Citizens of a country in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), or the Swiss Federation, are exempt from requiring a visa to live and work in France. A valid identity document is sufficient.
Citizens of countries with which France has made agreements may also be exempt from requiring a short-stay visa (List of exemptions).
All visa applications must be submitted to a French Consulate in your country of residence at least 2 months before you leave for France.
The type of visa depends on the duration, the reason for your stay and the amount of your grant (for grant holders).
Please, note! Non-EU citizens who are exempt from a short-stay visa and who have the intention of carrying out paid work in mainland France, must apply to our institution in advance for a researcher Convention d'accueil cerfa (“prefectural hosting agreement”). You must wait until you have received the Convention d'accueil cerfa before travelling to mainland France and you should show this document at border control upon arrival in France.
Support from AMU Euraxess Centre
Please contact us for more information and/or advice.
Useful sites
- For all visa applications, go to France visas, the French government's official website.
- To find information on your status, please go to the "Do I need a visa?" section.
If you are a researcher and you and your family are planning a stay that is shorter than or equal to 90 days, you will need a Short-stay visa or “Schengen” visa.
The French authorities have the power to manage your Schengen visa application if France:
- is the sole destination of your trip or trips (possibility of obtaining a multiple-entry visa);
- is the main destination (in terms of duration or purpose of stay) of your trip or trips to various Schengen countries;
- is the first point of entry (French border crossing) into the Schengen Area and you are travelling to various Schengen countries but a main destination cannot be determined.
Please, note! If you intend to hold salaried employment in France, you must apply to our institution in advance for a researcher Convention d'accueil cerfa (e.g. “prefectural hosting agreement”) and you should show this along with the other documents required when submitting your application to the French Consulate.
A Short-stay visa or Schengen visa does not require you to apply for a residence permit upon arrival in France. You will therefore be unable to extend your stay.
Necessary documents
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Justification of your stay in France will depend on your status at AMU (salaried researcher, research fellow with grant, PhD student enrolled or not enrolled at AMU, etc.).
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To view the other documents required for your visa application, please visit France Visas, the French government’s official website.
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All visa applications must be submitted to a French Consulate in your country of residence at least 2 months before you leave for France.
For any information on your status at AMU, please first contact your host laboratory or doctoral school at AMU.
If you are a researcher and you and your family are planning a stay in France that is longer than 90 days, you will need a “D” visa or a Long-stay visa.
Depending on the duration of your stay, you will receive a “D” visa, which is a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS), or a Long-stay visa (VLS) with the obligation of applying for a residence permit (“carte de séjour à solliciter”).
Depending on the reason for your stay in our institution, your “D” visa may have different references.
- PhD students enrolled at Aix-Marseille Université with a French employment contract (or Cifre agreement) will have a long-stay “D” visa with the reference:
- “Passeport talent-chercheur” (researcher talent passport) if you are in possession of a "Convention d'accueil cerfa" ;
- “Scientifique-chercheur” (research scientist) if you are an Algerian citizen with a "Convention d'accueil cerfa".
- PhD students enrolled at Aix-Marseille Université without a French employment contract (PhD student with grant), will normally have to apply for a Student visa. There may be some exception following the amount of your grant/scholarship. Pease contact us for more information.
- Researchers with a French employment contract or still employed by their institution will have a long-stay “D” visa with the reference:
- “Passeport talent-chercheur” (researcher talent passport) if you are in possession of a Cerfa Host Agreement;
- “Scientifique-chercheur” (research scientist) if you are an Algerian citizen with a Cerfa Host Agreement
- Researchers without an employment contract either in France or their country of origin (research fellow with grant), please contact us for more information about the type of visa to apply for.
- Partners accompanying a researcher at our institution will have a long-stay “D” visa with the following references:
- “Passeport talent-famille” (family talent passport): for partners and children under the age of 18 of scientists and PhD students with a “Passeport talent-chercheur” (researcher talent passport) visa;
- “Conjoint de scientifique” (scientist partner): for partners and children under the age of 18 of scientists and PhD students with a “Scientifique-chercheur” (research scientist) visa.
Please note: If you do not have a French employment contract or if you are not enrolled in a PhD at Aix-Marseille Université, you will need to complete a hosting agreement (convention séjour de recherche). Please contact your host laboratory here for more information.
Necessary documents
- Justification of your stay in France will depend on your status at AMU (salaried researcher, research fellow with grant, PhD student enrolled or not enrolled at AMU, etc.).
- To view the other documents required for your visa application, please visit France Visas, the French government’s official website.
- All visa applications must be submitted to a French Consulate in your country of residence at least 2 months before you leave for France.
For any information on your status at AMU, please first contact your host laboratory or doctoral school at AMU.
