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, if you study in France for a course longer than 90 days, 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, notably €2,902 per year for bachelor's and €3,941 per year for master's. Apart from this, even the cost of higher education at private universities in France lies in the range of € 6,000- €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.

You may also like to read about How to crack the Campus France Interview?

France Student Visa Latest Updates for Indian Students 2026-27

• For long-stay student visa applications submitted on or after August 1, 2026, France requires proof of financial resources of at least €877.50 per month (approximately €10,530 for a full year), excluding tuition fees. 
• Effective August 1, 2026, the French government raised the minimum living expense requirement. Non-EU international students must now show proof of at least €877.50 per month (up from the historical €615) to secure their student visa.
• The mandatory Etudes en France (EEF) application processing fee has been raised to ₹20,000 effective August 1, 2026.

Different Types of French Student Visa 2026

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 29 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.   

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 more about 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 a visa for higher education purposes. So, you can request validation of your student visa from the comfort of your home in France. Here are the steps you must follow to validate your French 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 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 the required amount in cash. For a VLS-TS student visa in 2026, the mandatory residence tax (taxe de séjour) is €50.

You may check the status of your French student visa application online and stay ahead in your process, without any missed deadline. 

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 applicant must have already selected their course of study. You cannot apply for a student visa in France on a speculative basis or to look for a course while in France. Your chosen program must be clearly defined on your application.
3. The applicant must have been accepted by a host institute in France. You must possess an official, unconditional Acceptance Letter (Attestation d'admission) from a French higher education institution. For Indian students, this institution must be recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education.
4. The "Études en France" Procedure: Indian students cannot apply for a visa directly through the embassy. You must register on the Campus France Études en France (EEF) platform and pass a mandatory academic interview before your file can move to VFS Global.
5. Financial Proof: You must prove you have a minimum of €877.50 per month (up from the older €615/month rule) for your first year of living expenses.
6. Proof of Accommodation: You must provide verified proof of where you will live for at least your first three months in France (e.g., a student housing contract, hotel booking, or host certificate).

Based on their desired programs, Indian students might be required to take some exams to study in France; check the link to know more.

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 Campus France and the other at the embassy. The set of documents can vary for both of them. And since the implementation of the paperless Études en France (EEF) portal, you no longer leave physical originals or stacks of photocopies at the Campus France office. You scan and upload all your original academic transcripts, CV, and SOP online to the EEF portal. When you go for your in-person interview, you simply present your original documents for identity verification; they check them against your digital file and hand them right back to you.

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:  Following digital updates at VFS Global in India, in-person third-party passport collection is heavily restricted or entirely banned at most centres to maximise security. VFS Global now mandates that passports are returned exclusively via secure courier service directly to the applicant's verified address or collected in-person by the applicant themselves with strict identity verification. Exceptions for immediate family members require a standardised, official France-Visas Proxy Authorisation Form alongside verified government IDs. 

Documents Required for a Long Stay French Student Visa

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

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

• France-Visas Application Form (Filled online, printed, and signed),
• France-Visas Registration Receipt - generated after online submission,
• A valid Passport - plus photocopies of the bio data pages and previous visas, 
• Two passport-size photographs - strictly conforming to ICAO standard white background criteria
• A Campus France Interview Confirmation Email (important),
• An official unconditional acceptance letter from your French university,
• Cover letter explaining the study project and an updated CV/Resume (if applying for research-based courses),
• Proof of funds - tuition fees + a minimum of 877.50 Euros/month, for the complete academic term,
• A hotel booking, rental lease, or an Attestation d'accueil (host certificate) covering your first 90 days,
• Travel Medical Insurance: Valid for the first portion of your trip before your French student social security activates, and
• Originals and copies of the degree and academic diplomas, and certificates. 

When you go for your interview, you will 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

If you are an Indian student heading to France for a Bachelor's or Master's and want your spouse with you, the realistic workaround is for your spouse to apply for their own separate Long-Stay Visitor Visa (VLS-TS Visiteur). However, they must prove independent financial self-sufficiency and are legally barred from seeking employment in the French labour market.

France Student Visa: Part-time Jobs

French law allows students to do 964 hours of part-time work in France in a given year. Indian 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.

While you are legally permitted to work, you should keep two vital real-world factors in mind before landing in France:

1. The Minimum Wage (SMIC): You cannot be paid less than the national minimum wage. As of 2026, the French gross minimum wage (SMIC) is €11.65 per hour. After standard taxes, you will take home roughly €9.22 per hour.
2. Income Cannot Replace Proof of Funds: You cannot use potential part-time income to meet your initial visa requirements. When applying at VFS Global in India, you must still prove you already possess the mandatory €877.50 per month for your first year, independent of any future job earnings.

You may also read about the M1 Certificate for Campus France

Getting a Work Visa After Graduating in France

Students who have earned at least a master's degree or the equivalent may apply for a one-time, non-renewable temporary residency authorisation called APS (authorisation 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.

Note that if you are an Indian citizen who completes a Master’s degree (or higher) from a recognised French institution—and you spend at least one semester studying physically in France—the French government grants you a 5-year multiple-entry short-stay Schengen visa

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 complete their education. We have listed the top scholarships to study in France.

• France Excellence Charpak Scholarship
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
• 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
VFS Global House, 27, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi - 110001

Timings:

Mumbai

Trade Centre, First Floor, ‘G’ Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400 051, India. However, VFS Global has consolidated and shifted a massive portion of its Schengen operations—including major processing desks—to its sprawling facility at the Urmi Axis Building, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.

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 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 digital copies of their documents online soon after they fill out and submit their visa application online. This will allow for 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. Colour: The document must be scanned in colour
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 centre. 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.

Note: Before hitting submit on the portal, open your compressed PDFs on a desktop computer and zoom in on small details, specifically your passport numbers, bank seal signatures, and exam scores. If the numbers become blurry or pixelated, the French visa desk will mark it as illegible.

Reminder: Ensure that your document is not password-protected!

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