The French Government is committed to assisting students and will take a decision on the re-opening of borders as we progress.

Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, France has stopped issuing visas until further notice. This decision applies to all visa requests (Schengen short-stay visas, long-stay visas for France, and visas for overseas France). It also applies to applications for which appointments have already been made.

The validity of French residence permits, provisional residence permits, long-stay visas and receipts for applications to renew residence permits expiring between 16 March and 15 June 2020 has been extended for 180 days (6 months). If you have one of these documents and are stuck outside of France because of disrupted air travel, you will be able to enter or return to France once the situation permits. You will then need to take care to travel directly to France, without transit through another Schengen Area country.

If you are in France on a short-stay visa which is going to expire and you cannot return to your country of origin, either because that country has prohibited entry from France for health reasons or because flights have been suspended, you can, in case of justified urgency, enjoy an extension of your short-stay visa (up to 90 days) or a provisional residence permit. You are invited to contact the prefecture in the area where you are living to extend your short-stay visa or receive a provisional residence permit.