France Student Visa Guide 2026 - Requirements, Fees, Application Process

France has top universities, offers a good quality of life, is safe for Indian students, and most of its universities are subsidised by the French government. However, studying in France for a course longer than 6 months, you would need a French student visa.

France is one of the top destinations to study abroad for Indian students. The French government subsidises the higher education costs at its public universities in France, which makes education at these universities quite affordable for Indian students. Apart from this, even the cost of higher education at private universities in France lies in the range €6000 - €18,000 - which is still less than in most other countries. For students with a small budget, there are several fully funded scholarships to study in France, like Eiffel Excellence Scholarships and Erasmus Mundus Scholarships. All these factors make France a highly sought-after study destination among Indian students. However, studying in the country requires Indian students to possess a France student visa.

Various types of France student visas exist as per the duration of the course aimed at the country. For Indian students who wish to get a full-time degree course or a course longer than 90 days in France, a "Long-stay Visa Study Visa", also called the "VLS TS" Visa, is required. You must apply for and be in possession of a student visa in France before you arrive in the country for your studies. This article provides details on the long stay VLS-TS student visa in France for Indian students who are going for a degree-level course in the country. But first, we will learn about all the types of student visas in France - whether short-term or long-term.

France Student Visa Latest Updates for Indian Students 2026

• The French government website https://france-visas.gouv.fr is now the primary application portal for getting a French student visa. 
• Students opting for the long-stay VLS-TS Student Visa can now submit their documents online to speed up the application process.   

Types of French Student Visa

The different types of French student visas are given below:

• Visa de court séjour pour études (Short-stay study visa (Schengen Visa)): The Schengen short-stay student visa allows you to study courses that last for up to three months (or 90 days), without the need for a separate residence visa in France. It also allows for free travel within the 26 countries of the Schengen Area. This is suitable for those enrolling on a language course or short-term programs. However, Indian students planning to appear for an entrance exam or an interview at a French institution can also apply for a specific short-stay visa for this purpose.
• Visa de long séjour etudes or VLS-TS Visa (long-stay visa): If you want to study for longer than 90 days, for a degree course, then you need to apply for this visa. Initially valid for up to 3 months to a year, this long-stay study visa in France is opted by Indian students to do a bachelor's, master's or a PhD. After the expiration of its initial validity period of 1 year, if required for the course, you can apply for a multi-annual residence permit. This study visa in France lasts for the duration of your course in France. You must validate your visa online with the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) within three months upon arrival.   

Check: Top Universities & Colleges in France

What is the VLS-TS Long Stay Visa in France?

The VLS-TS is a long-stay visa in France that acts as a residence permit for international students. This visa allows you to study a degree level or above course , the duration of which is longer than 3 months. The VLS-TS visa needs to be validated upon the arrival of international students in France.

The Long Stay Study Visa in France is initially valid from 3 months to a year. If you need to stay longer than this period to complete your course, then, you would be required to apply for a residence permit.

It is noteworthy here that the VLS TS Long Stay Student Visa in France comes with several benefits. This includes permission to travel without restrictions in the Schengen countries. You can also stay in the Schengen Area for periods not longer than 90 days in a total of 180 consecutive days. 

What can you do on a Long-stay Study Visa in France?

Here is the list of activities that the students are allowed to do while they are on a VLS-TS visa in France:

1. Travel across all the Schengen countries for free. 
2. Travel outside of France to anywhere in the world multiple times and return without restrictions throughout the visa's validity period.
3. Work part-time in France for up to 964 hours annually (or 20 hours a week).
4. Use the free security deposit service for international students in France, i.e. the VISALE.
5. Receive a rental subsidy from the CAF (caisse d'allocations familiales), the family allowance fund.
6. Request for an extended validity of their visa as per the demands of the course they're enrolled on.  

Note:- The VLS-TS Visa needs to be validated upon your arrival in France. If you do not validate your visa for the first three months, you can still travel outside France for free. But if you do not validate your visa within the initial 3 months, and after 3 months, you happen to travel outside of France, then you will need to apply for a new visa to return to France. 

Read: How can international students study for free in France?

How to Validate your VLS TS Student Visa in France?

The process of validating your long term study visa in France is completely digital (online). Note that your French student visa can only be validated after you've entered the country on visa for higher education purpose. So, you can request for validation of your student visa from the comfort of your home in France. Here are the steps you must follow to validate your France student visa -

1. Visit the official website - "https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/". You will end up on the following page - 

Click on "I confirm my VLS TS".

2. In the next step, you will be required to enter your visa number to validate. 

Requirements for Validating your French Student visa

To validate your VLS TS Student Visa in France, you will need the following - 

•  a valid and active email ID
• the details on your visa
• your address in France
• the date you entered France
• a bank's card to pay the online fee for obtaining a residence permit. If you don't have a bank account by the time you start validating your VLS-TS visa, you can buy an electronic stamp, "timbre électronique" in French, from a kiosk at a dedicated terminal and pay for the required amount in cash

Check: How to check the status of your French student visa application?

France VLS-TS Student Visa Eligibility Requirements 

Meeting the eligibility requirements for getting a student visa is crucial; otherwise, your application for a French student visa may get rejected. The general eligibility requirements for getting a French student visa are given below:

1. The applicant must be at least 18 years old. 
2. The visa applicants must have already selected their course of study.
3. The applicant must have been accepted by a host institute in France.

France Student Visa: Application Overview

Submission of Visa application and collection of passports can be done only by the applicant himself or through a travel agency authorised by the Embassy of France, New Delhi. The French Student Visa has two distinct stages of application. One at the Campus France and the other at the embassy. The set of documents can vary for both of them. You would be required to submit originals at Campus France and photocopies at the embassy/ consulate/ Visa Application Centres.

One may apply for a French Student Visa for:

• Student Exchange Programmes
• Full-time graduate/master's/dual courses at universities in France
• Erasmus-Mundus programmes
• French language learning programmes
• Short-term internship programmes required by the undergraduate/master’s level programme one is pursuing

How to Apply for France Student Visa from India?

There are several steps to applying for a visa. First, you need to appear for an interview with Campus France, then you need to submit your documents to VFS

• Log on to india.campusfrance.org or visit the French government's official website for visa application, i.e. https://france-visas.gouv.fr/. At the "Register Online" box, click on Create Your Account. 
• Fill in the academic records, language skills, and CV, SOP sections. Upload documents, photographs, and academic records. Ensure that all fields in the Validation tab indicate “Complete”.
• Send your file number to the assigned Campus France office to get your file reviewed and to request an appointment.
• You will have to appear in person for the academic interview with the Campus France advisor. You must also carry all the mandatory documents plus one set of photocopies along with the Campus France fee payment receipt.
• You will receive an Interview completion certificate at the end of the interview.
• After the academic interview, schedule an appointment with VFS-France to submit your documents, photocopies, receipts, and passport.

Note: The Embassy of France, New Delhi, has implemented a change in arrangements for the collection of the processed passport from visa application centres. With effect from 8th December 2014, the third parties cannot collect the documents on behalf of an applicant, except in the following cases:

• Immediate family members (Parent, Child or sibling)
• One member of a group collects for the entire group
• A person collecting on behalf of Govt. officials if authorised on the Govt. letterhead or department
• A representative of a company - Authorisation letter on the letterhead of the company and the official ID card of the representative. 

Documents Required for a Long Stay French Student Visa

Students applying for a France student visa can now send their supporting documents' digital copies while filling up the online visa application form. This is optional and the same will permit a quick process by the external service provider (ESP). 

You should provide two sets of application photocopies containing the following documents:

• Long stay application form for the duration of more than 90 days,
• Two passport-size photographs, 
• A copy of the Passport, 
• A printout of your Campus France NOC,
• Letter of appointment from the French academic institution (important),
• Cover letter explaining the study project and an updated CV/Resume,
• Proof of funds - tuition fees + a minimum of 615 Euros/month, for the complete academic term,
• Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France,
• Copy of your round-trip airline ticket (if you are studying for six months or less) or a one-way ticket if you are studying in France for more than six months),
• OFII form (Office Francais de Immigration et de Integration),
• Proof of residency in France such as a lease, electricity bill, title of property, etc. for a minimum of three months or a hotel reservation, and
• Copies of the degree and academic diplomas, and certificates. 

When you go for your interview, you would be required to carry all your documents in the original plus a copy of all the documents.

France Student Visa Fees 2026

The France study visa price for the EEF procedure countries and territories is €50, and for the rest of the countries is €99. The France Student Visa Fee for Indian students is €50.

Note: You can check the EEF procedure countries on the France study visa official website, https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/student.  

France Student Visa: Dependents

Spouses and children may be permitted to reside in France while you study, but this is conditional. These conditions include having enough appropriate financing and living space. Cases are decided on an individual basis at the France embassy, and special consideration may be given to your case if you can explain your situation to the consulate effectively.

If you were accepted by a French University for a Bachelor's degree (which is called a "Licence"), your spouse would not be given a visa to accompany you or be permitted to work in France unless s/he is a European citizen. The case might be different for Research or doctorate students. They may be allowed to take along their spouse or kids, but that depends on various terms and rules.

France Student Visa: Part-time Jobs

French law allows students to do 964 hours of part-time work in France in a given year. International students are also eligible for student jobs at universities. Students are hired to assist incoming students, help disabled students, tutor, IT support and assistance, work in the career centre, etc.

Student employees are supposed to follow a work schedule that will not interfere with their studies. The terms and conditions of employment are adapted to the requirements of each student's program to ensure academic success while offering work experience.

Also Read: What is M1 Certificate for Campus France?

Work Visa France

Students who have earned at least a master's degree or the equivalent may apply for a one-time non-renewable temporary residency authorization called APS (authorization Provisoire de séjour) or Post Study Work Permit in France. It is valid for 24 months. Students who obtain a job related to their academic program may enter full-time employment by filing a request for a change of status (from student to employee) in their application.

Scholarships for Studying in France

France is considered one of the most sought-after destinations for pursuing higher education by international students. Also, those looking to gain knowledge and enhance their skills through quality education prefer this international education hub. However, living costs in France and tuition fees in France can be a costly affair, therefore, various fellowships are available to help students in completing their education. We have listed out top scholarships to study in France.

• Inlaks Scholarships (University Courses)
• Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. candidates
• Global Study Awards

VFS Visa France Application Centres in India

There are 15 VFS Visa centres in India where you can book an appointment for your France visa application-related visits.  

New Delhi
Shivaji Stadium Metro Station, Mezzanine Level Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Connaught Place 110001 New Delhi

Timings:

Mumbai

Trade Centre, First Floor, ‘G’ Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400 051, India

Timing:

Puducherry

Good Shepherd Square, I Floor No.33, East Coast Road, Elaipillaichavady, (Opposite to Rajiv Gandhi Govt Hospital) 605 005 Puducherry

Bangalore

22, Gopalan Innovation Mall, Bannerghatta Main Rd, Sarakki Industrial Layout, 3rd Phase, J. P. Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076.

Timing:

Kolkata

5th Floor, Rene Tower, Plot No. AA-I, 1842, Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba (Landmark: Near Geetanjali Stadium),Kolkata 700107 India

Timing:

What is France Student Visa Processing Time?

Your visa application is completely monitored by the visa centre from where you have applied. The visa centre notifies you when your passport is ready. Generally, French visas are processed within 15 days; however, the process may extend up to 45 days in some cases.

Digitalisation of the France Student Visa

France higher education aspirants can now apply for their long-stay visa at ease. The new feature allows students to upload the digital copies of their documents online soon after they fill their and submit their visa application online. This will allow for a faster processing at the visa application centre. Here are the prerequisites if you're opting for the digitalisation option during your France visa application:

1. Dimensions: A4
2. Color: The document must be scanned in color
3. File format: The uploaded document must be in PDF format only
4. Maximum size: 2MB per document and 6MB for the total number of documents comprising a supporting document.
5. Maximum number of documents: a maximum of ten documents per section.
6. Document title: Titles must be a maximum of 100 characters. Choose a name that allows for easy identification of the document. Allowed characters are alphanumeric, accented or not, uppercase or not, as well as:
   • Slash: /
   • Apostrophe: '
   • Minus sign: -
   • Period: .
   • Comma: ,
   • Space
7. Resolution: If the image is not clear and legible, it may delay your submission process at the visa application center. A resolution of 300 dpi is recommended for scanned documents.A lower resolution may make the document illegible, while a higher resolution will increase the file size. If your original document contains elements that are difficult to read (passport stamps, etc.), increase the scanning resolution to 600 dpi. Every word in the scanned document must be legible. Note: Avoid zooming in on the photo, which can blur its content.

Reminder: Ensure that your document is not password protected!

Read: Steps to Check Student Visa Status in Europe

This was all about the French student visa. If you wish to study abroad, avail Shiksha's Counseling Services for free.