IESEG School of Management
IESEG School of Management – Ecole de Commerce Post Bac
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Home > Programmes > MIB Programme > Practical Information > Immigration Visa issues

Immigration Visa issues

  1. Do you need a Visa to study in France?

    You do NOT require a Visa…if you are a citizen from the EU (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK, Sweden, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia); IF you are from the European Economic region (the 15 countries of the EU plus Island, Liechtenstein and Norway); IF you are from Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, San Marin and from the Vatican are exempted from the visa procedures for all the stays.

    You DO need a Visa…if you are not represented in the above categories.

    • * For all those outside of the EU, a Visa is ESSENTIAL. If you still are unsure whether you need a Visa, here is a useful link to a list of French Consulates (pick the one closest to you), http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr

    Which Visa do you want? A semester at IESEG lasts 4 months, MIB consists of 2 semesters of courses plus an internship, and therefore you will need a Long-stay Visa (student visa – type D). Keep in mind, even with the Long-stay visa, you will still need to validate it within three months upon your arrival in France. A Tourist Visa (normally 3 months) is not sufficient, you will run the risk of being expelled from France, and any credits or diplomas earned while in France will NOT be recognized.

    A long-stay Visa applies ONLY to France. In certain cases, the visa “FRANCE +1 TRANSIT SCHENGEN” allows you to come to France through the Schengen area.

    What is the Schengen area? The Schengen agreements aim at instituting free movement between the countries who signed the Schengen agreements: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

    General Visa information can also be found at http://www.campusfrance.org/en/a-etudier/etudes05-1.htm

  2. How to apply for a Visa?

    To obtain a Visa, you must apply through your country’s French consulate. Keep in mind, the application procedure should not be left to the last minute, because it can take a longer period of time depending on each country’s rules and regulations.

    Important: For students who do not reside in their country of origin, they must bring with them to the nearest consulate location proof of residence in the country where they submit their Visa application. For example, you are from India, currently residing in Dubai. You apply for a visa at the French consulate in Dubai while providing a proof of residence in Dubai.

    For more information regarding Visa instructions for your particular country, please consult the following links, http://www.mfe.org/index.php/Annuaires/Ambassades-et-consulats-francais-a-l-etranger/(this website is done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and gives the contacts of French embassies and consulates abroad); OR, http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr , (this is the consulate website, where you should be able to find the appropriate information with regards to the Visa process).

  3. Carte de séjour?

    Although you apply for a visa BEFORE leaving for France, there are certain procedures that you must follow once in France, to ensure your time of study.

    Any foreign student studying in France for MORE THAN three months is obligated to apply for a carte de sejour with the status “etudiant.” Receipt of one’s carte de sejour can only be effectuated upon your arrival in France at the local Prefecture (there are two Prefecture offices in Lille, which can be found further down the page).

    IESEG will guide you through the process of obtaining your Carte de Séjour once you arrive on campus.

  4. Employment after graduation

    Once you have obtained a degree equivalent to a Master's or higher degree…you may request a temporary residence permit (autorisation provisoire de séjour). You must ask for this paper while renewing your student Visa. This temporary residence permit allows foreign graduates to apply for any salaried position. Keep in mind, this permit is only valid for SIX MONTHS and is non-renewable. This temporary residence permit authorizes you to work in any kind of salaried job of your choice up to a limit of 60% of the legally permitted number of working hours.

    What about working full-time? … Upon completing ones’ studies, ALL STUDENTS can be recruited by a French company (even those who are non-EU citizens). To make this tradition to full-time worker, it is essential that you consult the Prefecture and change your residence permit from “student” to “employee.” To do so, you must follow the same procedure as those completing the carte de séjour process.

    ALSO, you will have to present an employment contract or an employment offer from a French company. In evaluating your request, the authorities will consider various factors, such as the company's reasons for making the offer, your profile and the number of years of study completed.

    Special circumstances…Carte de séjour "compétences et talents" ("Skills and talents" combined work and residence permit)

    This permit will be issued to foreigners who are likely to contribute, in a significant and lasting manner, to the economic development or the intellectual, scientific, cultural, humanitarian or athletic prestige and influence of France and the foreigner's home country.

    Issuance of the card depends on the content, nature and interest of the foreigner's professional plan. It is issued for a renewable 3 year period and allows permit holders to conduct any professional activity related to their stated plan.

    For more information on possible employment in France, please consult the link, www.servicepublic.fr