Student Visa

French laws concerning foreign and exchange students are lenient compared to other countries, you are allowed to work for a maximum of 964 hours per year. There are certain exceptions to this rule though. The first to take when applying for a France visa would be to confirm if you need a visa. French Study Schengen Visa is also available for students whose course duration is no more than 3 months, they do not need to apply for a long-stay study visa. It is advisable, however, to give some space between your processing and the estimated date of travel lest your visa gets declined, you will be able to quickly rectify it before you travel.

The process for students’ visa to France include:

Check if you need to apply for a France Student visa

While citizens of certain countries are permitted to stay short-term without needing a visa, some can stay long-term without a visa and some can’t even stay long or short-term without a visa. It all depends on your nationality.

Obtain French Student visa documents

This is probably the most important step in the visa application process. Applicants who want to visit France will need to get their visa application, this is what you take along to the consulate during your interview. Without it, you cannot even be considered to be an applicant.

Schedule your Interview

Get a date for your interview and go along with all documents requested

The documents you will be required to bring along can include:

The filled visa application form. You need to take this along with you as stated in one of the previous points. The application form must not contain any false information as you would be required to provide proof of every claim you make in the form.

2 Passport Photographs. Your photos must be in passport format, colored, and be recent.

Passport. Go along with a valid passport with at least two blank pages. It must be valid for at least 3 more months after your estimated date of leaving France.

Copies of older visas. If you’ve been to other countries, then you might need to provide the approved visas for those travels.

Proof of purchased health insurance policy for students. You must present a document proving that you have been insured for health under the health insurance policy for students.

Proof of financial means. You must also provide evidence that you have enough to support yourself throughout your stay in France. If you have a source of income then you can present evidence that it will provide you with enough to cater to your needs.

Proof of accommodation. Evidence that you have a place to stay. If you will stay in a hotel or with a relative.

Proof of registration or pre-registration at a French educational institution related to your academic field. This document will be issued by the educational institute that admitted you. It is a document with detailed information on the course of study; course title, duration, etc.

Proof of Parental Consent. Students under the age of 18 will have to present signed consent from their parent or guardian.

Proof of Guardianship. If an under 18 student will be traveling with an older person, then they would prove their relationship.

Attend your interview

After scheduling your appointment, make sure to organize all required documents in preparation for the date of your interview.

When you arrive in France:

First, you must register at the Immigration and Integration Office (OFII) within the first 2 months of your stay in France.

You can use the opportunity to apply for a residence permit, this option is readily available if your visa is marked “carte de séjour à solliciter” (residence permit to be applied for).

Get your medical examination at the Immigration and Integration Office and pay for your residency. Apply at the OFII immediately after entering the French territory to make a medical examination and pay the residence fees. After the first year of stay, you have to apply to the French prefecture to renew your residence permit (not later than 2 months before the visa period ends) – this rule is for some sub-categories of long-stay visas that in the first year of stay are recognized as residence permits: Long-stay study visas, Long-stay work visas (not all of them), Spouses of French nationals long-stay visa and Visitor long-stay visa.