التأشيرة والوصول إلى فرنسا - الدراسة في فرنسا (ar)

Visa & Arrival in France

Getting your visa right is one of the most important — and often most stressful — parts of studying in France. The good news is that the French system, while bureaucratic, is well-documented and supported by Campus France. This guide walks you through every step, from determining your visa type to completing your first-week administrative tasks.

Do You Need a Visa?

Your visa requirements depend on your nationality:

All non-EU students studying in France for more than 90 days need a VLS-TS (Visa de Long Sejour valant Titre de Sejour) — a long-stay visa that serves as both your entry visa and your first-year residence permit.

The VLS-TS Student Visa

What it is

The VLS-TS is France's standard student visa for long stays. Unlike many countries where you get a visa and then apply for a separate residence permit after arrival, the French VLS-TS combines both into one document. Once validated after arrival, it serves as your residence permit for up to 12 months.

VLS-TS key details

Required Documents for Visa Application

Prepare the following documents before your consulate appointment:

Essential documents

1. Valid passport — must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay; must have at least 2 blank pages
2. Completed visa application form (Cerfa form, available from France-Visas website)
3. 2 passport-size photos — recent, meeting French specifications (35x45mm, white background)
4. University admission letter — official acceptance from your French institution
5. Campus France attestation — proof of completing the Etudes en France procedure (for students from covered countries)
6. Proof of financial resources — minimum EUR 615/month (approximately EUR 7,380/year). Acceptable proof includes:
   • Bank statements (last 3-6 months)
   • Scholarship award letter
   • Guarantor letter with bank statements (attestation de prise en charge)
   • Financial guarantee from a French bank
7. Proof of accommodation — lease agreement, CROUS housing confirmation, host attestation, or hotel reservation for initial period
8. Health insurance proof — covering at least your arrival period. Compare health insurance options for France to find appropriate coverage
9. Return flight or travel declaration — return ticket or signed declaration of intent to return after studies
10. Visa fee payment — EUR 50 (Campus France countries) or EUR 99 (other countries)

Additional documents that may be requested

• Academic transcripts and diplomas from previous studies
• Language certificates (DELF/DALF, IELTS/TOEFL)
• CV/resume
• Birth certificate with translation
• Proof of travel medical insurance for transit

Visa Application Process — Step by Step

Step 1 — Complete Campus France procedure (if applicable)

Students from the 60+ Etudes en France countries must complete the Campus France procedure before applying for a visa. This includes creating your Etudes en France account, uploading documents, attending your interview, and receiving your attestation.

Step 2 — Gather all required documents

Start collecting documents as soon as you receive your admission letter. Key timing:

• Bank statements should be recent (within the last 3 months)
• Health insurance should cover your arrival date
• Photos should be recent (within the last 6 months)
• Translations should be done by sworn translators

Step 3 — Book your visa appointment

Schedule an appointment at the French consulate or visa application centre (such as VFS Global or TLS Contact) in your country. During peak season (May-August), appointments fill up fast.

Step 4 — Attend your visa appointment

Bring all original documents plus photocopies. The appointment typically involves:

• Document verification
• Biometric data collection (fingerprints, photo)
• Payment of visa fee
• Brief questions about your study plans (not always)

Step 5 — Wait for processing

You can usually track your application online through the visa centre's website.

Step 6 — Collect your visa

Once approved, collect your passport with the VLS-TS visa sticker from the consulate or visa centre. Verify that all details (name, dates, visa type) are correct before leaving.

Visa Application Timeline

After Arrival — OFII Validation

Within 3 months of arriving in France, you must validate your VLS-TS online. This process has been digitized since 2019.

Online validation via ANEF

1. Go to the ANEF platform (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr)
2. Create an account using the visa number on your VLS-TS sticker
3. Complete the online form with your French address and arrival date
4. Pay the tax stamp (timbre fiscal) — EUR 50-75, payable online at timbres.impots.gouv.fr
5. Upload proof of payment to the ANEF platform
6. Receive confirmation — your VLS-TS is now officially validated as a residence permit

Medical examination

In some cases, OFII may require you to attend a medical examination (visite medicale) at an OFII-designated medical centre. This includes:

• General health check
• Chest X-ray (to screen for tuberculosis)
• Vision test
• Review of vaccination records

Not all students are called for a medical examination — OFII decides on a case-by-case basis. If summoned, attendance is mandatory.

EU/EEA Students — What You Need to Do

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, the process is much simpler:

• No visa needed — you have the right to live and study in France freely
• Register with your Prefecture — recommended (though not mandatory in all cases) for stays over 3 months
• Register with Securite Sociale — handled by your university during enrollment
• Apply for CAF — you are eligible for housing aid like any other student
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/CEAM) — bring this from your home country for initial coverage; you will then be enrolled in French Securite Sociale

Health Insurance for Your Arrival

Before and during your first weeks

Your French Securite Sociale enrollment happens during university registration, which may take several weeks. For the period before enrollment, you need coverage:

• EU/EEA students: your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/CEAM) provides temporary coverage
• Non-EU students: arrange private travel or student health insurance to cover your arrival period

Compare health insurance options for France to find appropriate coverage for the transition period.

After enrollment

Once enrolled in your university, you are affiliated with Securite Sociale at no additional cost. Your university handles the registration process. You will receive your Securite Sociale number (numero de securite sociale) and a temporary attestation within a few weeks.

Your Carte Vitale (the physical health insurance card) takes longer — typically 2-6 months. In the meantime, your attestation de droits serves as proof of coverage.

Consider adding a mutuelle (complementary insurance) for EUR 10-40/month to cover the 30% of costs not reimbursed by Securite Sociale.

Your First-Week Arrival Checklist

Here is a step-by-step guide to your first days and weeks in France:

Day 1-3: Immediate priorities

• Arrive at your accommodation — verify everything is in order with your landlord
• Buy a French SIM card — Free Mobile (EUR 2/month or EUR 19.99/month for unlimited data), Orange, SFR, or Bouygues
• Familiarize yourself with your neighborhood — locate the nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and transport stops

Week 1: Administrative essentials

• Open a French bank account — popular options include:
  • Boursorama, Fortuneo, or Hello Bank (online banks, free accounts)
  • BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, or Credit Agricole (traditional banks with student offers)
  • Bring: passport, proof of address, student enrollment certificate
• Begin OFII/ANEF validation — start the online process; purchase your timbre fiscal
• Attend university orientation/welcome week — do not skip this; it covers enrollment, campus tours, and administrative help

Week 2-3: Enrollment and registration

• Complete university enrollment — this triggers your Securite Sociale affiliation
• Pay CVEC — at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr (EUR 103)
• Apply for CAF housing aid — at caf.fr (have your lease, bank details, and ID ready)
• Get your student card — provides access to libraries, discounts, and university services
• Set up your university email and digital workspace (ENT — Espace Numerique de Travail)

Month 1-2: Settling in

• Apply for a mutuelle if desired (complementary health insurance)
• Get your transport pass — student-rate monthly or annual subscription
• Register with your embassy — recommended for safety and consular services
• Join student organizations — BDE, ESN, sports clubs, cultural associations
• Start French language courses if not already speaking French (most universities offer free FLE courses)

Renewing Your Residence Permit

Before your VLS-TS expires (typically after 12 months), you must apply for a carte de sejour pluriannuelle etudiant (multi-year student residence permit).

When to apply

Apply 2-4 months before your VLS-TS expires. Do not wait until the last minute — processing times can be long, and an expired permit creates complications.

How to apply

Applications are increasingly handled online through the ANEF platform, though some Prefectures still require in-person appointments. You will need:

• Valid passport
• Current VLS-TS
• Proof of enrollment for the upcoming year
• Proof of academic progress (transcripts, grades)
• Proof of financial resources
• Proof of housing
• Proof of health insurance
• Tax stamp (timbre fiscal) — EUR 75

Multi-year permit details

Common Visa Issues and Solutions

Next Steps

With your visa secured and arrival steps planned:

1. Find housing and plan daily life — detailed guide to student cities, housing, and settling in
2. Understand costs and funding — budget for your first months and apply for CAF
3. Explore work options — learn about part-time work rules and finding jobs
4. Why study in France — revisit the reasons and get excited about your upcoming adventure