Student Visa Application for France: Complete Guide 2025

The long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) allows foreign students to pursue higher education in France for more than 3 months.

This complete guide explains the Campus France procedure, required documents and steps to obtain your student visa.

🎓 What is a student visa?

The long-stay visa serving as residence permit (VLS-TS) with "student" status allows you to:

Study at a French higher education institution
Legally reside in France during your studies
Work up to 964 hours per year (approximately 20h/week)
Travel within the Schengen area

Duration: generally 1 year, renewable as a multi-year residence permit (2 to 4 years).

✅ Requirements for obtaining a student visa

1. Have enrollment at a French institution

You must be accepted at a French higher education institution:

Public university
Grande école
Recognized private school
High school (for preparatory classes)

Proof: admission letter or pre-enrollment issued by the institution.

2. Prove sufficient financial resources

You must prove that you have monthly resources of at least €615/month (approximately €7,380 per year).

Accepted sources:

Personal savings
Regular transfers from family
Scholarship (French government, country of origin, international organization)
Financial guarantee by a sponsor in France

3. Have accommodation in France

You must prove accommodation in France:

University residence (CROUS)
Private housing (lease, shared accommodation)
Accommodation with an individual (accommodation certificate)
Hotel or hostel reservation (for the first months)

4. Subscribe to health insurance

You must have health insurance covering medical expenses in France (minimum €30,000).

Options:

Student social security (automatic for most students)
International private insurance

5. Coherent study project

Your study project must be coherent with your previous academic background.

Authorities verify that you are truly coming to study (and not to work illegally or immigrate).

📋 Required documents

Personal documents

Long-stay visa application form
Passport valid (at least 3 months after planned return date)
Recent ID photos meeting ICAO standards (2 photos)
Birth certificate (with certified translation if necessary)

Education proof

Admission letter or pre-enrollment from the French institution
Diplomas and transcripts from previous years (with certified translations)
Cover letter explaining your study project
CV

Financial proof

Financial resources certificate (bank transfer, savings)
Bank statements for the last 6 months (showing at least €7,380)
Financial guarantee certificate by a sponsor (if applicable)
Scholarship certificate (government, embassy, organization)

Accommodation proof

Reservation certificate at university residence (CROUS)
Rental lease or lease promise
Accommodation certificate with an individual (+ copy of host's ID/residence permit + proof of address)

Insurance

Health insurance certificate covering at least €30,000 in medical expenses

🏛️ Application procedure

Step 1: Register on Campus France (depending on country)

In most countries, you must go through the Campus France procedure before applying for the visa.

Campus France is an organization that:

Assists foreign students
Verifies your study project
Centralizes application files

Countries concerned: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, and approximately 40 other countries.

Procedure:

Create an account on the Campus France website of your country
Fill out your file (desired programs, academic background)
Pay processing fees (approximately €60 to €120 depending on country)
Participate in an educational interview with a Campus France advisor

Campus France then transmits your file to the consulate.

Step 2: Prepare the visa file

Gather all the documents listed above.

Step 3: Make an appointment at the consulate

Make an appointment at the French consulate or visa center (VFS Global, TLScontact) in your country.

Appointment deadline: to be done at least 2 months before the start of classes.

Step 4: Submit the visa application

Present yourself at the appointment with all your documents.

You will need to:

Provide your fingerprints
Pay the visa fees

Step 5: Wait for the decision

The consulate processes your application.

Timeline: 15 days to 2 months (sometimes more depending on periods).

Step 6: Collect the visa

If your application is accepted, you collect your passport with the long-stay visa affixed inside.

Step 7: Enter France and validate the VLS-TS

Once in France, you must validate your VLS-TS on the ANEF website within 3 months:

Create an account on administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
Fill out the online form
Pay the validation fee (€50)
Receive the validation certificate by email

⏳ Processing times

Campus France procedure: 1 to 2 months
Long-stay visa: 15 days to 2 months
Total: 2 to 4 months

👉 Start your procedures as soon as you receive your admission to the institution.

💶 Student visa cost

Campus France fees: €60 to €120 (depending on country)
Long-stay visa: €50 (students) or €99 (depending on country)
VLS-TS validation: €50
Total: approximately €160 to €270

⚠️ Possible exemptions: French government scholarship recipients, students from certain countries (bilateral agreements).

🔄 Renewal as residence permit

At the end of the first year, you must apply for renewal as a multi-year student residence permit (2 to 4 years depending on your study cycle).

Requirements:

Progress in studies (advancement to higher year, ECTS credits validation)
Enrollment for the following year
Sufficient resources

Filing deadline: 2 to 4 months before VLS-TS expiration.

💼 Right to work

With the student visa, you can work up to 964 hours per year (approximately 20h/week during school term).

Authorized activities:

Student job (restaurant, retail, etc.)
Paid internship (as part of studies)
Temporary teaching or research position

⚠️ You cannot:

Work more than 964 hours/year
Start your own business (except with status change)

❌ Common reasons for refusal

Incoherent study project (program unrelated to previous background)
Insufficient resources (< €615/month)
Suspicion of intent to stay illegally in France (lack of ties to country of origin)
Incomplete or fraudulent documents
Repeated exam failures (for renewal)

Appeal

You can file an appeal with the Commission for Appeals Against Visa Refusal Decisions (CRRV) within 2 months.

🤝 VisaPref assists you

Obtaining a student visa requires preparing a complete and coherent file. Consulates are demanding regarding resources and study project.

At VisaPref, we assist you with:

Preparing your Campus France file
Compiling your financial and accommodation proof
Writing a convincing cover letter
Preparing your Campus France interview
Maximizing your chances of obtaining the visa

👉 Contact us for personalized assistance.

❓ FAQ – France Student Visa

1. Can I work with a student visa?

Yes, up to 964 hours per year (approximately 20h/week).

2. How long before the start of classes should I submit my application?

Submit your application at least 2 to 3 months before the start of classes.

3. Do I have to go through Campus France?

It depends on your country of residence. Check the French embassy website in your country.

4. Can I stay in France after my studies?

Yes, you can apply for an APS (Temporary Residence Authorization) of 12 months to look for a job or start your business.

5. Can my spouse join me in France?

The student visa does not allow family reunification (as it's a temporary permit). Your spouse must apply for their own visa (student, visitor, etc.).