Did you get accepted to a French university and choose to greet your French friends with a “Bonjour!” each day? You’re about to embark on a fantastic study abroad trip.
Before taking out your French dictionary and putting it in your bag, determine the requirements for an entry visa for students in France. If so, begin making all the necessary documents and research the information you require about the process.
1. Apply to a French school and obtain an acceptance letter
If you’re not sure where you’d like to go to school in France, You’ll have to decide before starting the student visa application. Once the French school has accepted you, you’ll receive an acceptance letter to submit your visa application.
Think about some of the top universities in France we would recommend:
- Institut Polytechnique de Paris
- KEDGE Business School
- Emlyon Business School
- HEC Paris
- ESCP Business School
- ESIEE Paris
2. Find out which kind of Visa you require to be able to study in France.
- Visa de court to études (‘Schengen student visa for short-stay) For studies less than three months. This kind of VisaVisa is usually used for short-term studies or language courses. It’s completely free, and you don’t require any residence permits, and you can apply for a fresh one when it’s expired.
- Visa of long Sejour for studies (temporary longer-stay VisaVisa) – for studies that can take three to six months to be completed.
- Visa of long Sejour studies (long-stay VisaVisa) to study courses that last longer than six months to finish. You must also apply for the residence permit to extend the length of your stay following the time that this VisaVisa is expired (one year ).
To determine if you require a student visa, utilize this official application on the France-Visas website.
3. Where and when to apply for a student visa
It is possible to obtain a student visa at the French consulate within your home country or through Campus France (an institution promoting higher education in France with an office local to almost all countries). Certain countries require registering first through Campus France to obtain a student visa.
Follow the following steps.
- Schedule an in-person interview/appointment through the official website of the French consulate in your area
- Visit the calendar online, which shows all the dates available and times.
- Make sure to set the rendezvous date at least 90 days before your departure date in France.
- Pay the processing fee for your VisaVisa: 50-100 EUR depending on the nationality of your applicant.
- The VisaVisa will be issued once you have received it. The time to process your application depends on your country of origin, how many students seek visas, and other factors. The earlier you begin the application, the more effective.
4. The language requirements to study in France
When you apply to an academic institution in France, You must show proof of:
- French proficiency in French If you are applying at a school that teaches French (accepted tests include: DELF/DALF or TCF)
- English proficiency in the language If you want to apply for degrees taught in English (accepted tests include: IELTS TOEFL, IELTS PTE Academic, C1 Advanced)
If you’ve received letters of acceptance from a French university, the French consulate will not have to ask for additional language requirements to obtain studying visas.
Documents Required for Application of French Student Visa
- Visa application form
- Two passport-type photos
- Passport valid and copies of previous visas
- Official acceptance or enrolment note from the school
- Evidence of financial resources (around 600 EUR monthly) to cover your costs during your time of study
- Airline reservation/ticket with the date of departure
- Medical insurance can cost anywhere from 300 to 715 EUR/year
- Documents detailing the arrangements for your accommodation for your study
- French certification of proficiency in French (if you’ve been enrolled in a course in French)
- Documentation of the payment of visa fees (50-100 EUR)
- Documentation of the civil status (if appropriate)
Residence permit for France
In the first year of your study, you’ll only need a long-term student visa to prove your residency. Within one month of your arrival in France, it is necessary to sign up with an office in the area of the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and undergo an examination for medical verification to confirm your VisaVisa.
If you intend to stay more than one calendar year, beginning at the end of the second year of your studies, you must apply for a Carte de Sejour (CDS) or ‘titer, an official residency permit for France.
I am currently a student in France in the capacity of an international student.
All students from other countries are permitted to work on the job they are studying subject to conditions.
Legally, you’re permitted to work for a short period (around 60% of full-time work over a year) and only when you have an active residence permit. If you are applying for an employment opportunity, you must be sure you inform your employer that you are studying abroad so that they can only review an application that is for a half-time job.
There are also employment opportunities in your institution. If you do not want to have work impact your education, you could only take advantage of these offers during the break between the academic semesters.
