France becomes first EU member to grant Polish students visa-free entry

France has become the first European Union country to remove the need for Polish students to obtain visas. According to EU regulations, each member country must decide within two years of Poland joining the alliance whether to remove all restrictions on Polish students entering the country. Under the new French regulations, persons over 18 years of age who wish to study at French universities may now do so without having to obtain a visa. They will also be permitted to have a part-time job. The only condition is that in order to attend a French university, a student must first pass a French language exam. At present, French consulates in Poland award around 300 study scholarships a year to Polish students, and give permission for some 7,000 people to go and work in France. Estimates put the number of Poles currently working illegally in France at around 14,000. (Zycie, p.4) K.K.