France student long-stay visa

Applicants over 18 who have been accepted by a French higher education institution for a course lasting more than three months.

• Be over 18

  You must be more than 18 years old.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Study for more than three months

  The long-stay visa applies to a course or programme lasting more than three months.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Have an accepted place

  You must have chosen your course and been accepted by a higher education institution; include its certificate of enrolment with your application.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Show sufficient resources

  For long-stay study visa applications submitted from 1 August 2026, provide evidence of at least €877.50 per month.

  Sources disagreeSource

• Provide an address in France

  Provide either a temporary address for your first three months or a permanent address if you have already found accommodation; conditions may differ by country.

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• Have a suitable travel document

  Provide the original and a copy of a travel document in good condition, issued less than 10 years ago, with at least two blank pages and valid for at least three months beyond the requested long-stay visa's expiry; an exemption from the last condition may be granted in a duly justified emergency.

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• Student visa application fee for countries or territories using the Études en France (EEF) procedure; indicative rate, with different rates possible in particulSources disagreeSource€50 per person
• Student visa application fee for other countries; indicative rate, with different rates possible in particular casesSources disagreeSource€99 per person
• Tax payable when validating the student VLS-TSSources disagreeSource€100 once
• Decision timeFrance-Visas says visa decisions generally take 15 days and may take up to 45 days in particular cases where examination of the application requires it. It does not publish a minimum.About 6 weeks

1. Get ready

   • Choose your course

     Choose a course lasting more than three months and check the applicable enrolment procedure.

   • Get accepted

     Obtain acceptance from a higher education institution and its certificate of enrolment.

     You’ll need: Certificate of enrolment

   • Prepare your documents

     Gather evidence of your monthly resources, your address in France and the documents identified by the France-Visas visa wizard.

     You’ll need: Evidence of resources, Temporary or permanent address in France, Travel document, Two recent identity photographs

2. Apply

   • Complete the online application

     Complete your visa application online through France-Visas.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents for your circumstances and study plans

   • Book an appointment

     Use the France-Visas page for your country of application to find where and how to book, allowing time for the appointment and visa decision.

   • Submit your application

     Attend your appointment with the completed application and receipt, submit your documents and pay the applicable fee; biometric details are collected where required.

     You’ll need: Completed application form, Application receipt, Passport, Supporting documents

3. Visa

   • Track the decision and collect your passport

     Track your application through the visa centre and collect your passport when notified.

     You’ll need: Passport

4. Travel

   • Travel to France

     When you arrive

     Keep your date of entry and your address in France for the online visa-validation process.

     You’ll need: Visa, Date of entry, Address in France

5. Settle in

   • Validate your visa

     When you arrive

     Validate your VLS-TS online within three months of arriving in France and pay the applicable tax.

     You’ll need: Visa details, Date of entry, Address in France, Means of paying the tax

If you wish to remain after the visa expires, you can apply for a student residence permit.

• Article L436-1 - Code de l'entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d'asile - Légifrancelegifrance.gouv.frOfficial
• Étudiant - France-Visasfrance-visas.gouv.frOfficial
• Accueil - France-Visasfrance-visas.gouv.frOfficial
• La démarche d'obtention de visa - France-Visasfrance-visas.gouv.frOfficial
• france-visas.gouv.fr/web/france-visas/votre-arrivee-en-franceOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.