France is one of the most ideal places for international students. The rich culture, architecture, & an exciting student life make France one of the top choices of students around the world. French, being the third most common business language, is yet another reason why international students are attracted to this country. The country also offers outstanding research & development opportunities. It is also home to some of the world’s best schools, including HEC, Instead, ENS Paris, etc. If you want to study in France, you will require a France student visa. In this article, we shall let you know everything you should know about the France student visa.
Eligibility:
For a training course or a short term program not exceeding three months, you can apply for a short-stay visa. And for a program exceeding three months (90 days), you have to apply for a long-stay visa. The duration of your long-stay visa must be between three months to one year. In order to extend your stay beyond the period of validity of your visa, you must apply for a residence permit at a prefecture.
Other eligibility criteria include:
- You must be 18 years of age.
- You have been accepted by a higher education establishment in France to apply for a France student visa.
- You must have a valid passport.
- You can show evidence of financial strength to cover all the expenses throughout your program.
- You must have a medical insurance cover.
- If you have enrolled in a course taught in French, you will need to prove your proficiency in the French language.
- You will need to prove your English language proficiency by submitting necessary supporting documents.
- You must not have any criminal charges against you.
Required Documents:
To apply for a France student visa, you will require the following supporting documents:
1. A valid passport
2. Evidence of enrollment
3. Evidence of sufficient financial strength
4. English or French language proficiency
5. Cover letter explaining the study project and a CV/Resume
6. Proof of medical insurance cover
7. Other documents
The details of these documents are given below:
1. Passport:
You must have a valid passport that is valid for at least 3 months after your planned exit date. You will also be required to submit all the previous copies of your passport (if any).
Along with this, you will have to submit two passport size photographs.
2. Evidence of Enrollment:
You must prove with necessary supporting documents that you have been enrolled in an accredited school or university in France.
3. Evidence of Financial Strength:
It is one of the most important documents. You will have to provide evidence of your financial strength to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition as well as living expenses. You must have a minimum of 615 Euros per month for the complete academic term.
4. English language proficiency:
Generally, all international students are required to prove their fluency in the English language by submitting any of the internationally recognized English tests.
In case your program is taught in French, you will also have to provide your French language proficiency.
5. Cover letter:
It is basically a statement of purpose that you will have to submit explaining your study project & why you want to pursue it.
You may also be required to submit your CV/resume along with the cover letter to successfully complete your application for the France student visa.
6. Proof of medical insurance:
Similar to Ireland & many other international countries, you must show evidence of your medical insurance with coverage that is valid in France.
7. Other Documents:
You may be required to submit other additional documents as per the request made by the visa office. It may include your medical document, birth certificate, character certificate, academic history proof, etc.
How to apply?
Before applying for a France student visa, make sure you have all the documents that are required for you to complete your application.
You can get a France student visa either at a French consulate or through Campus France. Campus France is an institution that promotes higher education in France. It has offices in almost all countries around the world.
So first of all, you will need to appear for an interview with Campus France. And, then you will have to submit your documents with the Visa facilitation service centers. The three-step application process for the France student visa is given below:
Step 1: Log on to india.campusfrance.org & create your account.
Step 2: Fill the required details. Make sure that all the fields are duly filled.
Step 3: Once the application is completed, pay the fees & print out the receipt.
What happens after you apply?
After you submit the application for the France student visa, you will have to send your file number to the assigned Campus France office to get your file reviewed & to request an appointment.
On the appointed date, you will have to appear for the in-person interview with the Campus France advisor.
Make sure that you carry all the necessary documents & the payment receipt of the application form along with you.
At the end of the interview, you will receive an interview completion certificate.
After that, you will have to schedule an appointment with the visa facilitation services of France to submit the necessary documents, photocopies, receipt of payment, & passport.
In India, the VFS visa application centers are located in major cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, & Puducherry.
Once the decision has been made by the visa officers, you will be invited to come & collect your passport at the visa center.
Arriving in France
Upon your arrival in France, you will have to pass through the immigration clearance. The border police officer may request you to show the following supporting documents:
- A valid passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the planned exit date.
- A valid visa
- Sufficient financial resources
- Medical insurance cover
- Other documents (as required)
Make sure that you carry all these documents with you at all times in your carry-on baggage.
Once satisfied with all the information provided, the border police officer will stamp your passport & let you enter France. France is counted among the top three study destinations for international students. Paris is constantly ranked as the best international student city by leading publications around the world. France is also relatively cheaper than the USA & UK and is a much-preferred option in terms of ROI. So, if you plan to choose France as your next study destination, we can assure you that it will be the best decision of your life.
You can check for Australia Student Visa, Canada Student Visa UK Student Visa US Student Visa Singapore Student Visa Germany Student Visa
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