let us begin by talking about the different types of visas that an individual can apply for to visit or live in France. We can divide the visas required for France immigration from India into four major categories based on the purpose or reason of moving to the country:
- Education
- Employment
- Sponsorship
- Permanent residency
Now, let us look at each of these in detail.
1.Education
Like any other country in Europe, France also offers student visas to applicants looking to come to France to study. These courses can range from short certificate courses to complete degree and postgraduate programs. Before you apply for a student visa at the French Immigration Office in your home country, you need to have the acceptance letter from the college or university where you have applied for the course.
2.Employment
If you want to move to France for work purposes, there are a few different visas that you will need to consider. Depending on the duration that you need to stay in France, you can choose one of these visas.
- If you plan to work in France for a period of less than 90 days, you need to apply for a temporary work permit. Your employer has to file for this short stay work permit, also called French Salaried Employees Visa, with the French Ministry of Labor, the DIRECCTE. The ministry will send this application to the French embassy in your country and you can then apply for a visa by submitting the required documents.
- There are some professionals who require a special authorization from the professional bodies in France that are relevant for their field of work. These professionals include lawyers, bailiffs, architects, doctors, notaries and judicial administrators, among others.
- If you work for an international organization and are being sent to France for an official assignment, then you need to apply for a special visa called French International Organization Work Visa.
3.Sponsorship
If your spouse or child is a citizen of France or they are a permanent resident of the country, they can apply for a vie privée et familiale (VPF) residence permit for you and invite you to live with them in France. This residence permit also allows you to work in France.
4.Permanent residency
If you wish to apply for a permanent residency in France, you must first get the Carte de séjour temporaire, which is the temporary residence permit. This permit is valid for one year and can be applied for both study or work purposes. After living in France for five years, you can apply for a carte de residence or permanent residence visa. Once you have been granted permanent residency in France, you can live in the country for an indefinite period of time. With this type of visa, you can work or study anywhere in France without any legal complications.
What are the benefits of moving to France for international workers?
Once you move to France on a work visa and you stay for over three months in the country, you are eligible for a lot of benefits from the French government just like the other residents of the country. These benefits include things like healthcare, family allowance or daycare assistance which can help you pay for the care of your children, unemployment assistance that you can avail in case you are unemployed for a particular period of time. But before you can apply for any of these, you need to make sure that you get a social security number. Your employer needs to apply for this on your behalf as soon as you complete three months as a working professional in the country of France.
Apart from this, anyone who works in France is eligible for a few extra perks that not many countries in the world offer. Most offices and organizations in all of France work for only 35 hours a week instead of the usual 40 hours that are followed in many countries across the globe. If any one in France works over 35 hours in a week, they need to be compensated for it as overtime. All companies in France have to provide their employees the following benefits
1.Five weeks of paid vacation each year
All workers in France are eligible for five weeks of paid vacation in a year. They can apply for this leave together or split the leaves throughout the year. These leaves are provided in addition to the fifteen or so public holidays that French workers get every year.
2.Maternity and Paternity leaves
All people who work in France are eligible for maternity or paternity leaves. All new mothers and mothers-to-be in France can apply for a maternity leave of 16 to 48 weeks, but they have to take a mandatory leave of 8 weeks. Fathers are eligible for a total of seven paid leaves from their employer’s side. In addition to this, they can apply for twenty one more days of paternity leave, which is paid for by the social security office in France. The French government has also mandated adoption leave for any number of days up to ten weeks.
3.Healthcare
All citizens of France and residents who have a social security number are eligible for healthcare from the Government of France. In addition to this, it is the responsibility of all employers to make sure that all their employees are covered under a public or private healthcare provider.
- Pension
All employers have to contribute to the pension of their employees. A small percentage of the employees’ salary is paid towards the pension fund and the employer also pays a small share each month. Over and above this mandatory contribution, employees can choose to contribute more funds into their pension plan or opt for another additional pension plan to save enough funds for their retirement.
