Essential documents

Check list of documents to prepare before your departure.

ESSENTIAL

DOCUMENTS

Identity

  • Valid identity card: if you’re a national of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, as you don’t need a visa to come to France.
  • Valid passport;
  • Visa : if you’re a citizen of a country OUTSIDE THE EU: “Étudiant”, “Stagiaire” or “Mineur scolarisé” Visa D  or “Concours” Visa C.
  • Originals and certified copies of your birth certificate (with both yours and your parents’ names and dates of birth) and originals and certified copies of its translation into French by a sworn translator.
  • Originals and certified copies of your marriage certificate and / or family record booklet and originals and certified copies of its translation into French by a sworn translator: if you’re coming as a family with your spouse and/or child(ren).

Studies in France

  • Prerequisite authorisation of registration or admission letter delivered by Université de Lorraine, after the CEF procedure (Espace Campus France), eCandidat, MonMaster, Erasmus or other exchange program.
  • If requested : language level certificate(s) (French, English, etc.).
  • Originals and certified copies of your certificates of secondary and / or higher education and originals and notorised copies of their translation into French.
  • Placement agreement if you are coming in this context.

Travel

  • Your train / flight tickets.
  • Your itinerary from the airport.

Accommodation

  • Reservation of your accommodation (hotel, airbnb, lease…) in France (printed).
  • The documents required for moving into your accommodation (housing insurance, garantor, etc.).

Proof of resources

  • If you’re a French government scholarship holder: a cover letter from the French Embassy in your country of origin.
  • If you hold a scholarship from your government: a certificate of scholarship issued by your government.
  • For your request for a residence permit in France (for citizens of countries OUTSIDE the European Union with visas marked “Residence Permit must be applied for upon arrival in France“) :
    • Certificate of scholarship;
    • or Statement of permanent and irrevocable transfer from a bank in your usual country of residence to a bank in France.

Health

  • Your health and immunisation record booklet
  • and, if you’re a citizen of the European Union: a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
  • or, if you’re a citizen of Quebec: you must request Form SE 401-Q-102 bis or SE 401-Q-106 in order to be expempted from registration in French Health Insurance.
  • or, if you’re a student or trainee or in possession of a “Short Stay” Visa C: you must take out health insurance valid for France in your country of residence before your departure. You can’t be covered by French Health Insurance for a 3-month period.
  • or, if you’re an international trainee in France: you must take out health insurance valid for France in your country of residence before your departure. You can’t be covered by French Health Insurance as you won’t be registered at an educational institution in France.

Driving in France

  • Valid driving license, which will enable you to drive throughout the duration of your studies in France and for a year afterwards, or an international driving license.
  • If you’re importing a car:
    • The vehicle’s registration document or ownership certificate;
    • “Green Card” international motor insurance certificate.

Good advice!

Remember to scan or take photographs of your documents and send them to yourself by email or save them on a cloud. Then you’ll always be able to access them easily.

And don’t forget to take :

  • Your cellphone
  • Your cash withdrawal bank card usable in France (make sure you know the withdrawal limit authorised abroad if you have any major expenditures to make upon your arrival)
  • The list of your contacts in France (phone numbers and addresses)

This content may interest you

  • Translating your administrative documents

    Many French public services, such as the Préfecture, will request translations of your official documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc). Here are lists of sworn translators.

    Read more

  • Planning and managing your budget

    Dessein d'un Cochon tirelire

    For a successful study stay, make sure your financial resources are in relation to the cost of living in Lorraine, i.e. sufficient to finance the entire duration of your stay in France.

    Preparing your budget must therefore be the first step before you decide to study in France!

    Read more