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Ever thought about studying in France? Well, now's your chance! Being a global hub for international business and management education, France attracts and hosts a large number of international students given its high-quality education system, low tuition fees, and top-ranking, globally renowned universities. But before you pack your bags, let's crack the code to secure a student visa for France.
Our blog is your one-stop shop for all the tips, tricks, and must-knows to make your dream of studying in France a reality. So, what are you waiting for? Let's dive in.
Who needs a student visa for France?
Whether you require a French student visa or not is dependent on whether or not you are an EU national.
Thus, if you are an EU national or national from the EEA, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you do not need a student visa for France. Instead, all you need to be able to study in France legally is a valid passport or other valid travel ID. Whereas, if you are a national from anywhere else in the world, you will need to obtain a student visa for France to be able to undertake a study program in France.
There are different types of France visas depending on your stay in France. Broadly, the France visa is categorized into the following two duration categories-
1. Stays equal to, or shorter than 90 days
Such a short stay is usually undertaken for purposes like tourism, business trips, or family visits. Thus, for stays which equal to, or are shorter than 90 days, a short-stay visa is issued.
This short-stay visa is also issued to individuals visiting France to take part in short-term training programs, internships, conferences, and corporate meetings, or to participate in remunerated activities of any form.
2. Stays longer than 90 days
For such purposes that would require you to stay longer than 90 days in France, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay national visa.
However, whatever the exact duration of your planned stay, the span of your long-stay visa must be between three months and one year. If you wish to extend your stay before the period of validity of your visa, you would be required to apply for a residence permit at a prefecture.
During the period of validity of your long-stay visa, it is equivalent to a Schengen visa, allowing you to travel around and stay in the Schengen Area outside France for periods not exceeding 90 days over any stretch of 180 consecutive days under the same conditions if you hold a Schengen visa.
Further, the long-stay visa in France is split into the following categories:
- Stay for an extended period for tourist or personal reasons;
- Carry out a professional activity;
- Pursue education;
- Join family members.
French Student Visas
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The different types of student visa for France include the following:
| Type of Visa | Description |
| Visa de court séjour pour etudes (‘Schengen’ short-stay student visa) |
|
| Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes (temporary long-stay visa) |
|
| Visa de long séjour etudes (long-stay visa) |
|
When and where to apply for the French student visa
To apply to your student visa, you can reach out to either a French consulate in your region or apply through Campus France (an institution supporting higher education in France, having a local office in nearly all nations worldwide). Some countries will, thus, first require you to register with Campus France to obtain your student visa.
You will be required to schedule an in-person interview/appointment through the official website of the French consulate in your region; you can check the online calendar, which displays the available dates and hours. Try scheduling the appointment date at least 90 days prior to your departure to France. Additionally, you can check the Visa SOP guide to draft a better statement of purpose for your Visa application.
Usually, a student visa for france is issued in at least five to seven business days, while in exceptional cases, it might take a little longer. If you need further help with your visa applications, you can consult an expert for a better profile analysis.
How to apply for a student visa for France
To apply for your student visa for france, you will first need to contact the French consulate in your home country and present them with the following documentation when requested:
Working in France with a French student visa
Along with a valid residence permit (the VLS-TS functions as such), as an international student, you are eligible to undertake paid work for about 964 hours annually (this equates to nearly 60% full-time employment). This number of specific hours is configured for work between the periods of 1 September to 31 August.
On the other hand, eligible work hours between September and June are up to 670 hours, while for the period of July to August is up to 300 hours. When you apply for a job, you must also inform your employer that you are a foreign student so that they will only consider your application for a part-time position.
Residence Permit in France
During your first year of the study program in France, you only require a student visa for France as proof of your residency status. Within a month of your arrival, you will be required to register at the local French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and undergo a medical examination to validate your visa.
And if you plan to stay in France for more than one year, starting from the second year of studies, you will be required to apply for a Carte de Séjour (CDS) or ‘titre de séjour’, an official residency card in France.
Language requirements for your study in France
When you apply for your study program at a university in France, you are required to provide proof of:
French language proficiency
If you apply for French-taught degrees, you will be required to prove your French language proficiency through these accepted tests/DALF or TCF
English language proficiency
If you apply for English-taught degrees, you will be required to prove your English language proficiency through these accepted tests- IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge
Moreover, if you have received an acceptance letter from a French university, the French consulate won’t require any additional language requirements for your study visa for France.
Conclusion
Thus, more or less, you’d find everything relevant to the student visa for France covered here. However, since the visa rules and regulations tend to vary for residents of different countries, it’s highly recommended to check the country’s student visa requirements and procedures on their official website and prepare yourself accordingly. By staying informed and prepared, you'll be well-equipped to embark on your exciting academic journey in France.
