You can travel again to France!
Indeed, a news which will excite the students, researchers and teachers as well as holders of the Talent passport can now travel again to France who are invited by an academic establishment or laboratory in France.
Beginning from the 17th August, 7 VFS centres have become operational to receive select visa applications. The 7 VFS centres are as follows –
- Mumbai
- Delhi
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Kochi
)
According to a French government statement, to ensure adequate safety measures at these centres, applications will be processed in small batches every week. Protective measures along with social distancing and all other necessary precautions will be adhered religiously. To limit in-person contacts at the centres, mobile biometric data collection as well as courier services are available. To any future evolution of existing Schengen regulations, decisions on visa issuance remains tied to authorizing third country students for entering France.
As per the statement released by the France government, to begin the study in France, the universities in France have geared up themselves to welcome the international students, either wholly or partly on campus.
Indian students travelling to France in autumn 2020 for studies for over 3 months on the France Student Visa being long-term visa and short-term studies or internships, with accommodation in France, this facility is provided.
The Requisites for travelling to France:
- An International Travel Certificate to Mainland France is a must for these persons which is also known Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire, available on the website of the French Interior Ministry. On arrival in France this certificate is to be presented to the travel company and to the border control authorities as well.
- According to the note an undertaking that the person does not have any symptoms of COVID-19 must be accompanied with this certificate and also an assurance that the person since last 14 days that to prior to departure has not been in contact with an infected person.
- Also, as per the same note, any traveller showing any kind of symptoms of COVID-19 upon their entry in French territory, by the competent authority will be prescribed quarantine or self-isolation irrespective of the country of origin.
- Starting from 22nd to 31st August pre-departure sessions called Bienvenue en France are scheduled online in order to prepare students for a new life ahead. Through these sessions the students will acquaint with
- Essential Administrative Procedures
- Ways of Finding Accommodation
- Tips from Alumni
- Information about their Destination
- Practical Advice
Around 118 Indian students, apart from the regular students aspiring to study abroad, are also preparing themselves to fly to France. They are English Language Assistants looking for a stint in French schools, who are targeting end of September for their arrival in France. This is a programme which gives an excellent opportunity to all those Indian students who are fluent in English as they can gain valuable professional exposure and can easily live and work in France. As per the release, the France Government has also announced that an online orientation for the English Language Assistants will be announced soon.
France in the past has recorded 10,000 students travelling from India for higher studies before the COVID-19 outbreak. France still believes that with its top-notch education quality in 3,900 public and private educational institutions which offers 1,600 programmes in English, the student's ration will not suffer even this time.
Know how to get admission in France institutions and get your foreign education degree without worrying much about the pandemic, as this is a temporary situation.
All the Best!