Visas and residence permits

You must apply for your visa online or at the nearest French embassy or consulate to obtain your visa before arriving in France. If your country does not have Campus France’s “Studies in France” procedure, contact the French consulate closest to your city or consult the official France Visas website to obtain information about your visa application.

• If you are studying in France for three months or less, you will need a short stay visa :

This type of visa is issued to persons entering France to participate in short-term training programs, internships, conferences and business meetings not exceeding 90 days. With this visa, you will not be able to work or apply for housing assistance. You will not be able to stay in France beyond its expiration date. This visa does not allow you to apply for a French residence permit. If you wish to extend your stay, you must apply for a new visa from your home country. For more information, please visit the France Visas website.

• If you are studying in France for more than three months, you will need a long-stay student visa with a residence permit (VLS-TS)

In general, the following documents are required to complete your application for a long-stay student visa:

– Passport photos (according to the criteria of the consulate)

– Documents proving that you have sufficient financial means for the entire period of study, i.e. 615 € / month (as of July 2022). Please consult the France Visas website as this amount can be modified

– Proof of accommodation for the first three months of your stay.

– Proof of enrollment from the institution of higher learning: letter of acceptance or registration.

– Valid passport.

1. The VLS-TS student visa allows you to study in France for a period of four months to one year. After submitting your application in your country of origin, you must validate this long-stay student visa online on the official French government website ANEF (Administration Numérique pour les Etrangers en France) to obtain a residence permit.

It is mandatory to do this within three months of your arrival in France, in order to transform it into a residence permit valid for the duration of your visa. If you do not validate your visa within the first three months of your arrival, you will no longer be considered a legal resident in France and will not be able to re-enter the Schengen area. Most consulates provide instructions when issuing visas.

2. Throughout the process, you will be asked to provide your visa number, complete the form and pay the €50 tax stamp. Once you have completed these steps, you will receive the validation by e-mail. You should always carry this document with you along with a copy of your passport and visa. If you need help with validation, please contact 08.06.00.16.20 or dgef-support@interieur.gouv.fr.

 

3. With this validated visa, you are allowed to apply for housing subsidies as well as to work a maximum of 20 hours per week (964 hours per year).

4. If you wish to continue your studies after its expiration, you may request renewing your residence permit two to four months before the expiration date of your first visa. It is strongly recommended to start the process three to four months before your visa expires. The procedure must also be carried out on the official government website .

The documents required to apply for a visa may differ from one country to another. However, your passport and an official letter of acceptance from the French higher education institution are still required.

We advise you to consult the Campus France and France Visa websites for more information.

• If you are from a country subject to the “Study in France” procedure:

If you live in one of the 65 countries subject to the “Etudes en France” procedure (click here to know the countries concerned) and you need a visa to come and study in France, you must first register in a higher education institution via the “Études en France” platform

In this case, the visa procedure is as follows:

1 – Application for registration on the “Studies in France” platform of Campus France
2 – Visa procedure at the French Consulate
3 – Arrival in France
4 – Online visa validation

You do not normally need a visa to study in France, unless you have a special citizenship or residency status in your home country. If in doubt, please contact Campus France, the French consulate or the nearest French embassy or city to find out if a visa is required in your case. You can also consult the official website of France Visas. It is your responsibility to obtain this visa before your arrival in France.