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France Strategic Push for Indian Talent: Study, Work, Visa Flexibility & Euro Access
In recent years, France has been making a series of moves to attract Indian students, graduates, and skilled workers. Parts of the strategy include easier visa processes, longer post-study permits, more programmes via English teaching, scholarships, housing assistance and using visa types like the "Talent Passport". These changes are only part of a wider approach to building ties through educational, cultural, and commercial efforts between India and France.
In this article, we are highlighting similar developments so you can understand what the opportunities are, what the limitations are, and what you might expect if you are considering France.
France aims to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030.
In the academic year 2023-24, there were about 8,000 Indian students in France. This is an increase from previous years.
In 2024-25, French institutions reported a 17% increase in the enrolment of Indian students.
In 2024, the total number of students in France stood at 2.9 million, including 11% international students. The number of Indian students represented approximately 0.2% of the total.
France has introduced as well as expanded several policies to make it easier for Indian students to stay after studies or move between study and work.
1. "Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise" Permit
Non-EU students who have received a master's (or higher) diploma in France can apply for a residence authorisation called Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise, which translates to Job Search / Business Creation.
This authorisation grants the newest graduates the chance to return to France (if they have left) and search for a job or create a business in France. The application must be made within four years of the date of the diploma.
It is valid for 12 months and is not renewable.
During this permit, the holders can work full-time in their field of study or research if they meet minimum salary thresholds. (For example, in July 2024, that threshold was approximately 1.5 * the SMIC, which was ~£2,650.38 gross per month. "SMIC" is France's legal minimum wage.
2. Talent Passport ("Passeport Talent")
This visa/residence permit exists for non-EU nationals with high-level skills. This includes researchers, professors, artists, people with national/international reputations, founders, and employees in innovative companies.
The validity can reach a maximum of 4 years, and it can be renewed under certain circumstances.
For salary purposes, the requirements are based on categories: some may require a salary at least 1.5x the average gross reference salary, others require minimum wage doubled, etc., depending upon the role.
Dependents (spouse, children) can often accompany the visa holder and often can work.
3. 5-Year Schengen Circulation Visa for Indian Alumni
France has introduced a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa for certain Indian alumni (i.e., graduates), which will be available under certain conditions.
Eligibility: Must have at least a master's degree (or equivalent) that was obtained, whether from France, India or another country. The application also requires studying in France for at least one semester in the degree programme.
This visa is a circulation type: it allows for multiple entries to the Schengen zone and provides for freedom of movement (tourism, visiting, attending conferences, etc.) but does not allow for job-searching/salaried work.
Read Also: How US Visa Risks and Tariffs Are Driving Students to France and Europe
In addition to visas, France is pursuing additional steps to mitigate obstacles and enhance the overall experience for Indian students.
Scholarships: France is running multiple scholarships available to international students (including Indian students); e.g., Eiffel, Charpak, Erasmus+, etc. These help with tuition and living costs.
Housing: The French government has announced 35,000 affordable student housing units to be built by 2027 and targeting high-demand markets such as Paris.
English-taught and "Classes Internationales": Students who do not speak French will have access to more English-taught courses, as well as special "Classes Internationales" that allow students to learn French intensively alongside other courses.
Simplified Visa Processes: French Embassies and Campus France are working to speed up student visa processing, reserving appointment slots and prioritising student visa applications.
To make sure expectations are correct, here are some things these programmes do not allow, or common mistakes.
The 5-year Schengen circulation visa for alumni is not a work visa. You cannot use this visa to get a job; you can just travel, visit, and maintain connections.
The "Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise" permit is limited to 12 months and is not renewable. After this permit ends, you have to find a job or start a business in order to change to another visa/residence permit.
Language requirements: While many of the programmes are in English or have support for participants when the course is in French, learning French can matter for various aspects of daily life, for some university courses, and even to qualify for some visas/residency permits. The Talent Passport visa has certain criteria, depending on the category; however, the new stricter language requirements put in place for other visas do not apply to the Talent Passport.
Understanding the motivations of France helps explain the speed and breadth of changes:
Global competition for talent and students
Many other countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Germany, etc.) are tightening or modifying the rules, including work rights post-study, processing times, and cost of living/tuition. France sees an opportunity to attract students that would have gone elsewhere.
Strengthening bilateral relations
France is enhancing the bilateral relations with India through education, science, tech, and research. Indian students are increasingly contributing to cultural diplomacy, research collaboration, trade, and long-term partnerships.
Addressing domestic labour demands
France has needs in tech, research and innovation, healthcare, etc. Facilitating international graduates (including Indian) to stay, work, or establish businesses in France can fill skills gaps. Some of the opportunities include the Talent Passport, job-search visa, and business creation permit.
Making France more attractive and competitive
Part of the motivation is marketing: events, fairs (like "Choose France" tours), improved funding, housing, visa processing times, etc. These are useful to influence outbound student mobility and choices of destination. It's intended to reduce friction in student decisions.
Here are some numbers that matter:
| What | Data/Figure |
| Total students in France in 2024 (approx.) | ~2.9 million |
| Percentage of international students | 11% of those (~319,000) |
| Number of Indian students in France (2023-24) | ~8,000 |
| Percentage rise in Indian student enrollments (2024-25) | 17% |
| Target Indian students by 2030 | 30,000 |
| Affordable student housing units pledged by 2027 | 35,000 units |
| Number of Indian students in France among international students (2024) | ~7,344; around 0.2% of total students |
Given these changes, here's what someone from India (student or recent graduate) can do and what to plan for:
1. Choose programmes with part semesters in France
If you want to apply for the 5-year Schengen alumni visa, you will need at least one semester of study in France as part of your degree. So even if you are studying part of your degree abroad or at a partner university, that semester spent studying in France would be useful.
2. If doing a master's in France, plan for post-study options.
When you have finished a master's degree in France, you get the right to apply for the Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise permit. It allows you 12 months of post-study status to either look for work or start a business. After 12 months, if you find a full-time job, you can then switch to another status (e.g., the Talent Passport) from there.
3. Potential for highly skilled work status
If you have strong qualifications (e.g., a master's degree or more or relevant experience), the Talent Passport may allow you to live and work in France for up to 4 years. This would be much better for long-term status.
4. No automatic long work rights just from a 5-year alumni visa
You can't assume that a 5-year alumni visa (Schengen short-stay visa) gives you automatic work rights or even the right to search for work. This visa is primarily for travelling and connecting with alumni – nothing else.
5. Financial and Language Planning
Even when visa requirements work in your favour, the cost of living in France will be substantial. Housing, daily living costs, and transportation will all add up. Scholarships may help, but you need to budget towards living expenses as well. Language: While many programmes will be offered in English, having a basic understanding of French will help with daily interactions and apply to work at times. Further, language may be a requirement for certain permits.
6. Visa Application Timing & Documentation
Documentation includes things such as proof of the semester in France, copies of degrees, proof of residency status, etc. Also, some visa categories may require certain salaries, contracts, etc. In case you think you may want to pursue a Talent Passport or post-study work permit, you will have to adhere to the requirements. Delays may happen, but an early application will help.
Visa restrictions (especially work visas after study), costs, or immigration pathways have been constricted recently compared to some popular destinations like the UK and US. This creates an opportunity for France to appear more welcoming.
Tuition fees at French public institutions are frequently much lower than many English-speaking or private institutions abroad. When coupled with scholarships, it often reduces the overall cost.
The "Choose France" outreach and tours that take place in India (to connect with students and institutions) demonstrate France is taking proactive measures to market itself to Indian students. These provide information and visibility and can help the students through the decision-making process.
If you are considering going to France (study, work, or both), think through these questions:
Have you developed an academic plan yet? Do you plan on spending a semester in France? If so, which course/university do you intend to attend there? Will it be taught in English or French?
What is your goal once you have completed your education? Will you stay in France, work, or pursue a business, travel, or stay connected in some way? For each of these goals, the visa type will matter.
We would encourage you to look carefully at the eligibility criteria for everything that you desire to do; for example, to get a "Recherche d'emploi" permit, you need certain qualifications; for a Talent Passport, salary levels and sometimes working in specific sectors are required.
Plan your finances: think of everything that it will cost to live in France—cost of living, housing, documentation, travel, health insurance, etc. No matter the regulations around visas, the costs are real.
Learn some French: even if you do not have to, it is helpful to your everyday life, improves the chances of internships or work opportunities, and shows goodwill if you are applying for a visa or permit.
Track changes in rules: immigration and visa rules can change. Stay updated via official sources: the France-Visas website, Campus France, the French Embassy in India, etc.
Post-study permit not renewable: The Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise (job-search or business-creation) permit is for a duration of 1 year and is non-renewable. If you wish to stay past the duration of the permit, you will need to get a job, create a business, or change to another visa status.
Alumni visa limits: The Schengen alumni visa is issued for five years, but may not permit residency or employment. It can facilitate travel to visit Europe butyears but does not allow residence or work in Europe.
Eligibility criteria for visas: Many long-term permits, such as the Talent Passport, have salary and qualification thresholds that many graduates may not meet.
Language barrier: Although you may be in English-taught programmes, many internships, jobs, or even daily-life experiences require French proficiency. Not speaking French fluently may limit your options.
Housing and living costs: There is still limited availability of affordable housing in parts of France, especially in Paris and other major cities. Cost of living often exceeds the scholarship coverage.
France is launching a series of reforms and incentives to become much more attractive and appealing to Indian students. Some of the opportunities are quite generous, with multi-year permits, stay options, flexible visa rules, increasing English-taught programmes, scholarships, housing assistance, and special alumni visas. However, there are also restrictions, like some visas don't allow work, the short-term or non-renewable nature of the permits, and criteria for eligibility.
If planned properly, there are ample strong and affordable opportunities that France offers, besides increasing mobility (within France/EU). India-France educational and immigration policies are aligning to make this roadmap clearer.
