Residence Permits for PhD students & researchers

In order to be able to request a“Student” residence permit on ANEF, you must (valid for all départements in France):

• be enrolled in a French higher education institution or be invited in the context of a Research Stay Agreement (Convention de séjour de recherche)
• have housing in France
• have at least 615 euros per month in resources (apart from CAF Housing Assistance). For PhD students and researchers invited in the context of a research stay, a proof of funding for their research and a Research Stay Agreement must be produced when requesting a visa/residence permit.
• comply with the 964 hours/year limit for work on an ancillary basis.

Important: If you’re a student and you have a PhD contract with a salary paid by a public institution in France, you must change your “Student” status to “Researcher Talent Passport” or “Scientist-Researcher” (for Algerians). You must also inform social security of the change. If your spouse also lives in France, his/her status may change along with yours.

To be able to request a “Researcher Talent Passport” status residence permit, you must:

• be remunerated in France in the context of your doctorate or research work
• or be invited in the context of a Research Stay Agreement with a grant at least equal to a contractual PhD student’s net salary (as a rough guide, it was about €1687 net per month in 2023-2024. Please note that this amount may change, so check with your host laboratory’s administration).
• have a salary paid by a higher education and research institution or funding dedicated to your research at least equal to a contractual PhD student’s net salary (as a rough guide, it was about €1687 net per month in 2023-2024. Please note that this amount may change, so check with your host laboratory’s administration) or remain employed by your university of origin during your research stay in France, provided your salary is maintained.
• obtain a valid hosting agreement signed by your employer (or host) institution.

To be able to request a Certificate of Residence for Algerians (CRA) under the “Scientist-Researcher” status, you must:

• be a PhD student or researcher of Algerian nationality
• be remunerated in France in the context of your doctorate or research work and have a valid Convention d’accueil (Hosting Agreement)
• or be invited in the context of a Research Stay Agreement with a grant at least equal to a contractual PhD student’s net salary (as a rough guide, it was about €1687 net per month in 2023-2024. Please note that this amount may change, so check with your host laboratory’s administration).

To be able to request a “Family Talent Passport” status residence permit, you must:

• be the spouse of a (non-EU) international researcher
• the spouse of a PhD student or researcher with a hosting agreement

As the spouse of a scientist of NON-EU nationality, to be able to request a Certificate of Residence for Algerians (CRA) with “Scientist’s Spouse” status, your spouse must:

• be of Algerian nationality
• be remunerated in France in the context of their doctorate or research and have a valid Hosting Agreement
• or be invited in the context of a Research Stay Agreement with a grant at least equal to a contractual PhD student’s net salary (as a rough guide, it was about €1687 net per month in 2023-2024. Please note that this amount may change, so check with your host laboratory’s administration).

To be able to request renewal of your “Researcher-Talent Passport” residence permit on the basis of your unemployment rights, you must:

• be a NON-EU international researcher
• have been salaried with Talent Passport status
• have contributed to unemployment insurance
• be looking for a job in France

This is a provisional document delivered by your Prefecture of residence when your residence permit request file is complete and has been examined. It is usually valid for 3 months.

• Case of a first request: unless otherwise stated on the ADP, it doesn’t entitle you to Health Insurance or Housing Assistance, or to work (unless you have obtained a work permit) or cross Schengen Area borders (if you leave the territory, you will have to request a “return” visa at the French Consulate before coming back to France).
• Case of a renewal: the ADP is only valid if accompanied by the previous residence permit (Residence Card or VLS-TS), even if it has expired. The ADP enables you to keep all the rights to which the previous residence permit entitled you for the ADP’s period of validity (Health Insurance, Housing Assistance, work on an “ancillary” basis, travel in and entry to the Schengen Area at whatever entry point).

All this information is clearly stated on the ADP

If it’s “favorable”, it is delivered while awaiting creation of your residence permit. Meanwhile, the certificate entitles you to Health Insurance, Housing Assistance and to work on an “ancillary” basis, and authorizes you to cross Schengen Area borders.

This is a residence card delivered by the Prefecture when your residence permit request has been accepted. It’s valid for 1 or more years (except for Algerian citizens). Its duration depends on your situation and level of studies.