France Student Visa 2025: Process, Requirements & Fees

Many international students desire to pursue their studies in France. The country maintains its appeal to worldwide students through its prestigious universities in combination with its deep cultural heritage and high standard of living. A detailed grasp of the French student visa procedure becomes vital before you embark on your travel to this stunning location.

This extensive student visa guide provides complete information about getting a French study permit by explaining eligibility criteria and application procedures, and fees as well as SOP preparation and employment possibilities during study. This complete guide will lead you through each step of obtaining a France Student Visa for students who want to study engineering, fashion, culinary, arts or business.

What is the France Study Permit?

The France Study Permit functions as the official authorization which enables non-EU/EEA students to stay and Study in France. The France study permit functions as your student visa as it grants legal residence rights to non-EU/EEA students who enrol at accredited French institutions for full-time education. French authorities issue two distinct student visas based on the length of your study program.

• Foreign students who enrol in courses or gain work experience that lasts less than three months must apply for the short-stay student visa de court séjour.
• Non-EU/EFTA students can obtain a Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) to study academic programs longer than 90 days which becomes a residence permit after its initial validity period.
• The long-stay student visa serves both as your study visa and residence permit throughout your educational period.

Types of France Student Visa

1. Short-Stay Visa

International students who plan to study in France can use the short-stay visa for programs, internships or language courses needing less than three months. The visa enables its holders to experience unrestricted movement throughout the 26 European countries of the Schengen Area, including France. The short-term educational experience span allows students to obtain a Student Visa.

2. Long-Stay Visa

People who want to study at French educational institutions for bachelor’s or master’s degrees or research programs longer than 90 days require a long-stay visa. Students who want to experience complete academic opportunities in France need this visa to live there during their course period.

When to Apply for a Student Visa for France?

Students should start processing their France visa applications three months before their anticipated departure to allow enough time for the process. Here’s a general timeline:

• The student visa application process for France occurs between January and March when students need to contact universities and research programs.
• The visa preparation process includes university applications along with visa documentation collection, which should take place from April through May.
• The period from June through July serves as the moment when you will get your admission letter followed by your visa application process.
• Students seeking visa approval should attend interviews between August and September.
• The early application gives you enough time to fulfil all French student visa requirements without facing late-term complications. The application processing speed for French student visas at certain embassies and visa centres slows down significantly when peak times occur.

How to apply for a France Student Visa?

Visa applications for France student programs follow a precise structure which students need to prepare carefully. These simple application steps will lead to a successful application process. The application process for Indian visitors who seek to visit France consists of the following steps.

Step 1: Choose the desired programme and university
The first step requires you to obtain admission at a recognized French university or educational institution. Students need to confirm that their selected program at institutions like ESSEC or KEDGE and public universities located in Paris or Lyon among other cities qualifies for student visa approval.

Step 2: Register on Campus France
Start by opening an account on Campus France India which requires you to upload academic records and an offer letter before finishing your online application. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) that you need for your visa application can be obtained by completing the mandatory academic interview session.

Step 3: Complete the France-Visas application
Sign in to the France-Visas website to access the student visa application form. Make sure every entry in your application matches exactly what appears in your supporting documents.

Step 4: Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment through VFS Global offices which have several locations across India. People who want to apply for a student visa at VFS Global can visit five Indian locations across New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Step 5: Submit the application
Show up at your scheduled date at the VFS centre while carrying your documents. Accept your application by submitting both fingerprint and photographic biometric data during the application phase.

Step 6: Pay the application fees
Visa processing fees amounting to ₹8,000 (€99) plus ₹16,500 (€200) for Campus France service fees must be paid. Set aside every payment receipt for safekeeping.

Step 7: Wait for processing
The student visa processing duration varies between 2 weeks to 4 weeks. The processing duration might expand due to peak seasons along with incomplete documentation requirements. Connecting your student visa application during the period from eight weeks before your departure date helps prevent delays in processing.

You can successfully administer this procedure using these organized steps after reviewing your paperwork multiple times.

List of Documents Required for Student Visa for France

The following list contains every document needed for a French student visa approval:

• Valid passport (with at least two blank pages)
• Recent passport-size photos (as per visa photo guidelines)
• University admission/acceptance letter
• Proof of accommodation in France
• Flight itinerary or booking
• Proof of sufficient financial resources (approx. €7,380 per year)
• Medical insurance valid in France
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• SOP for France student visa
• Receipt of Études en France registration
• English or French language proficiency certification at the IELTS level must accompany all applications according to course language requirements.
• The signed and correct completion of the Visa application form serves as one of the required documents.

France Student Visa Eligibility Criteria for Indian students

Student visa applicants must fulfil all these requirements before seeking admission to study in France:

• French institutions must accept your registration as proof of admission.
• Candidates need to present proof showing they have a minimum regular income of €615 per month through bank statements or letters from sponsors.
• Insurance: A travel insurance policy covering at least €30,000.
• Housing proof includes documents which show your French accommodations, whether those are university housing, renting accommodations or hotel reservations.

Residence Permit in France

A Long-Term Student Visa establishes your residence eligibility throughout your initial year of studying in France. After you arrive in France you must register with the OFII and then complete your medical examination at the local French Office of Immigration and Integration within the first month. Regulations require obtaining a Carte de Séjour (CDS) or ‘titre de séjour’ official residency permit in France starting from your second academic year of study for extended stays.

Cost of Student Visa Application

Student visa applications in France demand different fees which depend on the visa classification, the duration of stay and the student’s citizenship. The fee for long-stay student visas during this year amounts to 50 € when applying from EEF-eligible countries or territories, but stands at 99 € for other nations.

Before applying for a French student visa, check the up-to-date fee amounts available on your local French consulate embassy website. Moving forward, we will discuss which documents applicants need for their visa application.

France Study Visa Processing Time

Depending on the processing method, the French student visa requires different lengths of time to process. The processing time for expedited visas grants applicants Campus France Office approval within 3 days after submission. General visa processing takes place within 3 weeks, but results may appear any time within that timeframe.

Language Requirements for a France Student Visa

Your ability to communicate in the specific language of study represents a vital requirement for getting your France student visa. Students applying for English-language French university programs need to demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting results from TOEFL or IELTS tests. Students need to show an IELTS score of 6.0 at minimum for undergraduate study, but postgraduate admission usually requires a score of 6.5.

Future students who wish to study programs in French must prove their competency in the French language to obtain a student visa in France. To enroll in institutions, you need DELF or DALF certification, or you must complete a French language placement assessment. Learning basic French improves both your academic progress and social connections during your studies in the country, even when it is not a strict admission requirement.

Applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS) – Is It Applicable?

Students have options through the Student Direct Stream SDS application process.
Student Direct Stream (SDS) is not available right now as an application option for France, unlike Canada. The Études en France platform serves as a straightforward application system that benefits countries such as India including China and those that have Campus France offices.

Although you cannot submit your application through Student Direct Stream (SDS), using Études en France will provide you with streamlined access to visa processing support throughout your application journey.

Conclusion

Your initial step to foreign study begins with securing admission to the renowned France student visa program. Following a systematic method starting from creating your SOP for France student visa while fulfilling all necessary requirements you can submit proper documents while understanding France student visa fees to create a stress-free application process.

Your French student experience will bring both exceptional education quality and profound cultural immersion that influences your future development. Preparation for studying at Paris Lyon or Bordeaux must begin now if you dream about attending any one of these locations.

MetaApply IE serves as a student visa guidance tool to help prospective French students navigate their journey while exploring French educational programs.