Residence permit: PhD students

If you are a PhD student from a country of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA), or from Switzerland, you can reside and work in France. No procedures are required.
British citizens are henceforth no longer considered citizens of the EU, but of a third country. For more information you can visit our special page Brexit.

The procedure for requesting a residence permit for PhD students from a non-European country (outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland) varies according to the student’s case. Choose the appropriate procedure for your case :

• Whether or not you're enroling in a PhD program in a french university
• Whether or not a hosting agreement has been issued by a French institution

If you are enrolled in a PhD program in a french higher-education establishment, that establishment can deliver you a hosting agreement if you fill in certain requirements. The most comon one is the delivery of a doctoral contract.

If you are a PhD student from a third country originally, whether you are enrolled in a PhD program in France or you have a hosting agreement from your establishment you must have gotten a long-stay visa with the title "Passeport talent-chercheur" (talent-researcher passport). Depending on the duration of your stay, you will have to either have to get your visa validated (3 to 12 months stay), or requet a residence permit (over 12 months stay).  

The validation or request for a residence permit is done online on the dediacted website.

To know more about the procedure for the holders of a "Passeport talent-chercheurs"

Please note : Algerian PhD students are subject to specific bilateral agreement. A certificate of residency titled "scientifique-chercheur" (scientist-researcher) is sent to them instead of a "Passeport talent-chercheur". The procedure for this annual certificate is specific.

You will receive a long-stay visa titled "Etudiant" (Student). You cannot benefit from the "Passeport talent-chercheur" (talent-researcher passport).

Please note: in this case, the right to your spouse's stay is not automatic (consult us before the departure) and they will not be able to work in France (except for citizens of the EEA).

Depending on the duration of your stay, you will have to either have to get your visa validated (4 to 12 months stay), or requet a residence permit (over 12 months stay).  

The validation or request for a residence permit is done online on the dediacted website.

The student visa or residence permit will allow you to work under certain conditions: To know more

As an international student, the Students Welcome Desk of the Université de Lyon can help you with your procedures. A hotline is put at your disposal every year from September to November.

For more information the Student Welcome Desk.

Yo can also consult the service of international relations of your establishment : list of all establishments.

For more information on your "student" visa/residence permit: FAQ Students Welcome Desk

If you are hosted in the context of a stay for research with the application of the article L. 434-1 of the Code of research, you stay can be the subject of a Convention of Stay for research with your establishment.

Depending on your amount of funding (scholarship + possible supplement) you will be able to claim:

• From a certain amount (based on the minimum monthly amount of a doctoral contract) : a visa / residence permit "passeport talent-chercheur" (talent-researcher passport). Your establishment has to in this case give you again a hosting agreement.

For more details on the procedures to go through for holders of the "passeport talent-chercheur".

• Under this amount (based on the minimum monthly amount of a doctoral contract) : an "étudiant" (student) visa / residence permit.

For more details on the procedures to go through for the holders of the "student" visa/residence permit: FAQ Students Welcome Desk

Algerian citizens are subject of a spicific blateral agreement. The following provisions may not be applicable.

Some Prefectures do not tolerate any tardiness on document submissions. All documents not submitted within the validity dates of a residence permit (residence permit of any kind, document attesting of validation of residence permit request,  provisional authorisation of stay) can be suject to a fine.

The renewal of your “Etudiant" residence permit (and your spouse’s, if need be) must be done onlin on the ANEF platform within two months prior to the expiration of your current residence permit or visa.

You will apply for the renewal online, following the instructions. If your application is complete, you will receive an application proof ("attestation de confirmation de dépôt"). If your card expires before you receive your new card, you will get an extension certificate ("attestation de prolongation d'instruction") extending the rights of your residence permit while waiting for your card to be ready.

You will be notified by email whenever a new document is available on the platform.

You will be required to pay a tax of €75 in fiscal stamps when collecting your new residence permit.

For all subsequent renewals, you must follow the same procedure, submitting your renewal request within two months prior to the expiry date of your current residence permit.

For more information on the renewal of your student visa / residence permit: FAQ Students Welcome Desk

-If your hosting agreement is renewed by your establishment, you can ask for a renewal of your "passeport talent-chercheur" on the ANEF platform.
- If you get a hosting agreement for the first time, you can change your status to "passeport talent-chercheur" by asking for a renewal on the ANEF platform.
-After your studies or at the end of your doctoral contract, you will have the possiblity, depend on whether you are compensated by Pôle emploi (an employment service) or not, to ask for the renewal of your "passeport talent-chercheur" after the involontary loss of your job or to ask for a RECE ("Recherche d'emploi / Création d'entreprise" or Search for employment / Business start up) residence permit for PhD students having finished their research papers and holders of a valid "passeport talent-chercheur" residence permit.
Please note : the title "RECE" can only be obtained once; it is not renewable.

For more information visit the page "Residence permits for Scientists", section "Procedure for renewing your “Passeport talent chercheur” residence permit or changing your status"