France to roll out 5-year visa for Indian students, but it is NOT a work permit

France, on August 8, announced a new visa programme in a bid to woo Indian students. The announcement comes following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country last month. Under the new programme, Indian alumni of French master's degrees or those who have completed just a semester as an exchange student can now apply for the new 5-year Schengen visa.

However, a section of the Indian media seems to have misreported the programme. The new visa programme is NOT what it is being made out to be. 

So what is the new visa programme?

• According to the details given by the French embassy in India, the new 5-year visa programme is a 'short-stay' Schengen visa. 

• The Free Press Journal reported citing an unnamed French official working with a French university in India that the short-stay visa is NOT a work visa or a post-study work visa. 
• The 5-year short-stay visa ONLY allows a maximum stay of up to 90 days each time in the Schengen zone. It does not offer any resident status or give any work permit. 

• The visa programme is meant to boost tourism and business trips to the Schengen zone. 
• However, the visa programme has been misconstrued as a post-study work visa, often given by various countries to International students to gain valuable work experience after completing their studies. 
• But NO, France is not giving a 5-year post-study work visa to Indian alumni with a master's degree or above.

Say, Bonjour France!
On July 14 in Paris, President @EmmanuelMacron and Prime Minister @NarendraModi announced major initiatives to boost 🇫🇷🇮🇳 student mobility.
Check out new opportunities for Indian students and alumni: 👩‍🎓👨‍🎓 @ifiofficiel https://t.co/aO8VbaNRI5

— French Embassy in India 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinIndia) August 8, 2023

• And the 5-year Schengen visa is only applicable to Indian alumni with a master's degree or above or a post-graduate student who completed at least a semester in France as an exchange student. It is not applicable to undergraduates.  

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Does France have a post-study work visa?

• The French embassy in India outlining the many benefits and attractions of studying in France also listed its actual post-study work visa. 
• Indian students who graduated from a French university with a master's degree or above are eligible for a two-year post-study work visa. 

France also plans to welcome 30,000 Indian students to its country by 2030. In 2019, France welcomed 10,000 Indian students to its universities. 

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