FRANCE: VISA FOR A MARRIAGE

ADVANTAGES

Listed below are some of the benefits of French residency:

1. 1. 1. Visa-free entry to all members of Schengen agreement;
      2. Accelerated and simplified scheme of obtaining the Visa to the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand;
      3. The WHO has recognized a new healthcare system of the France as the best healthcare in the world.
      4. France is very famous for its culture, art, fashion, food and wine. If you live in France you can enjoy French food and French wine.
      5. France has four seasons, and for those who enjoy warmer weather, the south of the country offers more than 300 days a year of sunshine.
      6. The beautiful beaches in southern France as well as the various stunning skiing spots,
      7. Party on, good French music, clubbing, theatre, car race, Tour de France, the cafe culture..
      8. Geographical position of France permit you to travel the rest of Europe at affordable price.
      9. The lifestyle choice of France: work to live and not live to work. In France you legally work a 35-hour week but you get paid for 40-hour.
      10. France is a country of first-world infrastructure. Modern roads, a great public transport service, high-speed internet…
      11. France has affordable education system – you can study to become a lawyer, doctor or chemist for next to nothing. Even foreigners can benefit from this system.

ACTS AND REGULATIONS

Article L. 315-1 of the “Entry Code for the Entry and Stay of Foreigners and Right to Asylum”.

CONDITIONS

1. 1. 1. An employer in France who wants to hire a foreigner must obtain an authorization from the French Ministry of labor;
      2. You must have an employment agreement valid for at least 1 year and earn not less that 53.331 EUR per year;
      3. You must also hold a degree achieved after at least 3 years of higher education or you can prove your qualifications by providing evidence of five years of professional experience at an equivalent level.

DOCUMENTS

All documents must be translated into French and legalised. Some documents must be apostilled.

1. 1. 1. 1. Completed application forms;
         2. Three recent photo ID, 25×45 mm;
         3. Passport and identity card (copies of all identification pages);
         4. Detailed curriculum vitae;
         5. No criminal record certificate;
         6. Documents certifying at least 5 years of comparable professional experience or diploma certifying at least 3 years of higher education study;
         7. An employment contract;
         8. An authorization from the French Ministry of labor;
         9. Birth certificate;
         10. Marriage certificate;
         11. Residence tenancy agreement (or purchase agreement) in France;
         12. Health insurance coverage for one (1) year in France.

PROCESS

1. 1. 1. We will advise you on: the process of immigrating to France, the procedures for obtaining a residence permit, issues related to education, insurance, integration, healthcare, administrative aspects and other aspects related to your move to France;
      2. You need to prepare and legalise the required documents;
      3. We have a team of sworn translators who will translate all documents into French;
      4. You must have an employment contract, valid for at least 1 year and stating a salary of at least 1.5 times the annual minimum wage as defined by ministerial decree, i.e. EUR 53 331 ;
      5. The employer submits the application to the French Ministry of Labour and obtains authorisation;
      6. The employer must send a request to the departmental authority responsible for foreign workers (DIRECCTE – Directions régionales des entreprises, de la concurrence, de la consommation, du travail et de l’emploi) ;
      7. Once you have received a positive decision, your file will be sent to OFII (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration);
      8. Lease contract in France;
      9. We apply to the French consulate for a Carte Bleue residence permit;
      10. If you are legally resident in France with another residence permit or if you have an EU Blue Card issued by another EU country where you have lived for at least 18 months, you can apply directly for an EU Blue Card at the Prefecture;
      11. You will be invited to an interview at a French consulate in your country and issued with an entry visa (for France only);
      12. When you arrive in France, you must go to the prefecture in your place of residence to obtain the EU Blue Card;
      13. If your employment contract lasts between 1 and 3 years, your EU Blue Card is valid for between 1 and 3 years;
      14. If your contract lasts longer than three years, you will be issued with a three-year residence permit;
      15. The residence permit will be renewed as long as you continue to meet the conditions for obtaining a French Blue Card;
      16. As an EU Blue Card holder, you can obtain a long-term residence permit in the EU after 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the EU (during the 5 years of uninterrupted residence required, a maximum absence of 12 consecutive months and 18 months in total is permitted);

INFORMATION

Your family member (spouse and children who entered France as minors) can get the “private and family life” residence permit, allowing them to come to France and work. The permit is renewable. You spouse and children can apply for an EU long-term residence permit if they reside 5 years in France.

CITIZENSHIP

There are a few ways to get French citizenship, and therefore get the French ID card and/or passport:

Naturalisation

A request for naturalisation is admissible after 5 years of legal residence in the country, with the exception of marriage. This duration may be shortened to 2 years for individuals who have a degree from an establishment of superior education or who have served France in an exceptional way. Any foreigner who has served in the French army is not obliged to satisfy the minimum residence requirement.

Furthermore, it is essential to prove that the applicant has successfully integrated into French society, i.e. has a suitable level of French and is aware of the rights and obligations of a French citizen. People over the age of 65 are not subject to this exemption, however, as they merely have to undergo an oral examination in French with a government official to prove that they are fit to conduct a day-to-day conversation.

Children under 18 can be added to the application and be granted French nationality (certain conditions may apply).

Right of blood

A child of which at least one parent is of French nationality may become a French citizen.

If the child was born in France

A child born in France during the mother’s brief visit as a tourist is not eligible for French nationality. Children born on French soil to foreign citizens can qualify for French nationality by descent on their 16th birthday and become French nationals at 18, so long as France has been their main residence for five (5) successive years since they were 11 years old.

A modification of French legislation in 2015 also enables children to gain French nationality at the age of 18 provided they have been living in France since the age of 6, have been enrolled in a French school and have a sibling who has obtained French nationality.

If you are the non-French parents of a child of at least 13 years old and has lived in France since the age of 8, you can ask for the nationality on their behalf before a magistrate.

Marriage

The union of a French citizen and a foreigner does not grant the foreign spouse French nationality.

Nevertheless, in order to become a French citizen, a non-national who has married a French national must fulfil one of the following conditions:

1. 1. 1. The couple has been residing in France, legally married, for at least 4 years. At the time of the request, cohabitation must be ongoing and the French partner must have maintained French nationality;
      2. The couple has been living together outside France, legally married, for at least 5 years. At the time of their claim, cohabitation must not have been interrupted and the French spouse must have kept his/her French nationality.

OUR SERVICES

1. 1. 1. Residence permit in France for investors;
      2. Residence permit in France for wealthy individuals;
      3. Residence permit for entrepreneurs;
      4. Visa for the spouse of a French person;
      5. France: Residence for highly qualified workers;
      6. Student visa in France;
      7. Set up a company, business and financial plans;
      8. Assistance in: bank account opening, medical insurance subscription, school registration for children, exchange of driver’s licence, etc.;
      9. Legal service in corporate, banking, immigration and administration law;
      10. Renting / buying a property in France;
      11. Application for French permanent residency;
      12. Application for French Citizenship.

Start your immigration procedure with us.