France: Your Guide to Studying, Working and Settling

Are you considering moving to France but unsure which pathway suits your situation? This ElWijha guide brings together the essential information to help you understand your options, assess your needs and identify the relevant organisation to contact.

Start by defining your purpose: studying, working, starting a business, joining family, visiting or receiving medical treatment. Each purpose has different conditions and document requirements. Eligibility depends on factors including your nationality, country of residence and length of stay.

A stay exceeding 90 days generally requires a long-stay visa, unless an exemption applies to your situation. Your visa, right to reside and right to work must be checked according to your category. Visiting does not automatically give you the right to settle or start a job.

The France-Visas website helps you identify the appropriate category through its visa wizard.

France has universities, grandes écoles and specialised institutions, both public and private. The standard university pathway consists of a bachelor’s degree, usually lasting three years, followed by a two-year master’s degree. The duration of a doctorate varies according to the field and research arrangements.

Compare the programme content, teaching language, entry requirements, qualification awarded and fees. Some programmes are taught in French and others in English. There is no single language requirement for all programmes. Use the Campus France catalogues, then check the institution’s requirements.

In countries covered by the “Études en France” platform, including Algeria, the application process depends on the study level, institution and individual situation. Admission and visa approval are separate decisions: acceptance does not guarantee a visa.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the standard national annual registration fees for certain qualifications at public institutions, for the categories to which they apply, are €178 for a bachelor’s degree, €255 for a master’s degree and €398 for a doctorate.

The differentiated annual registration fees applicable to the international students concerned at public institutions are €2,902 for a bachelor’s degree and €3,950 for a master’s degree. Exemptions and special cases exist. Private institutions and certain programmes set other fees. Ask the institution to confirm the amount applicable to your situation.

The Student and Campus Life Contribution, known as CVEC, is €105 for the 2026–2027 academic year for those required to pay it. Exemptions exist, and some programmes are not subject to the contribution.

Government scholarships, institutional scholarships and exchange programmes are available. Campus France tools allow you to search by nationality, study level and subject. The Eiffel scholarship is intended for master’s and doctoral studies; the French institution submits the nomination. Not every scholarship covers all expenses.

A contract is an important step, but it does not, by itself, grant a visa or the right to work. Depending on the situation, the employer must obtain work authorisation, and your entry and residence documents must permit the intended activity.

Pathways differ for salaried employment, seasonal work and transfers within a company. Before accepting an offer, check the employer, duties, contract duration, working hours, and gross and net pay.

You can browse vacancies and create a job-search account through France Travail. However, formal registration as a jobseeker depends on your circumstances and residence document.

An ENIC-NARIC statement of comparability can help explain the level of your foreign qualification. However, it is not permission to practise a regulated profession and does not guarantee employment.

Check the employer’s requirements and, if your profession is regulated, those of the relevant professional authority. For further study, consult the educational institution’s admission requirements.

Under the general rules, a non-European student holding the appropriate residence document may work up to 964 hours a year. For an Algerian student undertaking ordinary salaried work, the employer must request work authorisation. The limit is up to 50% of the annual working time practised in the relevant sector or profession. Specific rules apply to certain contracts and programmes.

After graduation, conditional pathways allow some graduates to work or seek employment. The available options depend on nationality, qualification and individual circumstances. Graduation does not automatically provide a right to residence.

A pathway exists for self-employed activities and independent professional practice. Your residence status must permit the activity, and the project must meet the applicable economic and financial requirements. Regulated professions also require proof of the relevant qualifications or professional conditions.

Starting a company does not replace the need to check entry and residence requirements.

Not in every case. The pathway depends on the family relationship, the nationality of the person living in France and their residence document. The rules for the family of a French or European national differ from those for the family of a foreign resident.

Where family reunification applies, eligibility involves conditions including residence, income and housing, with differences and exceptions depending on the situation. A short family visit is different from settling with family.

Visits and tourism follow a short-stay pathway. For a private stay exceeding three months without professional activity, a “visitor” pathway exists, with requirements relating to financial resources, accommodation and health coverage.

Travel for medical treatment falls under a specific category. Treatment and funding must be organised according to official requirements. Choose the purpose that matches your plans.

There is no single budget for everyone. Calculate rent, utility bills, food, transport, communications and healthcare. Add arrival expenses, temporary accommodation and the rental security deposit. Compare cities and actual housing offers.

Student options include university residences, private residences and shared rentals. Visale may provide a rental guarantee for eligible applicants. This is different from the security deposit paid when moving into a property.

Do not rely on housing assistance before checking your eligibility. Since 1 July 2026, the conditions have changed for certain students from outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland who hold residence documents for study. Under the rules concerned, a means-tested higher education scholarship is required, such as a CROUS scholarship or certain regional scholarships for health and social care programmes. Other situations remain eligible, including students who work, holders of apprenticeship or professional training contracts, refugees and stateless persons, depending on their circumstances and the benefit’s conditions. Not every scholarship qualifies for this purpose.

Health coverage does not mean that all treatment is free. Eligibility depends on your situation, such as employment, studying or stable and lawful residence. Reimbursement amounts vary according to the service. Supplementary health insurance can help reduce remaining out-of-pocket costs.

International students concerned follow a specific registration process with the French health insurance system. Visitors must check the coverage required for their trip.

French-language requirements vary according to the programme, profession and type of application. Learning French helps with public services, housing, healthcare and everyday life.

For children arriving from abroad, school enrolment depends on their age and previous education. Tax status depends on individual circumstances and international agreements; obligations may also apply to income earned outside France. The rules for using or exchanging a foreign driving licence vary according to the issuing country and residence status.

Specific rules apply to Algerian nationals regarding residence, employment and family matters. Their system uses an Algerian residence certificate. Not all general residence-permit rules automatically apply to them.

Select the section for Algerian nationals on official information pages, particularly when checking employment conditions, renewal or a change of status.

No. Long-term residence and citizenship are separate pathways with their own requirements. Studying, working or marrying does not, by itself, automatically grant French citizenship.

If you wish to seek protection, OFPRA examines asylum applications according to legal criteria and explains where to start and how the application process works.

For legal questions and disputes, Point-justice centres provide guidance and free consultations. If you receive a refusal, read the reasons for the decision, appeal instructions and deadlines. In an emergency, call 112.

Before starting your application: identify your situation and check eligibility and costs through official sources. This guide directs you towards the appropriate pathway. Documents, deadlines and application steps require a separate guide for each situation.