France student visa types
Short-Stay Visa: Issued for courses less than 90 days duration.
Temporary Long-Stay Visa (VLS-TS): For a course/training period of up to 3 to 6 months.
Long Stay Visa (Student Visa): For courses over six months. The extended stay visa is equivalent to the residence permit. This visa is allotted for courses like bachelor’s degrees, master’s, PhDs, and work in France. This visa is further extendable based on the requirements.
Intakes
| Intakes | Study Program | Admission deadlines |
| Autumn | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | September and January |
| Spring | Undergraduate and Postgraduate | January to September |
Student Visa Eligibility
- The age limit for applicants is at least 18 years old
- If the course duration is less than three months, avail of a short-stay visa
- A temporary long-stay visa is awarded for students to pursue any course over three or six months.
- No further paperwork is needed on arrival to France.
- A long-stay visa equal to a residency permit is awarded to students whose training lasts longer than six months
Student Visa Requirements
- Applicants must be above 18 years
- Visa fee payment receipt
- Letter of Acceptance from France University
- Evidence of financial status to maintain expenses in France while studying
- Air ticketing details
- Medical insurance costs up to € 900 per year
- Proof of accommodation during your study in France
- If your chosen medium is French, you need a proficiency certificate for the French language
- Proof of civil status, if required
France’s long-term visa fee ranges from € 100 to € 250 to pursue bachelor’s degree and master’s degree courses. The visa charges are subject to change as per the government rules. The visa application fee stays the same, though you have applied for dual courses.
It takes approximately 2 to 10 weeks to process a French student visa. The processing time may differ based on the visa type, course, and country. After applying for the visa, you can track its status.
International students on a student visa in France are allowed to work for a total of 964 hours per year or 60% of the regular working hours in France. Part-time work would not be enough to cover all of the expenses, but it might be used as a supplement.
After Graduation
- Upon completing their studies in France, bachelor’s degree holders can stay in France only if they have a work permit; students pursuing Masters from France can apply and get a temporary residence permit (APS)) for 24 months.
- Students can get a 2-year extended Schengen visa if they hold a master’s, PhD, or post-graduate degree from one of the universities in France.
- If a student can find employment that is more than 1.5 times the minimum wage guarantee, s/he is eligible to apply for a work permit, which is the primary requirement to get a European Union Blue Card (Permanent Residence).
