Foreigners student in France: long-stay visa or residence card

You are concerned if you come to France to pursue higher education without a residence permit for personal or family reasons (for example resident card, residence permit private and family life).

You must be registered (or pre-registered):

• in a public or private institution of higher education or initial training (university, college, etc.)
• or a higher vocational training organization.

You must have at least €615 per month.

The resource condition does not apply if you are in one of the following situations:

• You come to France under an agreement signed between the State and a higher education institution, in which you are registered
• You passed the entrance examination to a higher education institution that has signed an agreement with the state
• You're a French government scholar
• Your country has signed a reciprocal agreement with France on the admission of students

You must apply for your residence card at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or title).

It's all online.

Apply for a student residence permit

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

You can check the status of your case at any time. You can also respond to any requests for additional information and take note of the decisions taken.

It may be necessary to go to the prefecture for a fingerprint (if it has not already been taken).

Acceptance or refusal to issue a residence card

• Valid long stay visa (or short stay visa) "student competition")

• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old

• Photograph code and valid digital signature

• Registration produced by the educational institution (which may be a public or private higher education institution) or pre-registration

• If you have a short-stay visa "student competition" : certificate of successful completion of the competition or pre-admission examination

• If you are applying for a residence card "student - mobility program" : any document produced by the institution justifying that your course is part of an EU mobility program

• Transcripts from the previous year

• Last degree obtained in France

• Certificate of achievement issued by the institution

• Proof of your resources (unless you have a short-stay visa "student contest") which must be at least €615 / month:
  
  • If you are a French government scholar or a beneficiary of European programs: justification for this situation
  • If you are a fellow in your country of origin: certificate from the paying agency of the country of origin specifying the amount and duration of the grant
  • If you work: your last 3 payslips
  • If you are taken care of by a third party: proof of identity of the third party + bank certificates of the planning of regular transfers (or certificate on the honor of payment of the sums enabling the amount of €615 / month)
  • If you have sufficient resources: bank attestation of sufficient credit balance
  
  In the case of multiple resources, you must attach the proof of each resource.

• If you have been in school in France since the age of 16 and you are pursuing higher education there: school certificates

• If you do not have a valid long-stay visa or residence permit:
  
  • Full copy of birth certificate with the most recent entries
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas) or, if not, other supporting documents (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, etc.)

You must pay a tax and a stamp duty €75 by tax stamps.

The card is valid 1 year and renewable.

After 1 year presence in France on a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) or a temporary residence card student, you can benefit from a multi-year residence card student.

Its duration is equal to the number of years remaining in the course of study in which you are enrolled.

For example, if you have completed your 1^re year of license in France, you will receive a card valid for 2 years.

If you are studying at a large school, you will receive a card at the time of renewal covering the end of your training (until you obtain your engineering degree for example).

Conditions

You must comply with the initial conditions for issuing the temporary residence card student, which means:

• be enrolled in an institution (public or private) of initial education or training
• and justify monthly resources at least equal to €615.

You have to justify the reality and seriousness of your studies. Your entire course since your entry into France is taken into account.

The real and serious nature of your studies is checked in particular by means of:

• your attendance,
• your test results,
• the degrees you get,
• explanations you provide if you change your curriculum.

Request for multiannual card

It's all online.

Apply for a student residence permit

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

You can check the status of your case at any time. You can also respond to any requests for additional information and take note of the decisions taken.

It may be necessary to go to the prefecture for a fingerprint (if it has not already been taken).

Documents to be supplied

• Valid residence permit

• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old

• Photograph code and valid digital signature

• Registration produced by the educational institution (which may be a public or private higher education institution) or pre-registration

• Transcripts from the previous year

• Last degree obtained in France

• Certificate of achievement issued by the institution

• Proof of your resources (unless you have a short-stay visa "student contest") which must be at least €615 / month:
  
  • If you are a French government scholar or a beneficiary of European programs: justification for this situation
  • If you are a fellow in your country of origin: certificate from the paying agency of the country of origin specifying the amount and duration of the grant
  • If you work: your last 3 payslips
  • If you are taken care of by a third party: proof of identity of the third party + bank certificates of the planning of regular transfers (or certificate on the honor of payment of the sums enabling the amount of €615 /month)
  • If you have sufficient resources: bank attestation of sufficient credit balance
  
  In the case of multiple resources, you must attach the proof of each resource.

Cost

You need to pay €75 (€50 tax + €25 stamp duty) by tax stamps.