How To Apply For A Student Visa To France

How To Apply For A Student Visa To France – Are you an international student with the aim of having your studies in France? Most international students who have the intention to apply for a French student visa think it is tedious in applying for a study permit.

It is apparently the cheapest with just a click away coupled with the requisite documents to aid the application processes. Applicants of this very study permit are advised to figure out any University in France of their choice before attempting to apply for a student visa.

In this post, prospecting applicants will be taken through the needful steps as well as the required documents to aid the application process for the study permit to France.

In spite of that most frequently asked questions regarding how to apply for a student visa to France will be answered to clarify any doubt and contemplation among individuals.

Table of Contents

Apply to a French University and get your acceptance letter

Applicants are to decide for themselves which University they want to have their studies before enabling the application process. After being accepted at a French University, you’ll get an acceptance letter required for the visa application. Without an acceptance letter from any University in France, applicants can’t apply for a student visa to France.

Find out what type of Visa you need to study in France

Visa de court séjour pour etudes (‘Schengen’ short-stay student visa) – for studies shorter than 3 months. This type of visa is mainly for short-term study programs or language courses. It is free of charge, you won’t need a residence permit and you can apply for a new one when it expires.
Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes (temporary long-stay visa) – for studies that take 3 to 6 months to complete.
Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes (long-stay visa) – for studies that take more than 6 months to complete. You need to also apply for a residence permit in order to extend the duration of your stay after this long-stay visa expires (one year).

When and where to apply for the student visa

A french student visa could be gotten at a French consulate in your country or through Campus France. Some countries might require applicants to make an initial application with Campus France in order to get a student Visa.

Follow the steps below;

Schedule an in-person interview/appointment through the official website of the French consulate in your area
Check the online calendar that shows the available dates and hours
Try to schedule the date of the appointment at least 90 days before your departure to France.
Pay the visa processing fee: of 50-100 EUR depending on your Nationality
Wait to receive the visa. The processing time depends on your nationality, how many students are currently applying for a visa, and so on.

Language requirements for studying in France

Below are the eligibilities required for the France student visa application;

French language proficiency – if you apply for French-taught degrees (accepted tests are: DELF/DALF or TCF)
English language proficiency – applicants for English-taught degrees (accepted tests are: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, or C1 Advanced)

Meanwhile, applicants who have already attained their acceptance letter from a French University won’t be required to prove any language proficiency from any French consulate.

Required application documents for the French student visa

The following are the required documents expected from prospecting applicants;

Visa application form
Two passport-type photos
Valid passport and copies of your previous visas
Official enrolment or acceptance letter from the University
Proof of financial means (around 615 EUR per month) to cover all your expenses during your study period
Airline ticket/reservation showing date of departure
Medical insurance might cost between 300-715 EUR/ year.
Documents stating the accommodation arrangement during your studies
French language proficiency certificate
Proof of payment of the visa fee
Proof of civil status (if applicable)

Residence permit in France

During the applicant’s initial year of studies, they only need a long-term student visa as proof of their residency status. Within a month of applicants’ arrival in France, they have to register at the local French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) and have a medical examination to validate their visas.

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Frequently Asked Questions On How To Apply For A Student Visa To France (FAQ)

How do I renew/extend my visa?

If you are in France you can contact the prefecture of your place of residence and if you are in your country of residence, kindly contact the consular services or any competent service provider.

Which country is responsible for processing my visa?

The member state is authorized to process and rule on visa applications.

I plan to travel to France but my flight will arrive in a different country. Where should I apply for my visa?

You must apply for your visa at the French consulate as France constitutes the main destination of your journey in terms of duration even though you are entering the Schengen area via another member state.

Below are links on how to apply for a student visa to other countries;

In this post, applicants were taken through the steps involved in applying for a student visa to France coupled with the required documents.