Study / Student in France
One documented route of this kind in France, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Student long-stay visa (VLS-TS Étudiant)
Government fees from 1 May 2026: long-stay visa (reduced rate) €100 + first-issue residence permit (reduced rate) €150 (€100 tax + €50 stamp) = €250 initial total. Permit renewal (reduced rate) is a separate future payment of €100. The live page total of €350 incorrectly bundles a future renewal charge into the upfront cost.
- Processing time
- Not fixed; set by each consulate. Track online at France-Visas.
- Validity
- 4 months to 1 year, renewable as a multi-year card
- Language requirement
- No general language requirement for the visa; program-specific language requirements may apply.
- Permanent residence
- Study years count partially toward long-term residence; eligible after generally 5 years of legal residence (study years often counted at half)
- Citizenship
- Naturalization generally after 5 years of habitual residence (reduced to 2 years for graduates of French higher education)
Requirements
- Full-time enrollment at a French institution for more than 90 days
- Unconditional acceptance/enrollment letter
- Proof of financial resources (generally ~€615/month)
- Health insurance
- Proof of accommodation
Required Documents
- Acceptance/enrollment letter required
- Proof of financial resources (~€615/month) required
- Health insurance required
- Valid passport required
- Proof of accommodation required
Official fees
- Long-stay visa (reduced rate, from 1 May 2026) 100 EUR
- Multi-year student card first issue (reduced) 150 EUR
- Student card renewal (reduced) 100 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Apply
For the 46 'Études en France' countries, apply via the Études en France platform; otherwise apply via France-Visas and book with the embassy/consulate.
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2
Appointment + biometrics
Attend the consulate appointment, give biometrics, and pay the visa fee.
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3
Validate on arrival
Validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months of arrival at the ANEF portal.
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4
Renew at prefecture
To stay longer, renew at your prefecture as a multi-year student card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) covering your program.