How we moved to France with a startup visa?

My passion for the French language has truly become a defining aspect of my life. I successfully completed my studies at university, specializing in linguistics. Currently, I run my own online language school, where I help people grasp the intricacies of the French language.

I have had the opportunity to travel around France several times, both with my husband and alone, which only intensified my desire to immerse myself in this culture. We considered moving to France, and in 2019 we started making plans, applying for a student visa with the intention of attending language courses. However, to our great disappointment, we were denied.

New attempt to move.

In 2022, we revisited the idea of moving and started looking for various visa options. I had heard about the startup visa for a long time, but for some reason, I thought it didn't quite meet our requirements. However, this time everything fell into place, and this option became the key to realizing our dream.

Preparation for moving

Serious preparations for the move began in December 2022, and by May 2023, we had received the necessary visas. I believe this is a very quick process for this type of relocation. The startup visa is a certain challenge: there are several stages to go through, and submitting documents is just one of the steps.

Requirements for obtaining a startup visa

To obtain a startup visa, you need to have a project, and it must be innovative — this is a key requirement. For those who just want to do business, there is another category — "talent passports," but I do not fall into that category. It is also necessary to find an incubator or accelerator — organizations that help develop startups in France.

• It is necessary to prepare a "pitch" - your presentation.
• There is an open directory of incubators, but not all of them are actively operating.
• It's important to reach out to incubators, ask questions, and clarify all the details.

Obtaining a startup visa in France

The startup visa in France is a simplified and quick way to obtain a residence permit in the country, available to everyone. This program offers relocation opportunities for both owners and employees of startups.

The first step is to reach out to all the interested incubators. When one of them responds, further negotiations usually take place over the phone or online. Initially, there is a so-called "introductory call," during which you share information about yourself and your project. This may be followed by several discussions with representatives of the incubator and their sponsors.

Conclusion

If the project generates interest, you will receive a confirmation of intent to collaborate, as well as an invitation, via email. This invitation will be an important part of your application package for a visa to enter France. The visa application process is standard, and we have successfully completed this procedure on our own through the French diplomatic mission in our country of residence.

Obtaining a visa based on the "talent passport"

My spouse and I received visas for a period of three months based on the so-called "talent passport." I want to emphasize that the preparation for this process begins long before arriving in France. After obtaining the visa and arriving in the country, the incubator basically loses interest in your daily tasks. It's important to understand that the main task is to develop your project independently. Of course, if you have questions, you can always reach out to them for support — sometimes they can provide useful advice. Personally, I periodically visit their office for consultations, but it's worth noting that during the summer, due to vacations, there are almost no staff members available.

Collaboration with the incubator

When it comes to my search, I was lucky with the incubator: they immediately agreed to take on my project because they were interested in my idea. This stage went quite quickly, although it may take others more time. Each incubator sets its own rules of operation.Some of them may request a share in the business, while others only ask for payment for their services in helping startups.In our case, we chose the second option: we pay the incubator 350 euros a month, and our startup remains under our control.

Confirmation of the innovative nature of the project

The next step involves confirming the innovative nature of the project with the Ministry of Economy of France. This procedure can also be carried out online. On the official website of the ministry, you need to fill out a comprehensive questionnaire providing all the details about your project, while it is important to highlight its innovative aspects.A variety of criteria are evaluated, including social, technological, marketing, and others.

Application review process

The review of the application can take up to two months. In our case, the process lasted four weeks, and the outcome was... a rejection. Don't be discouraged — you have the opportunity to appeal to the ministry, resubmit your project, and there is a chance to achieve a positive result.In the end, our project was recognized as innovative on our second attempt.

Documents for obtaining a visa

At the moment, we already have two key documents in hand:

• Document from the incubator confirming our participation;
• A document from the Ministry of Economy certifying that our project has an innovative aspect.

In addition, to obtain a visa, it is necessary to provide proof of financial stability. The minimum monthly income required to apply is a specific amount, and you must also provide income data for the previous year.If I'm not mistaken, in my case it was required to confirm 1500 euros per month.Accordingly, if you are applying for two people, you will need to indicate an amount between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for the second person. We provided a bank statement regarding income, which was obtained from a Russian bank. It is worth noting that more than a year has passed, and I am not sure if such documents are still relevant under the current sanctions.

The essence of my project

My project combines tourism and educational aspects: I am developing an app that will be useful for foreign tourists wishing to visit France.

Communication challenges in sparsely populated areas

Communication difficulties become particularly noticeable in regions with low population density, where knowledge of the English language often proves insufficient. We understand the "variables" that French language learners face and are developing an app that combines recommendations for tourists with language tips.

For example, before traveling to a new area, we recommend taking a language lesson related to the theme of the trip. During the presentation of our project, we emphasized its uniqueness, as there is currently no similar offering on the market, and this will undoubtedly be beneficial.

Action plan

What is our action plan? First, we need to create a clear project plan. Then we will look for an incubator that can support our idea.

Recently, I got in touch with those who responded to my ad, and eventually, I managed to visit one of the apartments. I must say, I was impressed: the accommodation fully met all my requirements and was located in a beautiful, historic building.

However, it soon became clear that the owner had other applicants, and she was going to decide who would become her tenants. The wait stretched on for a full two weeks. Throughout this time, I stayed in touch and at one point suggested increasing the rent by 50 euros (the original amount was 750 euros per month).

In addition to this amount, I needed to allocate about 50 euros for gas and water (including heating), and around 40 euros went to electricity, which varies depending on the season. Thus, a three-room apartment with an area of 65 square meters cost me approximately 900 euros per month. Additionally, I needed to set aside about 30 euros a month for the internet, and I spent around 20 euros on mobile communication.

Contract conclusion

We signed a contract directly with the owner, so we didn't have to pay any commission. However, our landlord required a double deposit, which amounts to two months' rent.

It is worth noting that in France, housing is usually rented unfurnished. In our case, the apartment only had a dining table and standard appliances — a refrigerator and a microwave. All other items, such as:

• bed
• dressers
• desktop
• chairs

We had to buy it ourselves, which cost us about 6-7 thousand euros.

Features of the contract

As for the specifics of the contract, in France, a standard rental agreement is usually drawn up for a period of one year. Landlords provide a ready-made template of the document that just needs to be read and signed.

Of course, if something is not satisfactory, it can be discussed, but due to the high competition in the real estate market, there will always be those willing to agree to the proposed terms. The contract itself is quite standard.

It is important to note that the apartment insurance should be arranged for the duration of the rental agreement. We paid 89 euros for six months, so for a full year, the total will be less than 200 euros.

Re-registration of accounts

In addition, it is necessary to transfer the utility and internet bills to my name, which is standard practice. Upon arriving at the apartment, we had no electricity, as the previous tenants had turned it off before leaving.

Electricity only became available after the meters were transferred to our name, and of course, this created certain inconveniences, especially when you enter an almost empty apartment and there's no light. It's good that they don't turn off the water.

Adaptation in a new place

The situation in the new place is hard to call standard, as I speak French fluently, while my husband is just starting to learn the language, making the adaptation process much easier.

Moreover, the incubator staff provides us with assistance in answering our questions and necessary clarifications, although we were able to handle most of the paperwork on our own. At the moment, I don't have any particular impressions of the country, as in the first few months I had to spend a lot of time preparing the necessary documentation and setting up my apartment. All these concerns are quite exhausting.

Ordinary French people seem quite reasonable.

Introduction

In conclusion of my story, I want to share my thoughts on what it means to follow your calling and how important it is not to rest on your laurels. My journey from studying the French language to creating my own online language school has been a true adventure, full of discoveries and challenges. I genuinely believe that each of us has an inner desire to move forward and grow, and often it requires making bold decisions.

Overcoming difficulties

Returning to the idea of moving to France, I realized that behind each“refusal”There is an opportunity to analyze one's steps and seek new paths. Since the startup visa requires not only an innovative project but also perseverance, this has become a real challenge for me. However, it's important to remember that even if something doesn't work out at first, it doesn't mean the end of the story. One must learn to adapt, listen, and understand what needs to be done to achieve the goal.

Working with incubators

Working with incubators and the visa application process taught me to appreciate every detail, as it is the attention to small things that allows for building a successful project. I am proud that despite all the challenges and returning to the starting point after two years, I managed to obtain all the necessary documents and move on to the next stage.

Lessons on the path to success

Every step in this process has become an important lesson for me:

• Patience
• Persistence
• Faith in your project

— these are the key elements to success. My startup, which operates at the intersection of education and tourism, is no longer just a dream, but a reality that I plan to develop and in which I see enormous potential.

Conclusion

I am sure that anyone considering the possibility of moving or starting a new project will be able to find their way and overcome obstacles if they are willing to learn from mistakes and embrace challenges. I know that on the path to success, it is important not only to have a good idea but also to be able to present it correctly while remaining open to collaboration and the help of others.

In conclusion, each of us can become the creator of our own destiny. I hope that my story inspires you to take bold steps and helps you believe in yourself. I wish everyone reading these lines good luck in finding their calling and realizing their dreams. Sometimes, all it takes is to take the first step to radically change your life.