Visa Process For International Students To France

A report by the World Population Review in the year 2021 stated that France has one of the best educational systems in the world. 32 universities based in France have managed to find a spot in the QS World University Rankings this year. That explains why many Indian students decide to study at a French university every year.  

From doing an MBA to pursuing a course in film studies, educational institutions in France offer students a lot to choose from. The country is also known to be extremely welcoming to international students. Once students decide what they want to study, they can list the colleges and universities based in France and apply to them.

Who Should Apply for an Indian Student Visa to France?

Apart from making a list of universities in Italy for Indian students, a student should also research educational institutions based in France. There is a reason why French universities are becoming increasingly popular with Indian students with time.

An Indian student visa to France should be applied by individuals who wish to study in an educational institution based in France. A student has to apply to different universities. Once a university sends them a letter of acceptance and they are sure about moving to France to study, they can apply for a student visa.

Different Types of Students Visa for Indian Students

When Indian students start looking for visa-related options, they realize there are multiple options to choose from while applying for a student visa to France. Before applying for a particular visa, the student should ensure they have all the necessary details about the different types of visas. Here are the three types of visas available for international students who wish to study in France:

Visa de court séjour pour etudes/Short-stay student visa

Students planning to undertake a course, the duration of which is less than 3 months, should apply for a visa de court séjour pour etudes. Therefore, this visa is applied for by those planning to opt for a short-term study program in France.

One of the best things about this visa is that students don’t have to pay anything to procure it. The applicant will get a visa de court séjour pour etudes if they show the right documents and make a strong case for themselves. They also do not require a residence permit to apply for this visa. Once this visa expires, the student can immediately apply for a new one.  

Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes/Temporary Long-Stay Visa

Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes are supposed to be applied for by those students who are about to enroll themselves in a course, which ranges from 3 to 6 months. Before applying for this visa, the applicant must ensure that they are about to opt for will not stretch beyond 6 months.

Visa de long séjour etudes/Long-stay visa

While researching the visa process in France, aspirants will come across the term visa de long séjour etudes. If the student is about to enroll in a course over 6 months, they should apply for a visa de long séjour etudes. To get the duration of their stay in France extended, a student would have to write an application for a residence permit. The duration of this long-stay visa is 1 year.

Various Ways to Apply for a France Student Visa for Indian Students

A student visa could be procured through a French consulate in the Indian student’s country. They can also apply for a student visa to France via Campus France, an institution that works towards promoting or raising awareness around opting for higher education in France.

Regardless of the country a student is based in; they should be able to find a local office of the French consulate. For most international students, registering themselves with Campus France proves to be a convenient step toward getting a student visa to France.

A student has to go through certain steps to get a student visa to France. Firstly, they must schedule an in-person appointment/interview through the French consulate’s official website. To know about the available dates and hours, they should look at the online calendar. It would be advisable to schedule the appointment 3 months or 90 days before they plan to leave for France. An applicant would have to pay the visa processing fee during the visa application process. Depending on the applicant’s nationality, they must pay between 500 and 100 euros.

After the steps are completed, the student must wait for the visa to arrive. The visa processing time depends on various factors, including the applicant’s nationality and the number of students that have sent their application for the visa at that point in time. Because of this, it would be a good idea for the student to apply for the visa as soon as possible.

Necessary Documents to be Submitted While Applying for a Student Visa

While going through the application process, an Indian student would have to deal with many documents. The first document a student would come across is the visa application form. The applicant must submit two passport-sized photographs, a valid passport, and copies of their older visas. They would also have to submit an acceptance or official enrolment letter from the university.

The applicant must also prove they are financially stable enough to study in France and care for their living expenses. Through financial statements and other documents, the applicant has to show that they can spend 615 EUR every month on their education and other expenses.

The student would have to produce an airline ticket with the date of departure written on it. They also need to get medical insurance made in their name. Medical insurance, on average, would cost 300 – 700 EUR a year.

The authorities would want to know where the student would stay in France while pursuing their course. Because of this, the student would have to present documents that offer some clarity about their accommodation arrangement in France.

The visa fee could cost between 50 and 100 euros, and the student would have to show a receipt for the payment. If asked, the student might also have to show proof of civil status. If the student has enrolled in a course taught in French, they will have to attach their French language proficiency certificate as well.

Cost of Application for a French Student Visa for Indian Students

The cost of applying for a French student visa differs from the cost of procuring a general visa. While applying for a student visa to France, the applicant would have to pay 50 euros which translates to 3829.45 Indian rupees.

Getting a Residence Permit

In the first year of pursuing their educational program in France, a student would be required to have a long-term student visa as proof of their residency status. A month after coming to France, an Indian student must register at the French Office of Immigration and Integration and go through a medical examination to get their visa validated.

While staying in France, Indian students should know their rights and boundaries. If the student intends to stay in France for more than a year, they would be required to apply for a Carte de Séjour (CDS). Also referred to as the ‘titre de séjour,’ it can be described as the official residence permit in France.  

Working in France as a Student with a Student Visa

Many Indian students get attracted to the idea of taking up some casual employment while studying in France. Doing a part-time job, after all, would help them earn some cash and take care of some of their additional expenses. The one thing students have to be mindful of here is that their professional opportunities shouldn’t affect their studies.

An Indian student pursuing a course in a France-based university or college can take up a job while studying, but there are a few conditions attached to it. A student needs to know the various terms and conditions associated with seeking employment opportunities while studying in France.

In legal terms, an Indian student in France is allowed to work only on a part-time basis. And, this is possible only when they have a valid residence permit. While applying for a job, students must inform their employer that they are a foreign student. This will also declare to the employer that the student can only be offered part-time employment.

Many universities in French have dedicated programs designed for students interested in taking up part-time employment. These educational institutions also provide students with internship opportunities. Therefore, Indian students can speak directly to their college authorities and seek their help in finding casual employment opportunities.