Visa

Stay between three months and one year

Once they have received the student’s admission certificate, French consulates issue “ Visa étudiants Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour ” (VLS-TS). This student visa allows students to study in France and work part-time during the year, or full-time for a few months of the year.

Nationals of member states of the European Community or the European Economic Area are exempt from visa requirements.

Within 3 months of your arrival in France, you MUST validate your VLS-TS on the Etrangers en France portal of the French Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Territories.

Renewal

You must apply for your residence permit no earlier than 4 months and no later than 2 months before the expiry date of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or permit).

You can apply online only: https: //administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/

Tutorial: applying for or renewing your residence permit online

FAQ

Any questions? See our FAQ :

 

The CESEDA code for a student permit is Ceseda r431-16 13.

  • A valid long-stay visa or residence permit
  • Registration produced by the educational establishment (which may be a public or private higher education establishment) or pre-registration
  • Transcripts from the previous year
  • Last diploma obtained in France
  • Certificate of successful completion issued by the establishment
  • Proof of income (unless you have a short-stay ‘student competition’ visa), which must be at least €615 per month

You must have at least €615 per month or €6,150 for the academic year.

    • If you are a French government scholarship holder or a beneficiary of European programmes: proof of this status.
    • If you are a grant holder in your home country: grant certificate from the paying body in your home country specifying the amount and duration of the grant.
    • If you work: your last 3 payslips
    • If you are being taken in charge by a third party: proof of identity of the third party + bank certificates showing that regular transfers have been scheduled (or declaration on your honour that you have paid the sums required to reach the amount of €615/month).
    • If you have sufficient resources: bank statement of sufficient credit balance.

If you have multiple sources of income, you must enclose proof of each source of income.

A student with free accommodation can provide proof of resources of 300 euros per month or a bank certificate for 3000 euros.
However, it is imperative that the words ‘free of charge’ are indicated on the accommodation certificate.

It is best to make a complete application, but if a document is missing at the time of application (registration certificate for example), you can make an incomplete application. Instead of the missing document, write a letter stating when you will be able to provide the missing document.

If it sees fit, the prefecture will extend your current permit to allow you to finalise your application.

The Vienne Prefecture generally processes applications within 1 to 2 months (if your application is submitted within the legal deadline for renewals = no later than 2 months before the expiry date of your permit in the case of a renewal).

This document is sent to you at the end of the application procedure for a residence permit or permit renewal. It contains your file reference number.

This document is sent to you once the prefecture has approved your application for a residence permit. It has the same value as a residence permit = you can travel and carry out all your formalities while waiting for your residence permit to be issued.

Your residence permit will be ready 3 to 4 weeks after the favourable opinion is issued. You will receive an SMS when it is ready.

It is MANDATORY to collect your permit, otherwise you will not be able to renew it at a later date.

It generally takes 1 month for the card to be produced. If after 6 weeks (or more) you have not received this text message, contact the SURIEE at this address, enclosing your favourable notice or receipt: information-formalitesmigratoires@univ-poitiers.fr

 

If you haven’t found the answer to your question, contact the university’s international relations department and attach your documents (visa or residence permit, certificate of deposit or approval) : information-formalitesmigratoires@univ-poitiers.fr

 


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