A French Student Visa is a popular choice as France is a great destination to study. This is due to its prestigious colleges and graduates’ employment possibilities. Each city, from Paris to Marseilles, Bordeaux to Lyon, has a unique personality and offers students something new and distinct.
Before moving to France, students must apply for a visa to France. However, foreign nationals who wish to study in France must first apply for a long-stay visa valid residence permit (VLS-TS). Therefore, indicating student status (valid for 4 months to 1 year). You can apply for a temporary student residence card (valid for one year) or a multi-annual student residence card (valid for 2 to 4 years), after 12 months.
Long-Stay Visa
The reason for a long-stay visa is to allow the holder to get a residence permit. Live in France for a set duration. The visa also permits the holder to apply for a residence permit at the Prefecture. This is where you reside in France to settle on French soil. As soon as the visa holder arrives, they must call the appropriate Prefecture to commence the process. As well as inquire about how to submit their residence permit application file.
A French Student Visa is an entry permit to the Schengen Zone provided to nationals of third countries who intend to enter and reside in any member state for short-term study purposes.
This Schengen Visa allows its holder to stay in the Schengen area for up to three months. If your course of study or training is longer, you will need to apply for a Long-Stay French Schengen Study Visa at the embassy of the nation in question. Student Schengen Visas are required only for nationals of third countries that have not signed a visa-free agreement with Schengen Area member states.
French student visa application process
Schengen rules state the following timeframes for submitting a Student Schengen visa application:
- 3 months before your Schengen travel, at the earliest.
- No later than 15 days before departure.
It is essential to apply for a French Student Visa approximately 4 weeks before your departure date. This will allow the embassy enough time to complete your visa. There is no age restriction for Schengen visa applicants who wish to attend a training or study program in the Schengen Zone.
If you choose to enrol in a higher education institution that needs you to pass an entrance exam administered in France, you must take the exam in France (European and non-European countries). If you pass the entrance exam, this visa will allow you to regularise your position at the Préfecture (police station) in France without returning to your home country to apply for a long-stay visa to study.
Short-stay Schengen visa
Please Note: Even if you do not require a short-stay Schengen visa, you must apply for a short-stay “étudiant/étudiant-concours” (Student examination) visa to profit from this.
The “étudiant-concours” (student examination) visa, or French Student Visa whose duration cannot exceed 90 days, cannot be awarded until the entrance exam results, typically within 90 days. Failure to pass the entrance exam will result in the prefectural authorities not issuing you a residence permit, and you will be required to leave the Schengen area once your visa for short-term stays expires.