France is more than just a home for the famous French cuisine.
It also offers a wide array of opportunities to foreigners who want to settle in.
It has great tourist destinations - the most popular of which is the Eiffel Tower.
It is also ideal for retirees who want to experience living in the northern and western coastal plains and the famous mountain ranges of the Alps in the southeast.
But much more than all these things, there are hundreds of reasons behind why you think of relocating to France.
You can also be a tourist looking for temporary or permanent employment in the country.
Before you ever get to that however, you should know how to get a long-term visa before your move and a residence permit once you get there.
Here are some procedures to take note of in this important section of moving to France.
Relocating to France - The long-term visa Assuming you are an employee relocating to France, you need support from corporate funding.
The corporation will also help you with legal procedures in the country.
In case you do not get support from any corporation, here are things you need to undertake for your long-term visa application.
1.
You need to fill out a long-term tourist visa application.
French consulates and the French embassy have these forms readily available.
This costs around $120.
In addition to this, you are required to explain how you will be able to support yourself once you will get to the country.
Give information on your financial status as well.
This will be used to gauge whether you will be a burden to the state or not.
2.
Wait for your visa to be approved.
The approval takes two to six months so you better wait for that.
If you get the approval, you have to wait another three months before you are allowed to enter France.
Relocating to France - the residence permit Once you arrive in France, you will be required to go to the prefecture's office.
Make sure you do that within eight days from your arrival.
Bring your passport with you.
The prefecture office will give you a list of documents to bring on your next appointment with them.
Included on the list are your identity photos, insurance proofs, financial statements and marriage license if you are a married woman.
Additionally, you will be required to undergo physical examination.
This will be officiated by the France International Migration Office.
The exam costs around $180 and will be used to assure that you are not a drug user.
Once all these processes are through, you may return to the prefecture's office and get your residence permit.
This is to be renewed yearly.
Looking at the process of getting a long-term visa and a residence permit when relocating to France, you might give up on moving to the country.
But you have to secure these things if you want to make sure that your move will be successful.
Remember, that this is just the start of it all.
You must focus on other essentials of moving to France such as hiring international movers, looking for a place to stay in and settling financial needs.