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France, the largest country in Western Europe, has long been a gateway between the continent’s northern and southern regions. Its lengthy borders touch Germany and Belgium in the north; the Atlantic Ocean in the west; the Pyrenees Mountains and Spain in the south.
Wide fertile plains dominate most of the north and west, making France the agricultural epicenter of Europe. The sprawling, forested plateau of the Massif Central, a range of ancient mountains and extinct volcanoes, occupies France’s southern interior.
France is one of the most popular nations globally for aspirants looking to pursue fulfilling careers after completing their higher studies and enjoy proximity to multiple European Union (EU) nations for travel and professional pursuits. How to settle in France from India? Here’s a brief guide on moving to France from India, including immigration details and reasons to make the big move.
Settling in France offers a multitude of advantages that make it an enticing destination for individuals and families seeking a high quality of life and diverse opportunities. Here are some compelling reasons to consider settling in France:
Diverse Population: With migrants constituting 11.8% of the population, France is a melting pot of cultures, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and perspectives.
Better Lifestyle and Work-Life Balance: Expats choose France for its emphasis on quality of life, offering a balance between professional growth and personal well-being.
Excellent Job Opportunities: France is home to numerous multinational corporations and global conglomerates, providing ample job opportunities across various sectors.
Culinary Delights: Renowned for its world-class cuisine, France offers a gastronomic paradise with iconic dishes like croissants, baguettes, and Michelin-starred menus.
Labor Laws and Work-Life Balance: With a 35-hour workweek, generous paid leave, and bank holidays, France prioritizes work-life balance, allowing ample time for leisure and family.
Relaxed Pace of Life: France offers a more laid-back lifestyle compared to many other countries, complemented by an excellent public benefits system.
Natural Beauty: From the majestic Alps to the picturesque French Riviera, France boasts stunning natural landscapes and landmarks, offering endless opportunities for exploration and leisure.
Efficient Public Transportation: France’s intercity travel and public transportation systems are renowned for their efficiency and accessibility.
Education and Childcare: France provides high-quality education and childcare services, making it an ideal environment to raise children.
Mediterranean Climate: Enjoying warmer weather than Britain, France offers a Mediterranean climate, ideal for outdoor activities and leisure pursuits.
Cultural Richness: France is a cultural hub, celebrated for its literature, music, historical attractions, and vibrant local communities.
Safety: With a lower crime rate compared to many countries, France offers a secure and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike.
Post-study work visa (PSW) is granted to students who have completed their studies in France. A point to note is that the students who have completed bachelor’s and masters from France. The students who have pursued a short-term program or diploma course are not eligible for a PSW visa. Here are more details about the PSW visa for students who want to move to France from India.
A student can only apply for a PSW visa if he/she has paid employment after completing the bachelor’s degree. Students who are already employed are only eligible to apply for a residence permit. For students from non-EU backgrounds, who do not have any permanent employment, can apply for a temporary resident permit, APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour). The temporary residence permit has a validity of 12 months and is non-renewable.
Students with a masters degree from France do not require paid employment. They can apply for a temporary residence permit for 12 to 24 months. However, it is also a non-renewable visa. The students are also restricted in time and duration to work per week. Post 24 months, they either have to find permanent employment or leave the country.
The European Blue Card is one of the Passport-Talent residence permits offered in France. It is issued for a maximum duration of four years and is also renewable. The maximum processing time for an EU Blue Card is 90 days. Here are the requirements for applying for a Blue Card:
EU Blue Card Cost
Here are the fee/cost requirements for EU Blue Card:
| Initial Blue Card Fee | 269 EUR |
| Renewal Fee | 269 EUR |
| Replacement Fee | 269 EUR |
| Express Issuance Fee | N/A |
To live in France for more than three months, you need to get a long-stay visa. There are two types of student visas available in France:
The visa needs to be validated upon arriving in France and allows an applicant to stay in France for at least one year. The applicant is not required to request a residence permit. Basis the level of studies, the long-stay student visa is divided on the following:
This visa does not require validation upon arrival and is non-renewable. The students can stay in France for one year for studies, benefit from French Social Security, and can travel freely within the Schengen countries.
How to settle in France? You will have to meet varied requirements to study in France or work and live here. Here are the basic requirements:
You can book your appointment at your consulate and submit the same with your interview. It may be done online and takes place for ten minutes usually. The visa may require a processing time of up to two months.
Some of the courses and universities offering better job prospects in the France are:
| Field | Popular Courses | Job Prospects | Average Annual Salary |
| Luxury Brand Management |
|
| 30,000 EUR – 90,000 EUR |
| Hotel Management |
|
| 40,000 EUR – 100,000 EUR |
| Film Studies |
|
| 30,000 EUR – 80,000 EUR |
Fashion Designing |
|
| 25,000 EUR – 60,000 EUR |
| MBA |
| Account Manager Manager Business Development Manager Sales Manager HR Manager | 30,000 EUR – 120,000 EUR |
France has over 2 lacs vacancies in different areas (reported 2021 start). There is no dearth of jobs for those who do not speak the native language, however, having the knowledge of French does increase your options. With Surgeons, lawyers, Bank Managers being the jobs having 5 figure salaries, there is no dearth of non-professional vacancies like Marketing managers, Insurance agents, etc. Foreign nationals recruited as Marketing Managers earn €101,000 annually. The Customer services executive gets €66,400 annually. Managers take home around €59,000 and management area jobs give high four or five-figure earnings.
With some of the top global firms like HSBC, Capgemini, Morgan Stanley, EY, Deloitte, IBM, PwC having their centers in France, the country ensures a global standard of work. Apart from the global leaders, there are plenty of homegrown brands that lead the job sector in France. Here are some of the top recruiters and their salary packages:
| Company | Salaries (Euro/year) |
|---|---|
| Airbus | 93,344 |
| Amadeus | 80,000 |
| Capgemini | 78,052 |
| BNP Paribas Inc | 116,932 |
| Societe Generale | 66,661 |
| Deloitte | 36,000 |
| Sopra Steria Group | 35,000 |
| Morgan Stanley | 155,000 |
| Soltec | 160,000 |
| Council of Europe | 150,000 |
| Balbec Capital | 120,000 |
| HSBC | 108,000 |
| B.O.A Merrill Lynch | 155,000 |
| Adio | 65,000 |
| KIABI | 75,000 |
| Rabot Dutilleul Construction | 125,000 |
| April group | 150,000 |
| Natixis | 125,000 |
| LyondellBasell | 120,000 |
Startup businesses play an important role in generating employment. They are emerging at a great speed in France and many of them are backed by the government. These businesses are great employers for international students and the workforce and at the same time attract entrepreneurs from other countries too.
The French government highly supports the start-ups and rising firms in the country which in turn increases the chances of employment in the same for international graduates. Jobs in France for Indians are easily secured with these start-ups.
Some of the top, recently established start-ups in France and their venture capital is given below:
| Start-ups | Venture Capital in Euros |
|---|---|
| Outsight | 18 million |
| Typology | 8.2 million |
| Welink | 5.7 million |
| Iziwork | 22.3 million |
| Leavy | 19 million |
| Pennylane | 19 million |
| Pigment | 21.3 million |
| La Ruche qui dit Oui | 13.1 million |
| Swile | 115 million |
| Qwarry | 2 million |
| Joko | 11.7 |
The list of startups is unending and they are growing at a good speed in spite of pandemics. The venture capitalists are employing and are in search of the best talent and the international workforce has a great scope of getting jobs in France with them.
Finding jobs in France after an MBA degree is a cakewalk. With some of the best business schools in the country, employers seek out MBA graduates with high salary packages in the industry.
A management degree leads to some of the best paying jobs also. Some jobs available to MBA qualified students and their salaries are as follows:
| Positions | Average Yearly Salary in Euros |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | 111,000 |
| Chief Financial Officer | 102,000 |
| Regional Director | 98,400 |
| Corporate Officer | 89,100 |
| Executive Manager | 89,700 |
| General Manager | 86,000 |
| Risk and Capital manager | 83,600 |
Besides this MBAs are able to get specialized field jobs like Human Resources executives and managers, Finance professionals, Supply chain executives, and managers.
The professions that required immediate manpower were STEM professionals, medical professionals, carpenters, electricians, construction workers to name a few.
The labor laws of the country have fixed 35 hours of work per week and beyond that, the work done in a week will attract overtime payments. There has to be one or two hours break for lunch and a minimum of 5 weeks’ yearly holidays are inbuilt to protect the rights of the employees in the system.
Different sectors and professions have different salaries in France. This variation can be seen due to the location as well. Paris is the highest paying city in the country. The average salary of the country is calculated at approximately €40,000 per person. Top paying jobs in France by median salaries are discussed below:
| Position | Annual Median Salary in USD |
|---|---|
| It Manager | 52,480 |
| Lecturer | 51,722 |
| Account Manager | 49,302 |
| Project Manager | 47,287 |
| Product Manager | 46,402 |
| Accountant | 45,541 |
| Marketing Manager | 45,201 |
| Business Analyst | 44,637 |
| Finance Manager | 43,772 |
| Financial Analyst | 42,730 |
| Chemical Engineer | 41,739 |
| Civil Engineer | 41,267 |
| Systems Administrator | 41,243 |
| Mobile Developer | 41,234 |
| QA Engineer | 40,491 |
| Operations Manager | 39,923 |
| Research Scientist | 39,296 |
| Software Engineer | 39,153 |
| Data Analyst | 39,144 |
| Web Developer | 38,325 |
| Human Resources Manager | 38,273 |
| Attorney | 38,240 |
| Interior Designer | 38,088 |
