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Reception of visiting researchers for the issuance of a scientific or visitor visa

The International Affairs Office (DAI) facilitates the reception of teachers-researchers, researchers, post-doctoral students and doctoral students invited by Sorbonne Nouvelle and who are not nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or the Swiss Confederation.

For these people who are subject to visa requirements, the DAI processes their application for a hosting agreement with a view to obtaining a scientific "Talent passport" visa or a hosting certificate with a view to obtaining a visitor visa. The DAI also provides support in preparing the application file for the "scientist-researcher" residence permit and its renewal.
 

Reception documents issued by the DAI and associated visas

The hosting agreement and the hosting certificate are documents justifying the nature and the duration of the work of the visiting researcher, his/her resources, his/her accommodation, his/her medical coverage and his/her civil liability insurance. They are intended to enable the researcher to obtain a scientific visa mentioning "Talent passport" or a visitor visa and are approved by the President of the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle.

The DAI deals with the files of visiting researchers who are employed by their home institution or who are beneficiaries of a research grant of a monthly amount higher than the minimum amount of the public law doctoral contract or who finance their stay for a minimum of 3 months with their personal resources.

  • The "Talent passport" scientific visa is intended for visiting researchers doing a research stay in our institution, who are employed by their university of origin during this period, or for researchers and doctoral students who receive a research grant during their stay, the monthly amount of which is higher than the minimum amount of the public law doctoral contract (€2,044.12 gross per month as of January 1, 2023, i.e. approximately €1,600 net). This visa is issued by the French consulate in the country of residence upon presentation of a hosting agreement issued by Sorbonne Nouvelle.
  • The "visitor" visa is intended for visiting researchers who carry out a research stay of more than 3 months, financed with their personal resources and justifying for a single person a minimum amount of resources of €16,597 (in May 2023), i.e. the equivalent of 12 SMIC per month net. This visa is issued by the French consulate in the country of residence upon presentation of a certificate of reception issued by the Sorbonne Nouvelle.

The time required to process a visa application varies between three and five weeks from the moment all the supporting documents have been checked and validated by our services. An additional week is required for the delivery of the original hosting document to the visiting scholar's home. Visiting scholars must take into account this incompressible four to six week delay when making an appointment with the French consular services.

Particular cases

► Researchers and teacher-researchers who have an employment contract with the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle must contact the Human Resources Department to obtain their reception document in order to obtain their visa: drh@sorbonne-nouvelle.fr

► Researchers and doctoral students receiving a research grant whose monthly amount is lower than the minimum amount of the public law doctoral contract (€2,044.12 gross monthly as of January 1, 2023, i.e. approximately €1,600 net) are not eligible for the hosting agreement. In accordance with the provisions of the official bulletin of 12 May 2022, they must apply for a student visa from the French consulate in their country of residence on presentation of a research residence agreement drawn up by the doctoral school that invited them to stay in France.

► Foreign doctoral students who do not have a grant and are registered at their home university can also have student status by applying for a doctoral internship agreement with the doctoral department of the Sorbonne Nouvelle.

► Visiting researchers from the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) or the Swiss Confederation do not need a visa or residence permit to live and work in France. They should contact the research laboratory that issued them an invitation to stay at Sorbonne Nouvelle to check whether formalities specific to their host structure are necessary, in particular with regard to health, repatriation and civil liability insurance. If these nationals benefit from a research grant, they must also request a research stay agreement from their host organisation.

► Visiting researchers financed by their own resources and whose stay is less than 3 months are not eligible for the hosting agreement which allows them to obtain a scientific visa or the hosting attestation which allows them to obtain a visitor visa. These researchers must apply for a short-stay visa in the context of a business trip as they are going to France for professional reasons. They must also contact the research laboratory that issued them an invitation to stay at the Sorbonne Nouvelle to check whether formalities specific to their host structure are necessary, in particular with regard to health, repatriation and civil liability insurance.
 
Important note: entry into France without a visa or with a visa for a tourist or private stay does not allow for professional activity as a visiting scholar.

Eligibility requirements

In order to be accepted as foreign visiting scientists, non-European professors, researchers, post-doctoral fellows and doctoral students must meet the following criteria:
  • hold a degree equivalent to at least a Master's degree
  • justify the necessary resources to cover their stay in France and the costs of their return to their country of origin
  • provide proof of health and repatriation insurance for the duration of their stay in France
  • provide proof of civil liability insurance covering any accidents that may occur during their research or teaching at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
  • be invited by a professor of the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle who undertakes to follow their research work
  • specific condition for doctoral students financed with their own resources: not to be registered as students at the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle or in another French university during their stay
  • specific condition for researchers and doctoral students receiving a research grant: to be hosted within the framework of a research stay agreement with the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
 

Coming to France: COVID information

Despite the coronavirus, France continues to welcome international researchers. Campus France regularly updates a page dedicated to health advice for your arrival in France.

Closed during the spring holidays

During the spring holidays, the office will be closed to the public from the evening of Friday 28 April 2023 until the morning of Tuesday 09 May 2023. As the time required to process a reception file varies from three to five weeks after the supporting documents have been checked and validated by our services, applications for reception agreements or attestations submitted in April 2023 will be sent after 15 May 2023.

mise à jour le 5 juillet 2023


Page updated on 2023/01/17


French version

Contact


International Affairs Office

Further information


Vade-mecum of hosting agreements [PPTX - 11 Mo]

Reference websites

Useful links for preparing your move to Paris

  • The Acc&ss Paris Île-de-France network can help you make the most of your mobility in Paris: help with administrative formalities and finding accomodation, practical and cultural information, learning French... A reception centre is available at the Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris.
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