Preparing my visa application

Étudiants, Chercheurs

GOOD NEWS! There is an official website for all visa application to France : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/ You will find all information you need to prepare your stay in France.

Depending on the length of your studies in France, you can select the type of visa you should apply for:

Notice:

"In order to prevent any delays in the visa application procedure, students who have obtained acceptance from the French school must apply on the Etudes en France platform at least two months prior to their date of intake."

Types of Visas

SHORT-STAY VISA (LESS THAN 90 DAYS)

Short-stay visas are governed by European regulations. This non-renewable short-stay visa allows stays of up to 3 months in the 26-country Schengen zone. Holders of this visa do not require the French residence permit.

Short-term visa for students attending interviews or appearing for entrance tests:

This visa entitles the holder to enter France for the purpose of attending an interview or appearing for an entrance test at an institution of higher education. If successful, students in this category may apply for a 1-year renewable residence permit in France and will not be required to return to their home country to do so.

Students applying for a short-stay visa (less than 90 days) do not need to go through Campus France.

LONG-STAY VISA

For a period longer than 3 months (90 days), you must complete the Campus France application process prior to applying for the French visa.

Steps to follow

PROCEDURE

To apply for a long-stay student visa, you must follow the step-by-step procedure explained here below.

STEP 1: Online Registration

Create an account to www.india.campusfrance.org
Fill the Campus France form (academic records, language skills, CV+SOP etc.).
Submit your file online.
Campus France will review your file and give you an appointment date.
Pay Campus France fees (For payment information, contact Campus France): https://payment.ifindia.in/

STEP 2: The Academic Interview

You will be required to appear in person, with all necessary documents (originals + one set of photocopies), for the academic interview with the Campus France advisor.
At the interview, you will be asked to explain your reasons for choosing France and the institution where you have been granted admission.

STEP 3: Online visa application and scheduling of appointment with VFS - France

After the academic interview, complete your application on our online portal: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
You will be asked to create a France-Visas account, which you will need for each step of the process.
We will schedule an appointment with VFS-France, to submit your documents (photocopies) and passport (original).
All visa applicants have to go in person at any of the listed VFS centres to register their biometric data.

STEP 4: Validate your Long-stay Visa / residence permit (VLS-TS)

Within the first three months following your arrival, you must register and validate your visa at the following: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/
This quick and simple process will ensure that you are registered as a legal resident in France.

STEP 5: Apply for your residence permit

If you want to stay in France at the end of the validity period of your VLS-TS, you must apply for a residence permit at the prefecture of your place of residence two months prior to the expiry date of their visa.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Visas are granted at the sole discretion of the French Consular Authorities. The required documents are as follows:

Valid passport
Cover letter
Proof of funding
Proof of accommodation
Medical insurance
Flight ticket

Internship Visa

For students going to France for an internship

Students going to France for internships must provide the following document in addition to those listed above while applying for a visa:

Convention de Stage

This document is mandatory. The Convention de Stage is an agreement between the employer (it can be a company or a host institution), the intern’s home institution in India, and the intern.

The Convention de stage stipulates the dates of the internship, the general tasks and mentions that the internship is relevant to the course of study. It contains information on the institution in France and the Prefecture de Police (police department). This document also provides mandatory supplemental workplace insurance.

Note: If you are going for an internship for more than 3 months, you must get a stamp from La Direccte, the labour authority in France.