Western Europe · Immigration

France

166 immigration routes

France sits in Western Europe. Its immigration system runs 166 distinct routes — led by family, work and residence-based status, each set out in official law. All 166 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

1 further route is recorded for France but not shown here — its details are still under review.

Immigration routes
166across 15 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
166 of 166cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Family40 of the 166 routes — see them under Family below
Region
Western Europe
Capital
Paris
Population
68,720,337
Official language
French
Currency
EUR
Time zone
14 zones
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 166 routes, grouped by purpose — 166 of 166 cite an official government source directly.

Work

30 routes

Investment

from €300,000
1 route

Business & self-employment

from €22,404.20
7 routes

Talent & merit

from €2,200
10 routes

Research or university-level teaching under an approved hosting agreement

Savings from €2,200
Eligibility: 4Report facts: 1
Official government source: service-public.gouv.fr · checked 2026-07-27

Study

from €615
12 routes

Entry for a higher-education entrance examination with possible post-success regularisation

Eligibility: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 1
Official government source: france-visas.gouv.fr · checked 2026-07-27

Family

40 routes

Independent means

from €17,735.19/yr
3 routes

Residence-based status

22 routes

Free movement

8 routes

Youth mobility

2 routes

Cultural travel with incidental work under a bilateral working-holiday agreement

Eligibility: 3Process & costs: 2Report facts: 3
Official government source: france-visas.gouv.fr · checked 2026-07-27

Cultural and language exchange through a regulated au-pair placement

Eligibility: 4Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 2
Official government source: france-visas.gouv.fr · checked 2026-07-27

Cultural, religious & volunteer

from €1,306.91/mo
6 routes

Short stay & visit

4 routes

Humanitarian protection

15 routes

Medical treatment

5 routes

Transit

1 route

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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