Canadian citizens do not need a visa for France if they won’t stay for more than 3 months in the country. Things change if they want to immigrate to France from Canada, a matter where a Schengen visa will be required. In order to simplify the procedures and visa formalities, you are invited to talk to our team of immigration lawyers in France and solicit legal advice and assistance for obtaining a French visa. Our advisors can also help you with the residence permit in France. We can also help you if you want to immigrate to France from USA.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirement to enter France | Visa-free travel for a stay of up to 90 days |
|
Types of temporary residence permits |
For: employment, study, family reunification, investors (under the “talents” residence permit) |
|
Documents for temporary residence permits |
Permit-specific documents (employment agreement, proof of investment, university acceptance letter, etc.) and general documents (passport, criminal record, proof of sufficient income, proof of accommodation, etc.) |
| Approximate time needed to obtain a temporary stay permit | Generally 15 days |
| Residence permits for investors |
The “Passeport Talent” residence permit (subject to conditions) |
| Temporary residence permit validity |
1 year or more |
| Post-arrival registration with the French authorities |
Mandatory |
| Canadian permit holder can bring dependents to France |
Yes, in some cases (such as for the holders of the ”passeport talent” residence permit). |
| Facilities for Canadian nationals married to a French citizen |
They can apply for a long-stay visa by proving their marital status. They can obtain French nationality by marriage, if married for at least 4 years (subject to additional conditions). |
| Minimum lawful stay before applying for permanent residence | 5 years or 3 years in the case of a spouse |
| Minimum time in the country before applying for citizenship |
5 years or more. Special conditions can apply to Canadian citizens whose parents were French citizens. |
| Naturalization requirements |
Lawful minimum stay in France, sufficient French language and culture knowledge, proof of financial integration. |
| Dual citizenship |
Yes |
| Canadian pension available in France |
Under the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security program for individuals who worked in Canada and are entitled to these. |
| Canadian national taxation in France | Tax rates on ordinary individual income ranging from 0% to 45% (surcharges or exemptions may apply). |
Canadian nationals interested in obtaining French residency can reach out to our team of experts for more information on the particular conditions that apply in their case. Relocating from Canada to France is understandably easier for Canadians who live in Quebec, or other French-speaking cities, however, sufficient French language knowledge can be adequately provided for through specific documentation.
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How do I obtain a Schengen visa for France?
The decision to immigrate to France from Canada is an important one, and it is based on several steps. Before anything else, it is required to pay attention to the visa process and apply in time, prior to your arrival to France, at the Embassy or Consulate of the city you live in Canada. It is important to have in mind the conditions for obtaining such a visa and ask for legal advice from a French immigration lawyer who can guide you throughout the entire process and help you if want to move to France from Canada. Here is what you need to prepare for a Schengen visa application:
- A visa application form needs to be completed with varied personal information.
- A valid passport is needed, with at least two blank pages, as required.
- A travel insurance policy covering at least EUR 30,000 and available for all Schengen countries is needed.
- The purpose of the visit/stay must be comprised of a cover letter.
- One must offer information about the accommodation in France and about personal finances that must be sufficient for the entire stay.
- In the case of Canadian workers, these must provide a copy of the employment contract, plus the Certificate of Income Tax.
- Canadian sole traders must provide information about the business license.
In the case of Canadian students who will attend courses for more than just 3 months, the Schengen visa is required. In order to obtain such a visa, the proof of enrolment issued by a college or university will be part of the visa application. It is recommended to ask for the legal support of a French immigration lawyer and make sure you ask all the questions you want about relocating to France from Canada. This way, you can skip any possible misunderstandings that might appear during the visa application process.
Do I need a French visa for business purposes as a Canadian citizen?
Yes, if you intend to stay more than just 3 months in France, then you should pay attention to this kind of visa. The French visa for business purposes can be issued under specific conditions regarding the necessary documents. For instance, an invitation letter from the French company you will work or collaborate with will be solicited by the immigration authorities in France, alongside business bank statements for the last 6 months. We remind you that France is part of the Schengen Area and such a visa will allow you to freely travel within the participant countries, without border controls or restrictions. If you would like to know more about how you can immigrate from Canada to France, feel free to ask our French immigration attorneys.
We offer immigration services also for persons who want to immigrate to France from the UK. If you need a digital nomad visa in France, contact us for legal assistance.
We invite you to watch a short video about the relocation process:
What are the conditions for the French business visa?
If you want to move to France based on your unique skills or qualifications, the French passport talent visa can be the suitable one for you. This is issued to non-European foreigners who wish to work in France for more than 3 months (as stated above), and who will enjoy multi-year residence under this scheme.
Those who immigrate to France from Canada can apply for a talented passport if they are:
- a qualified employees;
- they are recruited by an innovative company;
- they are a highly skilled employee or are an employee on assignment in France;
- they are researchers or social agents;
- they are interested in company creation in France, or involved in an innovative project recognized by a public body;
- they are artists/have a cultural profession, or are internationally renowned individuals.
To apply, Canadians will need to submit general documents (such as their identification documents and others), along with the ones that are relevant and specific to their application (proof of having the right qualifications, proof of being involved in research or having registered a company, or being an artist, for example).
You can obtain residency in France based on a talent passport permit that will be renewed accordingly. If this is your first application, our French experts list the conditions for the talent residence permit for those who will open a company in the country:
- the investment must be of at least €30,000 in the company;
- the application must include relevant documents indicating the creation of the company as per the French company law, as well as the business plan and a provisional budget for the company;
- documents concerning the individual: passport and proof of domicile (less than 6 months old), 3 photographs, diploma or an equivalent document proving qualifications, criminal record, and other supporting documents as may be needed in particular cases.
Can I become a French citizen if I relocate from Canada?
Those who move to France from Canada often choose to do so on a permanent basis and, in this case, a natural step will be an application for citizenship once they have lawfully lived in the country for a minimum period.
If you want to apply for citizenship in France, the following conditions are in place for the naturalization process:
- you have been living in France for at least 5 years;
- you have sufficient French language knowledge;
- you are financially independent.
Alternatively, if you want to relocate to France from Canada and your spouse is a French national, you can apply to acquire French nationality by declaration.
Canadian citizens who have French heritage can also be candidates for obtaining French citizenship by declaration. Another possibility is to apply for French nationality if you are the ascendant of a French national, meaning that you are 65 years of age or older and your children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren are French nationals. Additional conditions apply and our immigration lawyers in France can give you more details.
What you need to know when you move to France from Canada
If you wish to relocate to France from Canada you should know that this is not a complex process, however, it is best to pay attention to a few aspects:
- make sure you apply for the proper visa if you intend to stay more than just 3 months;
- start the visa process in time, with the help of an advisor – our French immigration lawyers can provide legal advice;
- look for a place to stay in France prior to your arrival in the country;
- once the visa is accepted, make sure you obtain the necessary residence permit in France.
We can assist those who want to apply for residency in France. This can be an important goal for those who have decided to immigrate to France from Canada.
Why move to France from Canada?
France provides not only a good quality of life but also lots of business opportunities for international entrepreneurs wanting to develop in this part of Europe, in one of the most powerful economies in the world. Besides a qualified and skilled workforce, a stable and appreciated economy, plus the possibility of developing in the innovation sectors, just to give an example, foreigners can easily set up branches and subsidiaries and enjoy the protection of the investment legislation, plus a wide range of encouragements provided by the French government. Here are some facts and figures about the business and economy in France that you might find it interesting if you wish to relocate to France from Canada:
- The largest concentration of multinational headquarters in Europe is found in the Paris region.
- The economic activity in France is predicted to gain momentum and, at the same time, inflation is forecast to decrease progressively;
- Economic growth in the first quarter of 2024 was estimated at 0.2% on a year-on-year basis and, overall, the forecast for the 2024 GDP growth is 0.7%;
- The United States had more than 300 investment projects in France in 2023, followed by Germany, and the United Kingdom;
- 47% of the investment projects recorded in 2023 were for the creation of new companies;
- Overall, it was estimated that the projects commenced in 2023 will enable the creation (or maintenance) of more than 59,200 jobs over the next three years.
Persons who want to immigrate to France from Canada can discuss the process for obtaining French citizenship with our team of lawyers.
You can relocate to France from Canada with our help even if you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. If you have another nationality, please send us your inquiry and our team will answer in due time. We can help you understand the entry requirements, as well as the residence permit application process. You can reach out to us for details.
Please feel free to contact our team of French immigration lawyers and find out more about immigration from Canada to France.
