France to Offer 5-Year Schengen Visa, Plans to Welcome 30,000 Indian Students by 2030

• In a ground breaking move aimed at fortifying academic excellence, deepening cultural ties, and nurturing enduring friendships, France has declared its intention to host 30,000 Indian students by 2030.

• Under the new program, France plans to introduce a new five-year Schengen visa for Indian alumni. 

• The French embassy provided information about the new program. It said that France believes that when Indian candidates spend just a semester in our nation, it makes a good connection with other people that should be fostered and cherished.

• It is an amazing and special provision for all Indian alumni to enable them to keep close all their connections with France and their counterparts.  

How to avail the 5-year short stay Schengen visa?

Per the official notification from France, to be eligible for a 5-year Schengen visa, students must have studied in France for at least one semester and have a master’s or above degree at a recognized institution.

• All of these students are needed to submit a fully completed visa application completely compliant with the Schengen requirements.

• The French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain told India that our teams are working hard and double time to execute the decisions taken by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Paris to benefit all students. 

• Emmanuel Lenain said France has always been a diverse and inclusive nation, eager to share its world-class education opportunities and rich cultural heritage with Indian students. 

• He also mentioned a message for Indian students, France will always be your good friend, and we will try to do everything possible things to make sure that you have a fantastic educational and life experience in our nation. 

• The French embassy announced a goal of welcoming around 30,000 students from India by 2023. This goal aims to foster academic excellence and cultural understanding between the two nations. 

• The embassy of France and their institute announced to organize a new upcoming fair, ‘Choose France Tour 2023’. Also, this education fair will be held in different parts of Indian cities in October. 

• The embassy said this fair would provide an amazing opportunity for all Indian students and their parents to interact with agents of over 40 French higher education institutions and explore various study options.