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Announcing new, major initiatives to roll out red carpets for Indian students and alumni in France, the French Embassy in India has announced slew of measures including a five-year short-stay Schengen visa to attract more Indian students in France.
On the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris as Chief Guest of France’s National Day on July 14, France and India have raised people-to-people ties as one of the three pillars of strategic partnership. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced France’s goal to welcome 30,000 students from India by 2030.
He said the ambitious target signifies France’s conviction that welcoming more Indian students fosters ‘academic excellence, cultural understanding, and long-lasting friendship’ between the two nations.
How to avail the 5-year short stay Schengen visa?
France believes that fostering connections between Indian students and France is important. Therefore, Indian students who hold a Master’s degree or above and have spent at least one semester studying in France are eligible for a 5-year short-stay Schengen visa. This provision is designed to help Indian alumni maintain close links with France and their French counterparts.
To be eligible for the short-stay visa, applicants must have studied in France for at least one semester and have reached Master’s degree level or above at a recognized university in India, France, or a third country. They must also submit a fully compliant visa application that meets the usual Schengen requirements.
Creation of ‘international classes’ in France
France is offering specialised programs that will provide Indian students with comprehensive training in the French language and other academic disciplines. This will enable them to excel in their studies and seamlessly adapt to the French education system. The decision to offer these programs reflects France’s commitment to making life as easy as possible for Indian students.
In 2023, the Embassy of Switzerland in India processed more visa applications than in 2019. “We have surpassed our pre-pandemic times visa processing level. From January until June, we handled 129,446 applications, as against 120,071 during the same period in 2019 —a 7.8 per cent increase,” Swiss Embassy’s communication read.
France has also decided to strengthen its Campus France network in India with additional staff and resources in order to implement these initiatives successfully.
Indian students who hold a French Master’s degree are also eligible for a two-year post-study work visa.
Commenting on these announcements, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, said, “Our teams are working double time to implement the decisions taken by President Macron and Prime minister Modi in Paris to benefit students. France has always been an inclusive and diverse country, eager to share our rich cultural heritage and world-class education opportunities with Indian students. My message for Indian students: France will always be your friend, and we will do everything possible to ensure you have an amazing academic and life experience in our country.”
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