During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France, good news emerged for Indian students studying Masters degrees in France. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of the post-study work visa for Indian students studying in France. Modi stated that France has chosen to provide students seeking a master’s degree in their country with a long-term five-year visa. This declaration was made while Prime Minister Modi was speaking to the Indian community at La Seine Musicale in Paris.

“The recent announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a 5-year post-study visa for Indian students studying for a Master’s in France has broadened the options for Indians looking to study abroad. This historic breakthrough has not just given the students time to stay in the country for a considerable amount of time but enhanced their chances of getting significant foreign experience and securing global employment opportunities. It underlines the rising worldwide acknowledgment of India’s outstanding youth and emphasizes the value of foreign education in building cross-cultural understanding and collaboration. With this forward-thinking initiative, India is ready to see an inflow of students seeking to pursue higher education overseas, paving the way for a better and more globally linked future,” says Sayantan Biswas, Co-founder of UniAcco, an extended arm of UniScholars.

Previously, Indian students in France were granted a two-year post-study employment visa. Addressing the Indian community at La Seine Musicale in Paris, the prime minister said, “The last time I came to France, it was decided that Indian students studying in France would be given a 2-year post-study work visa. Now, it has been decided that Indian students pursuing Masters in France will be given long-term post-study visa of 5 years.”

“This can be an absolute game-changer for France. The search volume on LeverageEdu.com for France as a destination has seen a 5x uptick since that announcement and this policy change has markers similar to that of UK’s PSW (post-study work) move in 2019. It can mean huge numbers in the coming intakes for France, which is already a big favourite after UK & Germany. As the competition for global talent increases, especially from countries like India, the possibility of more destination countries bringing in positive policy changes to stay competitive also increases. I am glad that yet another country sees what Indian students bring to their economy and hope more follow suit,” says Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO of LeverageEdu & Fly.

What is a post-study visa

Most international students seek career prospects in the same country, or even in the same city, in order to repay their loans or to find a permanent place to settle down. However, the difficulty is a lack of work opportunities, a high level of global competitiveness, and varied setups for different countries. As a result, it is critical that you grasp the rules and regulations governing post-study and employment permits in France.

In France, unlike undergraduate graduates who are only eligible for a residence visa if they have a paid job, postgraduate students can apply for and be granted a temporary residence card for a period of 12 to 24 months. After these two years, you must leave France if you are unable to find permanent work in the same location.

But, going forward, after PM Modi’s announcement, the Indian students pursuing Masters in France will be given long-term post-study visa of 5 years.