• A scientific hosting agreement ("Hosting agreement for a foreign teacher or researcher") from your Bordeaux host laboratory

The scientific hosting agreement specifies the purpose and dates of your stay in France, and consequently determines the duration of the stay. It shows that the holder has sufficient funds to cover the costs of the stay and repatriation. The signing host institution must make sure that the concerned party has health coverage and civil liability insurance.

• Visa to be applied for at the French consulate closest to your place of residence

There are several types of visa, depending on the duration and purpose of your stay:
Short-stay Visa (type C) for stays of 90 days or less (except for exempted nationalities)
Long-stay Visa (VLS-TS) equivalent to a residence permit for stays from 91 days up to 12 months
Long-stay Visa with the indication "Titre de séjour à solliciter (Residence permit to be applied for..." or another indication such as "Passeport Talent" for which a residence permit must be applied for within the 2 months following arrival in France.

• Residence permit, if your stay is over 90 days

The residence permit documents a foreign national's right to reside in France. It can also serve as a work permit. It is mandatory for a stay of more than 90 days on French territory. It can only be issued to holders of a long-stay visa  (type D).

You can consult the official website for visa applications for France (in French).

Exemption from entry visa and residence permit requirement: nationals from European Union member states and the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino are not concerned by these procedures. 

These procedures also apply to your spouse/partner and child(ren) if they are accompanying you.

Several solutions for accommodation are available in Bordeaux and the surrounding towns:

• University residence halls (if your stay is less than or equal to 3 months, you can apply for accommodation in a  "Centre Prévost" through your laboratory)
• Residential hotels 
• Private rentals

You can access private accommodation and residential hotels reserved for international researchers by registering on our housing application.

Access to this app is strictly reserved for international researchers hosted on the Bordeaux campus.

Families

If you come to France with your family, you can have your children recognised by the Family Benefits Agency - Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF) (in French) and thus benefit from financial aid. The children of "researchers" are subject to a special procedure for entering France and are not required to undergo a medical examination, unlike children of other foreigners, but must enter France on a D visa.

Public childcare centres (crèches) depend on the town hall's childcare service, so you must apply for them, bearing in mind that the cost depends on your income. Places are not easy to get, so make sure you apply in advance.
There are also private crèches, and you can use childminders approved by the childcare department of your town council. The costs of childcare may be eligible for tax relief.

Bank accounts

On arrival in France you should open a bank account. All foreigners staying in France for at least 3 months can open a bank account and have a bank card and/or chequebook.

Three documents are required for opening an account: your passport and a photocopy of it, proof of address and your hosting agreement. With a French bank account, you can pay your expenses more easily, make money transfers using the account(s) you have in your home country, and receive your salary and social benefits.