student visa in france - Lomelono Travel Solutions

Are you thinking about studying in France? If so, you’re not alone. Whether you’re a student or an employed professional, one thing you’ll have in common with most (okay…not all) of your foreign counterparts is that you’ll need to get a visa before applying for a residence permit at the French Consulate in your home country. While the student visa requirements are very similar to those for other visitor visas, there are some extra requirements in the visa application process for students.

After you have studied for a university degree, or if you’re about to start studying, you may eventually want to come to France for more than just a vacation. Your aim might be to find an internship or a master’s degree abroad. Or maybe you want to work in France. Whatever your reason is, you need to organize your stay in France by applying for a student visa, using our service and professional expertise.

The French government offers international students some special visas for studying in France. These special permits will allow to study, work and travel freely across the Schengen Area.

Obtaining a student visa in France can be a complicated and time-consuming process, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you apply. Here are some things to keep in mind as you navigate the process of obtaining your student visa in France:

The first step is to determine whether you need a student visa at all. If your study abroad program is less than three months long, then no, you won’t need one. If it’s more than three months long, then yes—you need a student visa.

You’ll also need to determine whether or not your school has issued you an invitation letter for your stay in France. If it hasn’t already done so, ask them about getting one from them now so that you can use it as part of your application packet when applying for your visa later on down the line!

Once those two issues have been cleared up and determined, begin gathering everything else together for your application packet: proof of funds (bank statements), passport photos (in color), copies of previous visas if applicable (!), and any other documents relevant to the situation at hand (like medical records).

Finally: once all documents are gathered up

France is a popular destination for students of all ages, and the country offers many opportunities for international students to learn. Students who are planning on studying in France should be aware that there are several different kinds of visas available to them depending on their needs.

The first step in determining whether you need a student visa is to research which type of visa will be best suited to your needs. The type of visa you need depends on what kind of program you plan on enrolling in, as well as where you will be studying. You may also need additional documents depending on what program you choose.

In addition to researching which type of visa you should pursue, there are other things that you can do to make sure that everything goes smoothly when applying for your student visa. You should always check with your school or university before making plans so that they can provide guidance about what documentation is needed and what steps need to be taken next.

Table of Contents

THE SHORT STAY STUDENT VISA

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, and depending on your nationality, you must obtain a student visa to study in France even if your stay is less than 3 months.

There are two types of short stay visa: the “short stay for studies” (court séjour pour études) visa and the “student in competition” (étudiant concours) visa, which should be requested if you are convoked by a French institute for an exam or interview.

Note that nationals from certain non-European countries are not required to have a visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days. Check the article “The student visa short stay“for more information on this subject.

THE LONG STAY STUDENT VISA

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you must request a student long stay visa to study, conduct research or do an internship in France for more than 3 months.

There are two types of long term visas:

1/ the Long Term Visa used as Residence Permit (VLS-TS)

This visa allows you to remain in France for one year without needing to request a residency permit. You will still have to have your visa approved on arrival. Depending on the nature of your stay, there are three types of long stay visas:

the student VLS-TS for studies at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level;
the Talent passport VLS-TS for a doctorate and beyond;
the internship VLS-TS to do an internship in France as part of the programme you are enrolled in in your country of residence.

2/ the Temporary Long Term Visa (VLS-T)

With the VLS-T, you can stay in France for 1 year, and you don’t need to validate it at your arrival. It cannot be renewed, and it doesn’t grant the rights than the VLS-TS.

THE WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

In the framework of a reciprocal agreement with several countries, France grants Working Holiday visas (vacances-travail). Reserved for young people aged 18 to 30, they let you spend one year in France to learn about the country without studying here. They let you work in France to round out your resources during the year.

Check the article “Working Holiday visa” to find out if you are eligible for this and for more information on the subject.

PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY PERMIT

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS – Provisional Residency Permit) allows you to remain one year in France after you graduate. It is reserved for holders of a professional Bachelor’s, a Master’s-level degree and all graduates who are starting a company.

THE TRAVEL VISA OR SCHENGEN VISA

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you can request a travel visa at the end of your studies. Reserved for holders of a Master’s-level degree from a French higher education institute, it allows you to regularly return to France if you reside in another country after your studies in France.

Cost of Visa

The Visa Fee for Long Stay National Visa for Study purposes is €99 for students applying for bachelors/ masters courses. For dual course applicants as well as exchange students, the fee is the same. This amount needs to be paid at the nearest BNP Paribas Branch. You can locate the branch from this web tool. Once you reach the branch, you would need to carry you’re IN Number. The payment can be made in cash and in favor of INSTITUT FRANCAIS EN INDE, Account N0. 0906506003400137. We recommend you to speak with the nearest branch before you go there to make the payment.

Apart from this charge, you would also be required to pay the Visa Processing charge of €50 which is at present at INR 4338 as well as the VFS Service Fees and handling charges which amount to INR 1467 (inclusive of taxes). Please note the visa fee for applicants applying to the France Visa Application Centre in New Delhi and Kolkata is payable by a Bank Draft. Visa fee for applicants applying to the France Visa Application Centre in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, Chennai, and Puducherry is payable by cash only. Also, an optional courier facility is available at Rs 300 (inclusive of service tax) per application.

Note: It is always advisable to check with the embassy/ consulate before you submit your application about the Visa Fee as exchange rates are subject to change.

Documents

You should provide two sets of application photocopies containing the following documents:

Long stay application form for the duration of more than 90 days
Two passport size photographs
A copy of Passport
A print out of your CampusFrance NOC
Letter of registration from the academic Institution
Cover letter explaining the study project and a CV/Resume
Proof of funds – tuition fees + a minimum of 615 Euros/month, for the complete academic term
Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France
Copy of your round-trip airline ticket (if you are studying for six months or less) or a one-way ticket if you are studying in France for more than six months)
OFII form (Office Francais de Immigration et de Integration)
Proof of residency in France such as a lease, electricity bill, title of property, etc. for a minimum of three months or a hotel reservation
Copy of the CV
Copies of the degree and academic diplomas, certificates

When you go for your interview, you would be required to carry all your documents in the original plus a copy of all the documents.

How to apply

There are several steps to applying for a visa. First, you need to appear for an interview with Campus France, then you need to submit your documents with VFS

Log on to india.campusfrance.org. At the “Register online” box click on Create Your Account.
Fill the Academic records, Language skills, and CV+SOP sections. Upload documents, photograph, and academic records. Ensure that all fields in the Validation tab indicate “Complete”.
Send your file number to the assigned Campus France office to get your file reviewed, and to request an appointment.
You will have to appear in person for the academic interview with the Campus France advisor. You must also carry all the mandatory documents plus one set of photocopies along with the Campus France fee payment receipt.
You will receive an Interview completion certificate at the end of the interview.
After the academic interview, schedule an appointment with VFS-France, to submit your documents, photocopies, receipts, and passport.

Note: The Embassy of France, New Delhi has implemented a change in arrangements for the collection of the processed passport from visa application centers. With effect from 8th December 2014, it will no longer be possible for third parties to collect the documents on behalf of an applicant, except in the following cases:

Immediate family members (Parent, Child or sibling)
One member of a group collecting for the entire group
A person collecting on behalf of Govt. officials if authorized on the Govt. letterhead or department
A representative of a company – Authorization letter on the letterhead of the company and the official ID card of the representative.

Conclusion

If you are a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country (EU) and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you do not need a student visa to study or do an internship in France. You may freely enter French territory regardless of the length of your stay or your studies.

On the other hand, you must have a sickness and maternity insurance and sufficient financial resources to meet your needs and those of any of your family you may be supporting.

Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland may work while studying in France without a residency permit to a maximum of 964 hours per year.