France

1. Short-Stay Visas (Schengen Visa – Type C)

Validity: Up to 90 days within 180 days.

Purposes:

• Tourist Visa– For leisure travel.
• Business Visa– For meetings, conferences, or work-related visits (no employment).
• Visitor Visa– Visiting family or friends.
• Medical Visa– For medical treatment in France.
• Transit Visa– For passing through French airports to a non-Schengen destination.

Key Features:

✔ Allows travel within the Schengen Zone.

✔ Single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry options.

2. Long-Stay Visas (Type D – >90 Days)

Validity: More than 90 days; may require a residence permit after arrival.

1. A) Work Visas

• Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)– For skilled professionals, investors, researchers, and artists.
• Salaried Worker Visa– For employees with a French job contract.
• Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa– For employees transferred to a French branch.
• Self-Employed/Entrepreneur Visa– For business owners/freelancers.

1. B) Study Visas

• Student Visa (VLS-TS)– For university/college studies.
• Internship Visa– For paid/unpaid internships.
• Au Pair Visa– For young people working as live-in caregivers.

1. C) Family Visas

• Family Reunion Visa – For spouses and children of French residents.
• Spouse Visa (Vie Privée et Familiale)– For partners of French citizens.

1. D) Other Long-Stay Visas

• Visitor Visa (Long-Stay Tourist)– For retirees or long-term visitors (must prove financial stability).
• Working Holiday Visa (PVT)– For young adults (18-30) from eligible countries.

3. Airport Transit Visa (Type A)

• Required for certain nationalities transiting through French airports (even if not leaving the airport).

4. French Overseas Territories Visas

• Required for destinations like Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, and French Guiana(different from Schengen visas).

Key Considerations:

• Schengen Visa (Type C)is for short stays, while a Long-Stay Visa (Type D) may require additional steps (e.g., OFII registration).
• Visa-exempt nationalities (e.g., EU, US, and UK citizens) don’t need a visa for short stays but may require one for work or study purposes.