If a foreign citizen would like to extend her stay in France for longer than 90 days, she can apply for a long-stay visa if she is not pursuing professional or academic endeavors, according to the Consulate General of France. This application must be submitted in person, not by mail, to a French Consulate and must include the following: a passport that is valid for three months beyond the last day of intended stay in France, two long-stay application forms, two passport-sized photographs, a form from France's National Agency for the Reception of Foreigners and Migration, financial documents that prove financial stability, proof of medical insurance, notarized rent contract or deed for French accommodations and processing fees.
This visa is awarded for one year, and if residents would like to extend their stay for longer, they must contact the local French authorities to apply for an extension and a permanent residence card.
People who marry French citizens and intend to stay in France for more than a year need to apply for a residence card. They must provide the same materials as a long-stay visa, as well as copies of the first five pages of their passport, a copy of their marriage certificate and proof of their spouses’ French nationality.
If someone, such as a researcher or artist, intends to carry out a credible, professional project that will have a lasting positive impact for France’s economic, cultural, humanitarian or scientific community, he can apply for the Skills and Talent Card Visa, according to the French Consulate. This visa is good for three years, and applicants must provide the following: two long-stay visa applications, five standard-sized photos, a valid passport, local state and federal criminal history reports, a resume, a long-stay visa fee, a letter describing the professional project and its potential impact for France, documentation proving the likelihood of completing the project and proof of funding.
To work in France, a foreign worker must obtain a job offer from a French employer and be granted a work permit. To apply, the French employer files an application for working papers at France’s labor department. If the file is approved, the National Agency for the Reception of Foreigners and Migration will send it to the French Consulate closest to the applicant's permanent residence. Officials there will inform the applicant about additional materials needed for the visa, which typically include the original and two copies of the passport, two long-stay application forms, two passport-sized photographs and processing fees.
