Residency cards and visas for foreign students

Students wishing to come to study in France from non-EU countries need a specific student (étudiant) visa unless they are from a short-stay visa-exempt country and are taking a course that lasts under three months.

This costs €99, as for other long-stay visas, apart from people coming on the ‘Etudes en France’ process, for whom it costs €50.

Supporting documents include proof of pre-registration with a French educational establishment. students are asked to submit all these as scans online (a visit to a visa centre is still needed but in which case will be faster, the authorities say).

People from many non-EU countries, including the UK and US, register for courses via Etudes en France which has an English-language option. Check here, if unsure. Information is also available via Campus France. 

You also need proof of funds to support yourself of at least €615/month and evidence of where you will stay (hotel reservation/rental agreement/sworn statement from host etc).

The need for €615/months is waived if you have passed a specific entrance exam for certain higher education establishments.

If another person is ‘sponsoring’ you, you need a letter from them stating this and their relationship with you, and proof of their means.

If you stay longer than a year, then you must apply for a student carte de séjour, online two to four months before the visa expires. you may need to visit the prefecture to give your fingerprints. The card fee is €75.

Note that foreign citizens also need a visa to come to France if they intend to take a French entrance exam – this is called a visa de court séjour ‘étudiant concours’.

If you pass such an exam you can then ask for a student residency card directly in a French prefecture and do not need to return to your country and apply for a long-stay visa.

Non-EU foreign people coming to study in France can, if aged under 28, join the French health service free of charge.

Foreign students may carry out paid work during their studies of up to 964 hours/year, or 60% of a full-time job. They should be paid at least the French minimum wage.