How To Get A France Student Visa

The quality of education in France is top-notch, as many of their universities are regularly found in the rankings of top universities. These include Pierre and Marie Curie University, the École Polytechnique, and the University of Paris-Sud.

The business schools aren’t left out as HEC Paris, and ESSEC Business School were in the 2020 Financial Times ranking of the top ten higher education institutions in the world.

With all these benefits, wanting to go to school in France is understandable. But for an international student, you might be required to get a student visa. It all depends on your country of origin, but it could be confusing to figure your way out. That’s why we’re here to help.

Do You Need A French Student Visa?

Depending on your nationality, you might not need a french student visa. We’ll go through the steps for students from different regions.

- Students From The EU/EEA Or Switzerland
People from these regions have it the easiest. If you’ve secured admission into a French university and are from these places, all you need is your trusty passport or travel ID document. You should, however, check with the university to be sure there isn’t anything else you are required to do.

- Students From Countries Outside The EU/EEA, And Switzerland
Students from all countries outside the EU/EEA would have to apply for visas. Since Brexit, that number also includes British students. However, there’s no reason to fret. We’ll show you how to get your french student visa.

Types Of French Student Visas

There are different kinds of visas, so you would have to know which of them would be appropriate for your situation.

1. The Short-Stay Student Visa (Schengen Student Visa)

With this French student visa, you can study for ninety days in France without a separate residence visa. This one is gotten free of charge, but you can’t renew it.

If you’re learning something with a short duration, maybe a language course, then this is for you.
Students from some countries don’t require a short stay visa for less than 90 days.

2. The Etudient Concours Visa

This visa gives you leave to come to France and take an entrance exam for a university. You can apply to the local prefecture for a renewable annual residence permit if you pass.

3. The Temporary Long-Stay Visa

This is a non-renewable visa that allows you to study in France for between three to six months. It would only be helpful for short programs.

4. The Long-term Student Visa

This is the go-to visa for international students.
It also acts as a residence permit and lasts for the period of your study. That would be three years for a bachelor’s degree, two years for a master’s, and four for a doctorate.
Every student from a country outside the EU/EEA must have this, except Algerians. They are subject to other requirements and would have to contact the French consulate in their country for more information.

How To Apply For A French Student Visa ?

Now that you know the different types of visas, the next thing is to apply. Like most of the other requirements, the application process differs depending on the student’s nationality.

Some countries require you to be registered with CampusFrance, the French national agency in charge of international students and higher education. Once you’ve done that, you can get your student visa through the CEF procedure. You can check if your country is among them here.

If your country is not on that list, you would have to make your applications independently. You would have to apply for admission from the university’s website first. When you’ve got that, you can apply for a French visa from the consulate in your country.

Here are some things you’ll need for your application with the consulate:

• A formal letter of acceptance into a French institution’s authorized program: This should be printed on official letterhead and include your full name, contact information, and the start and finish dates of your program of study.

• Proof that you have enough money to live in the country: The current monthly amount necessary is €615 (US$820), which you can exhibit with a bank statement, a guarantor’s letter, a notice of loan, or a scholarship, or award financing.

• An expected departure statement: This is a statement from yourself with an expected departure date or an airline ticket/reservation showing the date of departure

• Proof of medical insurance: The insurance has to have a minimum of thirty thousand euros in coverage.

• Proof of your living quarters: You’ll need an official letter from the university confirming the specifics if you’re staying on campus or in student housing. If you’re staying with family or friends, they’ll need to obtain an attestation d’accueil (board and lodging certificate) from their town hall.

With these steps, you should have your french student visa in no time. The long-term student visa serves as a residence permit, and as such, you can work in France with it.

Working In France With A French Student Visa

As long as you have a student visa in France, you can work for 964 hours in a year while enrolled in your course. That is about 60% of full-time employment for a year.

You can also work at a university or other educational institution with contracts lasting up to a year. The limits are 670 hours from September to June and 300 hours from July to August. You can do all of these as long as it does not interfere with your studies.

Working while in school is not a problem in France. The only question is whether you can juggle all your activities. There are also a lot of work opportunities you can tap into after you graduate.

Procuring a French student visa seems like a daunting prospect, but it is not. In a few easy steps, you can get yours and be on your way to studying in the beautiful landscapes and pristine countryside of France. For assistance with your student visa application to France, contact us at : www.studely.com/en/contactez-nous/