Preparing the visa application

Étudiants, Chercheurs

Now that your plans to study in France are set, it's time to take the next step—your visa application! Here is all the essential information you need to prepare your application smoothly.

The type of visa you require depends on the length and purpose of your visit in France. France-visas is the official portal with all the information needed to determine the type of visa you need, the procedures you need to follow and the documents required to apply. In case of doubt you can use the official France Visa wizard.

Student Visas

SHORT-STAY VISA (LESS THAN 90 DAYS)

Short-stay student visa (less than 90 days)

Short-stay visas are governed by European regulations. These non-renewable short-stay visas allow stays of up to 3 months in the 29-country Schengen zone. Holders of this visa do not require a French residence permit.

Short-term visa for students attending interviews or appearing for entrance tests (visa concours): this visa entitles the holder to enter France for the purpose of attending an interview or appearing for an entrance test at an institution of higher education. If successful, students in this category may apply for a 1-year renewable residence permit in France and will not be required to return to their home country to do so.

Note: Students applying for a short-stay student visa (less than 90 days) do not need to go through the Etudes en France procédure.

LONG-STAY VISA

In order to obtain a long stay student visa, the first step is to complete the Etudes en France (EEF) mandatory procedure.

NOTE: Students are required to submit their application as soon as they receive their unconditional acceptance letter from the French institution and at least three months before the date of intake.

PROCEDURE

To apply for a long-stay student visa, you must follow the step-by-step procedure explained below.

STEP 1: Validation of Etudes en France (EEF) file

Create an account on https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/authentification/login.html
Create your EEF Application along with the necessary details (academic records, language skills, CV+SOP etc.) and submit your file online.

Correct the anomalies as informed by Campus France and prepare your file for validation.
Upon validation, pay the Campus France processing fees and declare it on the portal.

STEP 2: Academic Interview (if applicable)

Post the payment declaration, you will be required to appear in person for the academic interview with the Campus France as per the slot allotted to you.
It is mandatory to bring originals of all necessary documents.
At the interview, you will be asked to explain your study project.

After the interview, you will get an automated email stating that you can proceed to VFS. Important: Campus France does not issue any NOC.

STEP 3: Complete your visa application with VFS

Prepare your file: check the document list and ensure your file is complete.
Fill your visa application on https://france-visas.gouv.fr
Book your VFS appointment (only after receiving the automated email mentioned in the second step).

STEP 4: Validate your Long-stay Student Visa/Residence Permit (Visa Long séjour - Titre de séjour, VLS-TS)

Within the first three months following your arrival, you must register and validate your visa at the following: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/ in order to be considered a legal resident in France.
Note: Your Long-stay Visa (VLS-TS) acts as your residence permit for the first year of your stay in France.

STEP 5: Apply for your residence permit (if applicable)

If you want to stay in France at the end of the validity period of your VLS-TS, you must apply for a residence permit at the prefecture of your place of residence between four to two months prior to the expiry date of their visa.

Internship Visa

Students going to France for internships must provide the Convention de Stage (Tripartite Internship agreement) in addition to the other mandatory documents while applying for an Internship visa.

The Convention de Stage is an agreement between the employer (a company or a host institution), the intern’s institution, and the intern. It stipulates the dates of the internship, the general tasks, the remuneration if any and mentions that the internship is relevant to the course of study. The host company must, at least 2 months before the start of the internship, have the internship agreement validated online by the administration.

Short stay internship visa (less than 90 days)

For an internship shorter than 90 days, internship visa (visa stagiaire) can be obtained by directly applying at France visas.

Long Stay Internship visa/Internship VLS-TS (more than 90 days)

Internship VLS-TS is required by students going for an internship with duration longer than 3 months (90 days) : Apply for long stay internship visa .

and If you are residing in one of the countries subject to the "Etudes en France" procedure and going for an academic internship (in a university and not in a private organization), you may apply for a long-stay student visa via the "Etudes en France" procedure.