France Student Visa: A Guide 

France is an excellent destination to study abroad. Approximately 20 QS World Ranked universities (top 500) are located in France. Moreover, the country is known for providing quality education and research opportunities. International students wanting to study in France would have to apply for a France student visa. The visa is available to students above the age of 18 for short-term and long-term higher education in a French institution. Keep reading to learn more about the France student visa. Keep reading to learn more about France’s student visa: eligibility criteria, documentation, fees, application process, and more.

Visa Name	France Student Visa
Validity	3 months- 6 months (short term) & more than 6 months (long term)
Fee	50 € -99 €
Processing Time	2-10 weeks

France Student Visa Types 

There are 3 different types of France visas. These are as follows:

• Short stay visa: Granted for training courses less than 3 months 
• Temporary long-stay visa: Granted for training courses between 3-6 months. No further formalities are needed.
• Long stay visa: For training courses exceeding 6 months. It is equivalent to granting a residence permit. Hence, further formalities are held after arrival in France.

Check out the Best Universities in France that you can apply for

Eligibility Requirements for France Student Visa 

The following are the basic eligibility requirements for a student visa. International students must meet the criteria to be eligible to study in France.

• The applicant must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have selected a course to study in France 
• Additionally, the applicant must have received an offer letter from the university in France 
• The applicant must present relevant documentation for the visa application process
• The applicant must follow French-only procedures under certain conditions. (Example:1st year study in France)

List of EEF-Procedure Countries or Territories

Here is a list of some countries requiring the EEF procedures to be conducted.

AFRICA	ASIA	AMERICA	NORTH AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST	EUROPE
Burundi	Cambodia	Argentina	Algeria	Azerbaijan
Congo	India	Brazil	Egypt	United Kingdom
Democratic Republic of Congo	China	Bolivia	Israel	Georgia
Gabon	Japan	Canada	Kuwait	Russia
Guinea	Nepal	Republic	Morocco	Turkey
Madagascar	Pakistan	Colombia	Saudi Arabia	Ukraine.
Mauritania	Singapore	Mexico	Tunisia
Niger	Thailand	USA	United Arab Emirates.
South Africa	South Korea	Peru	Bahrain
Togo.	Vietnam	Ecuador	Jordan

Working in France while studying is a great idea! Check out some of the popular Part-Time Jobs in France

Documents Required for France Student Visa

The documents required for a student visa are as follows:

• Offer letter from a higher education institution in France that has accepted the student
• Passport and proof of finances to manage expenses during stay in France 
• Visa fee payment receipt
• Details of air tickets and proof of accommodation
• Medical insurance cost of  € 900 per year
• Visa application fee receipt 
• If a French medium is chosen, proof of French language proficiency is required
• Proof of civil status, if applicable

Check out the Best Online French Courses with Certificates: Learn French and improve your chances of a French student Visa

France Student Visa: Latest Update (Digitization)

Students can now send digital copies of their supporting documents while completing the visa application form. The changes have been made since April 7, 2021. Submitting the documents online is an option. However, it can result in faster processing of visa applications. For now, the feature is only available to students applying for a long-stay visa.

France Student  Visa Application Process 

The application process for a France visa is as follows:

• Apply to a French university and get the offer letter
• Next schedule an in-person appointment by visiting the official website of the French Consulate
• Make sure to schedule the date of appointment 30 days prior to the date of departure to France.
• Pay the visa application fee, and wait for the visa application approval.

France Student Visa Cost 

The student visa cost varies depending on the country of the applicant. The application fees are as follows:

• Visa pricing for countries that require EEF procedure:50 € 
• Visa pricing for all other applicants:: 99 € 

Learn about the Cost of Living in France: Rent, Food, Expenses and More

France Visa Fee Processing Time 

It would take approximately 2-10 weeks to process the France visa application. However, the processing time can vary depending on the visa type, the nationality of the applicant, and the course selected.

5 Things to Keep in Mind Before Applying for a France Student Visa

Here are some things that a student visa applicant must keep in mind. 

1. The student visa fee: It can range between  100 to € 250 for BA and MA courses.
2. The France university fees can vary depending on the course, and university
3. The visa application requires the student to submit details regarding the 1st 3 months of stay/permanent residence of the student
4. Working in France on a student visa: It is possible to work in France on a student visa. The international student is allowed to work for 964 hours/60% of the normal working hours in France.
5. International students (non-European) under the age of 28 must register for social security. It is free of charge. The social security would cover 60% of all medical expenses.

Studying in France can be expensive! Here are some scholarships in France that can help you to beat the cost.

FAQs

We hope you now understand what a France student visa is, its requirements, the application process, etc. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!

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