Visiting researchers
Research
Welcoming international researchers
The International Welcome Centre (known as the BAI – Bureau d’Accueil International) welcomes international researchers upon arrival, or during the days that follow their arrival, at Le Mans Université. The BAI accompanies you during your entire stay: they help with administrative procedures and with any questions you may have.
Indicative dates of Le Mans Université academic year for international students
(For exact dates, please contact your contact referent at Le Mans Université) |
Information meeting and welcome reception: during September Excursions: all year – you will receive information emails
The B.A.I. welcomes international researchers non-stop at the start of the academic year (late August and during September). The B.A.I. is also open all year round – contact us for our opening times to the public |
Contact : ri-bai @ univ-lemans.fr
Immigration procedures for international researchers: visa and residence permit (prefecture, OFII)
Researchers from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)
Visa applications do not apply to researchers from a country in the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). Having a residence permit is not compulsory in France.
- More information: Refer to the website on the hosting of foreign nationals in France
International researchers with a valid residence permit for an EU or EEA country must apply for a visa to carry out salaried research activities or for any stay.
Researchers NOT from the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)
It is essential to take the approach that is appropriate for your situation before arriving in France: a visa error at outset can lead to serious difficulties once you have arrived in France (legal impossibility of working, and therefore of receiving a salary, freezing of your health insurance, of your application for residence permits etc.).
- Hosting agreement for obtaining a visa and/or a multi-year residence researcher-talent passport card
As a International researcher who is not an EU or EEA national, you will need a hosting agreement in order to obtain a visa from the French consular authorities of your country of residence and/or a multi-year residence researcher-talent passport card at the prefecture of your place of residence in France.
Download the information sheet
- Visa
Thanks to the hosting agreement issued by your host institution, you will be able to apply for a specific visa at least two months before the planned starting date of the activity in the host institution:
- a researcher-talent passport visa for a stay of 12 months or more, with residence card to be applied for from the prefecture within two months of arriving in France,
- or a long-stay “D” visa which is valid for a researcher-talent passport residence permit (VLS-TS) for a stay of less than 12 months, with steps to take as soon as you arrive at the OFII of your region of residence in France.
More information on the visa / residence permit researcher-talent passport is available on the following sites:
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Official visa website for France
- First application or renewal of residence permit researcher-talent passport - Prefecture: Download the information sheet
Special circumstances and request for additional information: please contact the consular authorities of your country or the prefecture directly.
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