Country
France
France is mainly a study destination for Iranians: low-fee public universities, an active Campus France office in Iran, and a one-year post-master job-search permit. Work routes run mostly through the Talent Passport (qualified employee, EU Blue Card, researcher) or staying on after studies.
Pathways for France
France — Study (Bachelor's (year 1) with an Iranian diploma — DAP)
With an Iranian high-school diploma you can apply for first-year licence at public universities through a DAP request on Études en France. Courses are almost all in French, so French B2 is effectively the key requirement, and the TCF is currently not held in Iran. If you already have a bachelor's, the master route makes more sense.
- 1Language and documents
- 2DAP application
- 3Admission and funds
- 4Visa
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 3,463,000,000 – 5,195,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 10 – 20 months
France — Study (Master's at a public university (French- or English-taught))
The most common French route for Iranians: apply for a master's via the Études en France platform and Campus France Iran, then get a long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) through VFS Tehran. Public-university tuition for non-EU students is €3,950/year in 2026-27 with exemptions now capped, and French tests are currently not held in Iran.
- 1Preparation
- 2Études en France file
- 3Admission
- 4Visa
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 3,752,000,000 – 5,483,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 9 – 14 months
France — Study (PhD with a doctoral contract or scholarship (Talent Passport researcher))
French PhDs have no separate admission programme: you find a topic and supervisor and are usually paid via a doctoral contract (a three-year employment contract). The visa is a Talent Passport researcher visa with a hosting agreement, not Études en France.
- 1Find a topic
- 2Apply and interview
- 3Approval and contract
- 4Visa
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 433,000,000 – 3,463,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 6 – 15 months
France — Work (Stay after a French master's — job-search permit (former APS))
Only for people who earned a master-level degree (or licence professionnelle) in France itself; an Iranian degree doesn't qualify. For Iranians it is the most realistic work route: a master's in France first, then the one-year job-search/business-creation permit, and with a related, well-paid job a salarié or Talent card without a labour-market test.
- 1During the master's
- 2Graduation
- 3Job search
- 4Change of status
- Cost
- 2,886,000,000 – 4,617,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 21 – 50 months
France — Work (Talent Passport — EU Blue Card (high-salary skilled job))
The usual route for specialists hired from Iran on a high salary (e.g. IT, engineering). No work authorisation is needed, but salary must be at least €59,373 gross/year (2026 figure), and family can join via a simplified procedure.
- 1Preparation
- 2Job search
- 3Visa
- 4After arrival
- Cost
- 721,000,000 – 2,020,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 4 – 12 months
France — Work (Talent Passport — Researcher (postdoc and research posts))
For holders of at least a master's who have a hosting agreement from a French research body or university. No work authorisation is needed and the VFS appointment goes through Campus France Iran.
- 1Preparation
- 2Find a post
- 3Clearances
- 4Visa
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 433,000,000 – 1,443,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 4 – 12 months
France — Work (Work permit (salarié card) — especially shortage occupations)
If your salary is below the Blue Card threshold, the employer must obtain a work authorisation online. Unless the job is on the shortage list (métiers en tension), it must first be advertised for 3 weeks with the public employment service.
- 1Preparation
- 2Job search
- 3Work authorisation
- 4Visa
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 577,000,000 – 1,732,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 5 – 14 months
Do not base a decision on any figure without a counselor's confirmation.