Indians no longer need special ATV, single-entry visa for students: French President Emmanuel Macron

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Indians travelling to other countries via French airports will no longer require a special 'Airport Transit Visa' (ATV).

What is the  'Airport Transit Visa' (ATV)  facility?

Currently, Indian passport holders were required to obtain an 'airport transit visa' when travelling to London, New York or other cities outside Europe via airports such as Charles de Gaulle in Paris. This visa was a costly and time-consuming process, even if it was just to board a connecting flight without leaving the airport.

With the new announcement, Indian passengers will be able to wait in the international transit area of ​​French airports without a visa and continue their journey on the next flight. This facility is currently being implemented on a six-month pilot basis. If successful, it is likely to become a permanent concession. The decision will encourage Indians to choose airlines like Air France on European routes over Middle Eastern airports.

These new moves by President Macron are beneficial for both expatriates who rely on France for connecting flights and students seeking foreign countries to study.

Macron also made big promises to Indian students. The goal is to bring 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030. To this end, the following major changes have been made to the visa process:

Visa for the duration of study: 

From now on, students will be granted a one-time visa for the duration of their course. Having to renew the visa every year was a huge financial and psychological burden for students and their parents. PhD students will be granted a three- or four-year visa in one go, which is required to complete their research.

CLASSES INTERNATIONALS:

You don't have to give up studying in France just because you don't know French. A scheme called 'Classes Internationales' will be launched for Indian students. After spending a year studying French, students can enter courses of their choice.

5-year alumni visa

Indians who obtain a Master's degree from France will be granted a five-year long-term short-stay visa ( 5-year alumni visa)  . This will be of great help to them for their business needs and job searches in Europe. 

Speaking at a ceremony at AIIMS, Delhi, Macron assured that visa procedures would be made more transparent and paperwork would be reduced. 

“France should become a second home for Indian youth. Visas should not be a barrier to the exchange of knowledge and culture,” he said. In addition, the widespread use of UPI transactions in France will make it easier for Indian students to spend money. Indian students can also avail the accommodation subsidies (CAF) provided by the government.

This concession for travelers, along with student visa concessions aimed at a huge boost to the education sector in France, will pave the way for major changes in the international travel sector and lower travel costs.  The decisive announcement by the French government has come as a relief to lakhs of Indian travelers traveling to Europe and the United States.