Validating a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS)

You’ve arrived in France with a VLS-TS. Within the 3 months following your arrival, you must validate your visa in order to convert it into a full residence permit, i.e. one that will give you the same rights.

The validated long-stay visa replaces the residence permit for your first year of studies in France. Keep the “Confirmation of Validation” of your VLS-TS carefully in your passport with your visa.

ValidATE

Your VLS-TS

Important! If you don’t validate your VLS-TS:

  • you’ll be in an irregular situation in France
  • you won’t be able to:
    • benefit from Health Insurance or CAF Housing Assistance
    • work on an “ancillary” basis
    • carry out an internship in a company or sandwich-course education
    • cross Schengen Area borders without having requested a new visa so as to be authorized to enter France once again

If your VLS-TS visa has expired, you won’t be able to validate it online. For more information, contact: drie-info-contact@univ-lorraine.fr

YOU NEEDN’T validATE YOUR VISA IF YOU HAVE A visa

  • type D – long stay – marked “card to request within 2 months” or “C. SEJ. A SOLLIC.”
  • type D – long stay – marked “school-going minor” OR “mineur scol.”
  • type C – short stay – marked “competitive exam” OR “concours”

For these types of visa you must request a residence permit under certain conditions.

Consult:

IF YOU’RE CONTINUING YOUR STUDIES AFTER YOUR VLS-TS EXPIRES

Between 4 and 2 months before your visa expires, you must submit a request for a residence permit (also called “Residence Card” or “Certificate of Residence” for Algerians).

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