Renewing Student Visa In France
Do you have to renew your visa in France? It is a concern for the non European people to know how much it cost to renew the student visa in France, especially if you have to pay a lot of money. A student visa can cost some money at least and this can be an issue when we talk about students. So it’s better to avoid paying a high amount of money just because you want to renew your student visa. We will discuss more about “Renewing Student Visa In France” in the article below.
The biggest reason that many students do not wish to remain in France after their studies is the fact that they are not working. If a student decides to renew his/her student visa, he/she has to attend school during all those years of renewal. It means that it is almost impossible to find a job since school will take most of the time and an employer needs a strict monthly schedule from the employee.
Applying for a new student visa can seem quite daunting. However, with the right precautions and procedures you should be able to obtain one without any issues.
Renewing Student Visa In France
If you are a student in France, you will have to renew your student visa every year. Here is how it works.
WHICH RESIDENCE PERMITS CAN BE RENEWED?
Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS, visa long séjour valant titre de séjour)
If you would like to stay in France to continue your studies but your VLS-TS visa will expire soon, you may renew your residence permit by applying for a multi-annual residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle). The application is not free. The first multi-annual residence permit that is issued to you under certain conditions will have a period of validity that corresponds to the number of years remaining in the study programme in which you are enrolled.
For example, if you have finished the first year of your undergraduate degree (licence) in France, you could receive a multi-annual residence permit valid for two years, i.e. until the end of the third year of the undergraduate degree. If you are studying at a Grande École, your renewed residence permit will be valid until you obtain your diploma.
Multi-annual residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle)
If you would like to remain in France to continue your studies but your multi-annual residence permit will expire soon, you may apply for it to be renewed. The application is not free. The new multi-annual residence permit issued to you under certain conditions will have a period of validity that corresponds to the number of years of the next study programme in which you will enrol.
For example, if you have just finished an undergraduate degree (licence) in France and you have applied for a new residence permit to continue your studies at postgraduate level (Master), it will be valid for two years.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO TAKE TO RENEW YOUR RESIDENCE PERMIT?
Where?
You should apply online to renew your residence permit and connect to the website : administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/
Good to know
Some higher education institutions have a specific system in place for welcoming and supporting foreign students called the “guichet unique” (single window), where you can renew your residence permit without going to the prefecture. The list of departments and institutions in question is available online on the website accueil-etrangers.gouv.fr.
When?
Three months before your residence permit expires. Do not wait until the last moment to take the necessary steps. Respect this deadline in order to avoid having to pay a fee of 180 euros.
A VIDEO TUTORIAL TO HELP YOU
Campus France offers you a video tutorial to help you renewing your residence permit online.
YouTube is disabled. Allow
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS TO HAVE YOUR RESIDENCE PERMIT RENEWED?
The conditions of having your residence permit renewed are the same as those that apply to a first-time application, namely:
- be enrolled in a French institution of higher education;
- receive monthly resources of at least 615 euros.
In the case of renewal applications, you will also need to demonstrate the serious nature of your studies in France (attendance, exam results, diplomas obtained, etc.). Repeating a year does not in itself bring into question the serious nature of your studies.
What supporting documents should be included in your renewal application?
You will need to bring the following documents with you to the prefecture:
- your passport with your residence permit,
- a short birth certificate including the names of your parents (or a full copy of your birth certificate),
- a certificate of enrolment for the coming year,
- an academic transcript from the previous year;
- a document certifying that you have the financial resources necessary to continue your studies in France (i.e. 615 euros per month),
- proof of address dated within the last 3 months (e.g. electricity bill or lease),
- proof of health insurance (justificatif d’assurance maladie; this is a document issued by your local sickness insurance fund, the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie, which you can download from your account on ameli.fr),
- 3 passport-size photographs.