Student visa & permits in France
Student visa, residence permit, registration, fees, deadlines and document guidance for studying in France.
Read the complete France study abroad guide.
Visa & Immigration
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a student visa or student residence permit. Most third-country students coming for more than three months use the long-stay student route, commonly a VLS-TS mention étudiant, which functions as a residence permit once properly validated after arrival.
The financial-means rule changed on 1 August 2026. Third-country applicants must now show monthly resources equal to at least 47% of the gross monthly full-time SMIC in force on the date of application. With the gross monthly SMIC at EUR 1,867.02 from 1 June 2026, that is currently about EUR 877.50 per month. Because the threshold is indexed, always recalculate from the current SMIC when you apply rather than copying today's euro amount indefinitely.
France-Visas and, where applicable, Études en France set the document and fee route for your country. Avoid generic processing-time promises: appointment availability and case handling vary by consulate and season.
After arrival, validate the VLS-TS online within three months through the official online service and pay the required tax. Renewals/status changes use the current ANEF/prefecture procedure applicable to your title.
Source: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000054300340
Residence Permit
Validate a VLS-TS student visa online within three months of arrival. Do it early: validation is what turns the long-stay visa into the residence document you rely on in France. The current validation tax for a student VLS-TS is EUR 50.
For later renewal or a change of status, follow the current ANEF or prefecture procedure for your residence title and submit within the official filing window. The validation itself is completed online through the official government service.
Register with the French health system when eligible, keep proof of address current, and save copies of your visa, validation confirmation, enrolment documents and residence applications. French administration frequently asks for the same evidence more than once.
Source: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231
Common questions
What should international students know about visa in France?
From 1 August 2026, student resources must equal at least 47% of gross monthly SMIC — currently about EUR 877.50/month.
What should international students know about residence in France?
Validate the VLS-TS online within three months; student validation currently carries a EUR 50 tax.