Visas and Relocation: France and Switzerland

Top MBA programs for international students around the world have different visa requirements. We take a look at two of the top MBA destinations in the world France and Switzerland.

Visas and study in France

After the election of Nicolas Sarkozy, it was supposed that all forms of immigration, including student visas, were to be slashed. This did not eventuate, however, and instead France is continuing to cement its position in the top five nations in the world for international study. In the QS TopMBA Applicant Survey 2008, France reclaimed its spot - behind the US, UK and Canada as the fourth most popular place for MBA candidates to consider studying. With a strong and vibrant culture, as well as providing the opportunity to learn a foreign language (most MBA courses are taught in English, with the opportunity to take French classes as well as to be immersed in the language) France has a long history of education. It has also carved itself a niche, catering to the needs of the European business community, in which it plays a key part. Some of the world's top business schools can be found in France: ESCP-EAP, ESSEC, HEC, EM LYON, Grenoble School of Management and INSEAD all feature strongly in the QS TopMBA Global Recruiters™ Top 100 Business Schools. The following information has been provided by the Grenoble School of Business:

Do I need a Visa to come to France?

If you are a student from a country from outside the European Union or the European Free Trade Area you must obtain a student visa in your home country before travelling to France - if the period of study in France is more than three months.

Where do I get a Visa?

Students should contact the French Embassy or French Consulate in their home country several weeks before the planned date of travel.

What documents do I need to apply for a Visa?

The French Embassy will provide you with the list of documents required. This list varies from country to country and therefore we cannot provide you with this list. However, you will in any case need a letter of acceptance from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business and a passport that is valid for the length of your stay in France. The School will send you a letter of acceptance once we have received and favourably reviewed your application.

Do I need a residence permit (carte de séjour) in France?

If your visa requires it (it will state "carte de séjour   solliciter"). You obtain a Carte de Séjour from the Prefecture once you arrive in France.

Do I need a residence permit if I am staying for only one semester?

As a general rule, if you are staying for less than six months, your visa will state that you are exempt from obtaining a residence permit ("dispens temporaire de carte de séjour"). If your visa states "dispense temporaire de carte de séjour", you will not be able to apply for a carte de séjour even if you want to. In that case you will not be able to apply for the APL housing benefit either.

NOTE: Students from countries outside Europe who apply for a 'carte de séjour' will have to have a compulsory medical check-up. This is free of charge, but there is a long waiting period: up to three months.

What is a récépissé?

While waiting for the check-up, you will be issued with a temporary residence permit ("Récépissé"). You can use this for all administrative matters, and it will allow you to leave and re-enter the country if necessary.

For more information, please see: https://www.isere.pref.gouv.fr (in French)

Switzerland

Wolfgang Amann, Executive Director and St.Gallen MBA in Switzerland says, "The stereotypes of Switzerland abound and are as numerous as they are diverse.  On the one hand there are the cultural stereotypes of intricate watch-making, holey-cheese, mountains, snow, skiing and, of course, chocolate.  On the other side are the political stereotypes of neutrality, secrecy, international organisations, global accords and the economic stereotypes of low taxes, financial institutions, and stability. "Many of these characteristics are true and some are unique to Switzerland, but what is certain is that everyone will be able to conjure their own specific image of what Switzerland is. What is certain is that Switzerland holds a unique place in Europe and many of the attributes listed above are a direct result of both Switzerland's central location and social integration with its large European neighbours, but also, paradoxically, its isolation and separation from these same neighbours." In visa terms, Switzerland's neutrality can make it harder to get in than other EU countries, however the nation's strong belief in investment in education means that it should not cause problems from MBAs from virtually anywhere in the world. The following information has been provided by IMD Business School. The visa application process takes at least eight weeks, although it can take up to 12. Only with a valid visa will a participant be able to join the IMD 2009 MBA class in January. Student visa requests must be submitted in their country of residence. The application can under no circumstances be submitted in Switzerland.

There are exceptions for the US, Canada and Australia whose citizens have a simplified way of applying for a student visa. They can send your complete application directly to the cantonal authorities in Lausanne (Service de la Population, Av. de Beaulieu 19, CH-1014 Lausanne). If their spouse has no US/CAN/AUS passport the normal procedure through the Swiss embassy/consulate has to be followed:

- Family reunification: their spouse accompanying you to Lausanne must follow the same visa procedures.

- If you are European but your spouse isn't, you must jointly apply for a student visa and family reunification visas.

- The student (and family reunification) visas are always single entry, valid for three months, starting from December 15 to March 15. The starting date of the visa can be changed upon request if there is a valid reason.

- Chinese citizens are generally asked to take the IELTS English test before submitting their visa application. IMD has obtained exemption to this rule and we can send a letter certifying this.

Janet Shaner, Director of MBA Marketing at IMD, says that the school helps those wanting to study in the country: "At IMD, our Participant Services team works closely with admitted students to provide them the necessary information and support to obtain a student visa. If necessary, we also provide any supporting information to the Swiss authorities to insure that all students admitted to the IMD MBA program are able to obtain a visa in order to commence their studies."