Administrative formalities that foreign scientists must complete in order to come to France have been greatly simplified by the law of 11 May 1998, known as the "RESEDA law", and the creation of a "Scientist" status. This law was modified when European Directive 2005/71 of 12 October 2005 was transposed into French law on 24 July 2006.

This guide is intended for French research institutions that wish to host temporarily high-level foreign colleagues from non-EU countries. It is also for foreign researchers and academics.

It has information regarding the visa formalities that must be taken care of before coming to France (at the French consulate) and the formalities required for residency permits once in France (to be completed at the préfecture of the applicant's département of residence).

We hope this guide will help make the specific formalities concerning scientific collaborations clearer.

This guide concerns high level foreign post-doctorates as well as foreign researchers, associate lecturers, invited professors and other highly skilled scientists contemplating a stay at a French institute of higher education or a public research institution. Foreign researchers working on a thesis benefit from the "Student" status, which is a particular status requiring a different set of formalities already described in other existing documents.

The new version of this guide details the administrative formalities that came into force in 2008, following the implementation of the law of 24 July 2006 which greatly simplified formalities required for foreign researchers. This law has been integrated into the Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers en France (Regulations regarding the entry and stay of foreigners in France) which has been in effect since 1 March 2005.

We invite you to let us know of any problems you encounter during these administrative procedures so that we may help you, as well as any other information that could help us improve this guide. Please contact us at the following address:

Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler / CIUP
Campus CNRS de Cronenbourg
23 rue du Loess, Bât 40, 2eme étage
67037 Strasbourg Cedex 2
Tél. : 33 (0)3 88 10 73 29 Fax : 33 (0)3 88 10 73 30
E_mail : fondation@fnak.fr

N.B.: Foreign students: We strongly recommend the guide "Je vais en France" ("I am going to France"), edited by the Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires et Scolaires, 6 rue Jean Calvin, 75005 Paris, Fax : 33 (0)1 43 37 44 78. You can consult "Je vais en France" at any French embassy and consulate (Cultural services), or French universities (at their information desk (Centres d'Information et d'Orientation) or foreign affairs desk (Services des Relations Internationales). While gathering background information for this guide, we have noticed that research is usually the prime objective for the visits of foreign collaborators. Thus, throughout the text we will only use the term "researcher" although this guide is equally intended for university teachers and although the special residency permit mentions "Scientifique" ("Scientist").

Initial concept of a guide on formalities: Christine Maurin

New version (MISEFEN law of November 2003, Regulations regarding the entry and stay of foreigners in France, March 2005, law of 20 July 2006, implementation decrees of 2007 - 2010) : © Vincent de Graauw 

Translated by Mrs Francesca LEACH

Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler / CIUP

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