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Scientists-researchers
Last updated
January 19 2012

Foreign scientists may come to work in France as researchers or university-level teachers. The regulation accounts for the specificity of their activity, in particular the time required for obtaining results from their work, or the necessity of staying in other European countries.

Beneficiaries

Foreign nationals of third countries.

Bulgarian and Romanian nationals (see the sheet on European Union nationals).

Algerian nationals governed by the Franco-Algerian agreement dated December 27, 1968.

Holders of higher education degrees, at least equivalent to a master's degree, wishing to enter France to conduct research or teach at the university level, under anapproved hosting agreement signed in advance with a public or private institution having a research or teaching mission.

Foreign scientists admitted to carry out research work in other member States of the European Union wishing to conduct part of their work in France based on a hosting agreement signed in the other European country for a duration of less than or equal to 3 months (subject to providing evidence that they have sufficient resources) or for a duration longer than 3 months (by signing a hosting agreement with an accredited French institution).

Categories not affected

Nationals of the European Union or of the other member States of the EEAEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway).

Nationals of the Swiss Confederation.

 

Conditions for issue

 

  • the employment situation is not applicable.
  • Hosting agreement signed in advance between the scientist and an accredited public or private institution whose mission is research or higher education (see the ordersdated December 24, 2007, and June 5, 2008). An exhaustive list of approved institutions is available on the website of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research: www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr. This agreementmust describe the interested party's research or teaching qualifications and describe his or her research project and its duration.
  • The host organization agrees that the scientist has the resources necessary to cover the expenses of his or her stay and return home. It provides health insurance coverage and insurance against accidents related to the research work.

The scientist will have the right to intra-European mobility. If the hosting agreement was signed in another European country or an assimilated country, the scientist must provide:

 

  • the residence permit issued for a scientist by another member State of the European Union, by a state party to the European Economic Area, or by the Swiss Confederation,
  • the hosting agreement that was signed in this country.

In principle, holders of a residence permit for "scientists" do not need to exercise paid employment other than that of researcher or teacher for which they obtained the permit. They may only exercise this activity in service to the signatory institution in the hosting agreement. Any other paid employment supposes a status change from "scientist" to "worker", and may be penalised by the revocation of the "scientist" permit.

 

In the case of doctoral students and temporary teaching and research attaches (ATER)

Note: only holders of a hosting agreement may qualify as “scientists”

 

presentation of an employment contract or a contract under public law for research of the same nature as that described in the hosting agreement including:

 

Exception(s)

n/a

Conditions for issue

Spouses of holders of the CSTTemporary residence permit for "scientists" may obtain a CSTTemporary residence permit for "partners and families".

The entry of a scientist’s partner and children into France may take place at the same time as that of the scientist, covered by the required visa if they are not EUEuropean Union nationals or assimilated, or at a later date.

Permit issued to the worker

Temporary residence permit for "scientists". Signature of a CAIReception and integration contract for a CDIOpen-ended contract (to find out more, visit the OFII web-site).

Valid for one year, renewable for a period of one to 4 years. The broad flexibility for renewal is allowed to account for the planned duration of the work.

Permit issued to the family

Spouses may obtain a temporary residence permit bearing the notice "partners and families". This permit grants authorisation to work. Signature of a CAIReception and integration contract (to find out more, see the OFII web-site).

Procedure to follow

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  • First issue

    Application elements

    • application for a long stay visa,
    • hosting agreement signed with an accredited institution and bearing the stamp of the prefecture 
      • diploma attesting to a level at least equivalent to a Masters Degree.

    For scientists already in the European Union or assimilated countries:

    • residence permit issued for a scientist by the country in question,
    • hosting agreement signed in this country.

    Potential additional documents

    When applying for a temporary residence permit, scientists who are also completing a doctoral thesis must provide a contract signed with a research or teaching body.

    Application submission

    Consulate of France for the country of origin for the long stay visa application.

    Prefecture of the place of residence for the temporary residence permit.
    Each Prefecture must designate a representative for foreign researchers. The application for a residence permit may be made on behalf of the scientist by a representative of the host institution designated as such to the Prefecture's representative.

    Application evaluation

    Consular authorities, who will make the necessary confirmations:

    • public order,
    • resources,
    • university and/or professional qualifications.

    Once a long stay visa has been obtained, the scientist may enter French territory and go to the Prefecture of his or her place of residence to apply for a temporary residence permit for "scientists".

    Medical examination

    The required medical examination will be scheduled by the OFIIFrench Office of Immigration and Integration, by appointment, within 3 months after the arrival of the scientist in France.

    Issuance of the residence permit

    Prefecture.

  • Renewal

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    Application elements

    Applications are submitted to the prefecture of the scientist’s place of residence two months before the expiry of his/her residence permit; 

    • valid passport 
    • hosting agreement 
    • certificate from the host institution stating that the foreign scientist continues to perform the same research
    • amendment to the employment contract if any.

     

    Potential additional documents

    n/a

    Application submission

     Prefecture of their place of residence, 2 months before the expiration of the existing permit.

    Application evaluation

    Prefecture.

    Issuance of the residence permit

    Prefecture.

Taxes to pay

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  • Taxes due by the employer

    Public sector employers of scientists are exempt.

    For private sector employers:

    Agreements of a  duration of longer than 3 months and less than 12 months:

    €74 for salaries less than or equal to the SMICMinimum growth wage,

    €210 for salaries greater than the SMICMinimum growth wage and less than or equal to 1.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage,

    €300 for salaries greater than 1.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage,

    Agreements of a duration of 12 months or longer:

    50% of the gross monthly salary up to 2.5 times the SMICMinimum growth wage.

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for issuance

    €349

  • Taxes due by the foreign national for renewal

    €87 if permit is for one year
    €113 if permit > 1 year

  • Taxes due by the spouse

    349 €

Reference documents

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The Official Journal (JORF), CESEDA may be consulted at the www.legifrance.gouv.fr web-site.

 

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