If you want to move to a country in Europe on a long term as a non-EU citizen, you should definitely choose France. Why? Because it is among the few ones to offer temporary residency for up to 4 years, which is quite a lot, if you consider that in other EU states, you can stay for no more than 6 months and then renew your stay.
How do you immigrate to France? By respecting the conditions presented below.
Choose a relocation pathway
For this stage, it is best that you consult an immigration lawyer in France, because sometimes there are minor aspects you do not know about or last-minute changes in the legislation, which will send you back to the beginning with the application. This can be quite frustrating.
Your main options are:
- regular employment, which comes with financial stability;
- the talent passport visa, which addresses skilled, professional employees, and artists;
- the job seeker visa, if you are not in one of the categories above;
- family reunification, if you have close relatives who legally live in France.
For each of the categories, certain conditions must be met, and as said above, discussing with a professional will get you closer to your goal.
Apply for a long-stay visa
After deciding the avenue you want to explore, the first step to move to France is to apply for a long-stay visa, which enables you to stay there for more than 3 months. During this time, you can also file for the residence permit. But before that, you have some documents to gather and file for your visa. These are:
- a valid passport and health insurance;
- proof of accommodation;
- proof of funds to sustain your stay;
- details on the reason for relocation;
- additional documentation, depending on the visa requested.
By additional documentation, you should understand the employment offer or contract, or any other paperwork that will help the authorities understand why you want to immigrate to France.
Have your visa acknowledged and apply for the residence permit
Within the 3-week window, you must make sure to validate your visa. The procedure can be done online, and it means that you will be taken into evidence by the authorities. At the same time, make sure you also go to the local prefecture and apply for the residence card. So, these are two separate procedures to go through.
Permanent residency in France
The advantage of immigrating to France is that you only need to renew your residence permit once, if you obtain the 4-year validity one, and then in the 5th year, you can apply for permanent residence. The 5 years must be of continuous residence, which means you can exit and enter France under strict conditions.
If you want to immigrate to France as a non-EU citizen, you need to respect the steps above. However, always make sure to check with a specialist in immigration to ensure not only that you chose the correct pathway, but also the shortest one.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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