Students from outside Europe who are admitted to a French institution need a long-stay student visa, known as the VLS-TS. The visa is also a residence permit: after arrival in France it must be validated online within three months, and it then covers the stay for the length of the course, up to one year, renewable in France.
For applicants in 73 countries, the route runs through the Études en France procedure. The applicant creates a file on the Études en France platform, submits the academic documents, and attends an interview at the Campus France office in the home country. The Campus France interview is a normal part of the process, and applicants should be ready to talk about their study plans, their choice of France and their funding. Once Campus France has completed its step, the visa application goes to the French consulate.
The visa fee is €50 for applicants in Études en France countries and €99 elsewhere. Applicants must show funds of at least €877.50 a month and hold health cover. Students may work up to 964 hours a year, about 20 hours a week, and may stay after graduation to look for work. A room in a public student residence costs about €350 a month outside Paris and about €450 in Paris, and a meal in a university canteen costs €1 for students. Source: Campus France (accessed 10 November 2026).
