France

Visas and relocation: France

Work, the Talent Passport, entrepreneurship, study and family through the official France-Visas wizard.

Official portal

France-Visas · Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères

Employment

For an employment contract of more than three months a long-stay VLS-TS visa is normally issued: salarié for a permanent contract, travailleur temporaire for a fixed-term one.

Who it is for

A signed employment contract with a French employer
A prior work authorisation unless a legal exemption applies
Professional qualifications and compliance with the employment conditions

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Talent Passport / Carte talent

A multi-year route for highly qualified workers, researchers, company founders, investors and other international talent categories.

Who it is for

Meeting one of the Carte talent categories
A contract or project, your qualification and the applicable salary or investment threshold
Accompanying family can use the simplified talent famille card

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Entrepreneurship and liberal professions

The ordinary entrepreneur or profession libérale route suits an economically viable self-employed activity; innovative and investment projects may qualify for the Carte talent.

Who it is for

A genuine and viable project
Sufficient resources, qualifications and permits for a regulated activity
For Talent creator — the applicable requirements on degree or experience and investment

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Study

A long-stay student visa is issued for programmes over three months. For Russia and many other countries the Études en France procedure comes before France-Visas. From 1 August 2026 France-Visas states a minimum of €877.50 per month.

Who it is for

Admission to a recognised institution
The Études en France procedure if your country of residence is on the EEF list
Funds, accommodation and a study plan

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

Family

The procedure differs for the family of a French citizen, an EU citizen, an ordinary resident, a refugee or a Carte talent holder.

Who it is for

An evidenced relationship and a qualifying family category
The host's lawful status
For ordinary regroupement familial — accommodation, funds and a preliminary stage in France

5 documents 4 steps

Documents and application steps

For your citizenship

What citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan need

The baseline document list is the same for everyone, but the visa regime, legalisation and translations depend on your citizenship. Below are the differences, checked against official sources.

Russia

checked 04.08.2026

A Schengen visa is required; the facilitated regime does not apply

The EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement has been suspended in full since 12 September 2022, so the general Visa Code rules apply: the full document set, the standard fee and ordinary processing times. Book at the consulate of your main destination.

Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500

Prepare at home in advance

Police clearance certificate from the Russian Interior Ministry
Ordered through Gosuslugi or the Interior Ministry; issuance takes up to 30 days. Filing abroad usually requires an apostille and a sworn translation.
Russian Interior Ministry · criminal record certificate
Apostille on official documents
Civil registry certificates, official statements and diplomas are accepted abroad only with an apostille affixed in the issuing country. It goes on the original or a notarised copy, depending on the authority's rules.
Apostille in Russia · Ministry of Justice and the relevant authorities
Sworn translation of documents
Consulates accept translations made by a sworn translator of the destination country or certified in the manner it prescribes. Requirements differ by country — check them before ordering.
EU Visa Code

Multiple-entry visas for Russian citizens are currently issued sparingly: each application is decided by the individual Schengen state. Plan for a single-entry visa and check the consulate's practice before paying any fees.

Kazakhstan

checked 04.08.2026

A Schengen visa is required under the general rules

There is no separate visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan yet: the general Visa Code rules apply. Negotiations are under way, but until an agreement enters into force there are no concessions.

EU Visa Code

Prepare at home in advance

Police clearance certificate from Kazakhstan
Issued through eGov.kz or a public service centre. Filing abroad usually requires an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator of the destination country.
eGov.kz · criminal record information
Apostille on official documents
Civil registry certificates, official statements and diplomas are accepted abroad only with an apostille affixed in the issuing country. It goes on the original or a notarised copy, depending on the authority's rules.
Apostille in Kazakhstan · eGov.kz
Sworn translation of documents
Consulates accept translations made by a sworn translator of the destination country or certified in the manner it prescribes. Requirements differ by country — check them before ordering.
EU Visa Code

Belarus

checked 13.08.2026

A Schengen visa is required; visa facilitation still applies

The EU — Belarus visa facilitation agreement has been in force since 1 July 2020. In November 2021 the Council of the EU partially suspended it: the provisions on documentary evidence, multiple-entry visas and the reduced fee stopped applying to officials of the Belarusian regime. The decision does not affect ordinary citizens, who keep the benefits of the agreement.

Council of the EU · suspension of visa facilitation for officials

Prepare at home in advance

Apostille on official documents
Civil registry certificates, official statements, diplomas and court documents are accepted abroad with an apostille issued in Belarus. The competent authority depends on the type of document — check it before ordering a translation.
Hague Apostille Convention · status table
Sworn translation of documents
Consulates accept translations made by a sworn translator of the destination country or certified in the manner it prescribes. Requirements differ by country — check them before ordering.
EU Visa Code

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