A non-EU student, who only has a receipt of a first request for a residence permit (récépissé de première demande de carte de sejour):

-  Cannot travel to India and return to France unless he has applied for a Visa de retour from France

o If a student does not apply for a Visa de retour from France, he will have to apply for a Visa de retour from India

o Very Important: in the above case, applicant will be required to give a valid reason for applying from India instead of France.

A non-EU student, who has a residence permit i.e residence card (carte de sejour) or renewal receipt (récépissé de demande de renouvellement de titre de séjour)

- Do not need a visa de retour

- Can travel outside France and come back to France with the residence card or the renewal receipt.