The visa

Visa / RESIDENCE PERMIT: WHAT’S THE diffErence ?

  • A visa
    • gives you the right to enter France
    • is delivered by the French Consulate in your usual country of residence.
  • A residence permit
    • gives you the right to stay in France
    • is delivered by the Prefecture of your place of residence in France.

The French Consulate will provide you with a visa corresponding to the motive (examination, studies or placement) for and duration of your stay in France (short or long stay).

visa?

RESIDENCE PERMIT?

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

WARNING: It is very important to arrive in France with the correct visa.

You must request a visa for France in order to study or carry out a placement there if:

  • you are a citizen of a country OUTSIDE the European Union (EU)
  • you are in possession of a TEMPORARY residence permit delivered by ANOTHER country in the Schengen Area

You do not need a visa:

Check if you need a visa

AND AFTER THE visa?

In order to obtain the right to stay in France, you must:

Important!

  • The “student” Temporary Long Stay Visa (aka VLS-T) with the reference “temporary waiver of residence permit” enables you to stay in France from 4 to 6 months maximum in order to attend a short course. It acts as temporary authorization to stay in France. So you do not need to request a residence card as long as the visa is valid. When this type of visa expires, you must return to your country of residence.
  • It is very important to arrive with the “RIGHT” visa, as once you are in France, you will not be able to request:
    • modification of the status on your visa
    • a residence permit on the basis of a tourist visa
    • an extension of a tourist visa

=> If you arrive in France with a tourist visa and you want to study or carry out a placement there, you will have to return to your usual country of residence to request a “student” or “trainee” visa.

HOW DO YOU REQUEST A visa?

  • You are from an EEF (Études En France) procedure country: you must follow the Campus France procedure.
  • You are coming in the context of a placement: log on to France visa to make your request online or contact the French Consulate in your usual country of residence.
  • You are admitted in the context of a cooperation agreement (without applying via the Campus France platform): create an EEF account, choosing the “I have already been accepted” category in order to benefit from the pre-consular procedure. IMPORTANT: If you do not take this step, your student visa risks being refused.

ESSENTIAL Documents FOR YOUR VISA REQUEST

Important !

We provide this list for information purposes only: in all cases, you must refer to the list of documents required by the French Consulate in your usual country of residence.

  • valid passport
  • proof of address or accommodation in France (notification of allocation of CROUS accommodation, rental agreement, etc.)
  • letter or notification of admission to the university (response via Études En France – EEF) specifying the nature (studies or placement) and duration of your stay (short or long stay)
  • If you are from an EEF (Études En France) procedure country, you must provide your EEF file number
  • proof of financial resources at minimum equivalent to €615 / month: scholarship certificate, blocking certificate issued by your bank, certificate of support by a finanical guarantor, etc.

Further information:

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