If you've been admitted to a French higher education program and your studies will last more than 90 days, you'll need a long-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant) issued by a French consulate before you arrive. This guide walks you through who needs which visa, what documents to gather, how the Études en France (EEF) procedure works, and what happens after you land in France.
Last updated: May 13, 2026
Nationals of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland do not need a visa to study in France. Everyone else, including students from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, India, China, and most of Africa and Latin America, needs a long-stay visa if their program exceeds three months.
There are several visa categories aimed at students. Picking the right one matters because the fee, process, and post-arrival steps differ.
If your program is shorter than 90 days, a short-stay Schengen student visa (type C) is enough. If you're considering a non-study route, the France Long Stay Visitor Visa and the France Talent Residence Permit cover other long-stay categories.
If you're a national of one of 72 countries connected to the EEF platform (including the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, India, Vietnam, Morocco, Senegal, and many others), your visa application is tied to your higher education pre-enrollment. You create your file on the Études en France portal of your country, upload academic records, complete language assessments where required, and pay the platform's pre-enrollment fee. Once a French institution accepts you, the EEF account becomes the gateway to your visa appointment.
Nationals of countries not covered by EEF apply directly through France-Visas without going through the platform.
The practical effects:
French consulates assess three things: that you've been accepted to a recognized program, that you can support yourself, and that you intend to leave when your studies end (or transition to another legal status).
Core checklist for the VLS-TS étudiant:
Double-check your specific consulate's checklist on France-Visas, because some posts ask for additional items such as a CV, motivation letter, or police clearance.
| Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| VLS-TS visa fee, EEF nationals | €50 |
| VLS-TS visa fee, non-EEF nationals | €99 |
| External service provider fee (cap) | €40 |
| OFII validation tax after arrival | €50 |
| Standard processing time | 15 days (up to 45) |
| Renewal at prefecture (tax + stamp) | €75 |
| Late renewal regularization fee | €180 |
| Minimum monthly resources required | €615 |
Fee exemptions apply for French government scholarship holders, recipients of certain foreign-government or foundation scholarships, foreign language assistants and readers, and a few other categories (as of 2025).
Tuition itself ranges from a few hundred euros per year at public universities to over €10,000 per year at some private institutions. Non-EU students at public universities pay differential rates introduced in 2019; check Campus France for current published figures for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Your visa lets you enter the country, but you're not done. The VLS-TS must be validated within 3 months of arrival through the OFII portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr). You'll:
Once validated, your VLS-TS functions as a residence permit for the duration printed on the visa, which is between 4 months and 1 year.
Health coverage. Affiliation to French social security (Assurance Maladie) is free and mandatory for all non-European students under 28, registered via etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr. Social security reimburses on average 60% of medical costs, so most students take out a complementary mutuelle to cover the rest.
Working while studying. Foreign students may work up to 964 hours per year, equivalent to 60% of the French standard working time. Algerian nationals are limited to 50% under the bilateral 1968 agreement. There's no separate work permit needed for these hours; your residence permit authorizes the activity. For job hunting, brushing up on French job interview phrases helps even when the role is officially in English.
When your VLS-TS or first temporary card is expiring, you renew at the prefecture of your place of residence.
Renewal requires proof of academic progress (transcripts, enrollment certificate for the new year), continued resources of at least €615/month, and proof of accommodation. Skipping a year of study or repeated failures can lead to refusal.
If you entered with the étudiant-concours short-stay visa and passed the exam, you skip the VLS-TS step entirely and apply directly for a student residence permit at the prefecture.
Can I bring my spouse or children? A student visa does not include automatic family rights. Family members must apply for their own visas (often visitor visas) and prove independent resources. Family reunification under the standard regime is generally not available to students.
Can I switch from étudiant-concours to a residence permit without leaving France? Yes. If you pass the entrance exam, you apply directly at the prefecture for a student residence permit. This route is not open to Algerian nationals.
What if my studies last less than 6 months? You may receive a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) that does not need OFII validation but cannot be renewed in France. For programs under 90 days, a short-stay Schengen visa is enough.
Can I work full-time during summer break? The 964-hour annual cap applies across the year. You can concentrate hours during breaks as long as the yearly total stays within the limit.
Will my visa be refused if I've been refused a Schengen visa before? A past refusal is not an automatic bar, but you must declare it. Consulates look at why it was refused and whether circumstances have changed.
How early can I enter France? The visa's start date is set by the consulate based on your declared program start. Entering more than a couple of weeks early can raise questions at the border.
If you're moving to France for your studies, getting comfortable with French through real shows, news, and books will make daily life and the prefecture paperwork far less stressful. Try Migaku to learn from native French content at your level.