Visas & residence permits

Long-stay visas valid as a residence permit for students, or VLS-TS student visas allow you to study in France for a period of four months to a year. Upon expiry of this visa you must request a residence permit in order to stay in France.

Temporary long-stay visas (VLS-T) allow you to study in France for a period of four to twelve months. This type of visa cannot be renewed.

Long-stay visas with the following clause “residence permit must be requested within the first two months following arrival in France”. The holder must go to the prefecture within two months to get a residence permit.

Short-term visas for students sitting examinations are only for non-European students and are only valid for travel in France. This visa allows you to come to France to sit a French higher education admission interview or entrance examination. If you are successful in this process you may request a student residence permit at the appropriate prefecture in France; you can do this without having to return to your country of residence upon presentation of your original short-stay visa. If you are unsuccessful you must leave France as soon as you know the outcome of your application. Please note that short-stay visas for students sitting examinations can only be awarded if the results of the selection process will be known within three months of candidates sitting entrance examinations and admissions interviews.

Short-term Schengen visas are valid for a maximum of a 90-day period for use within the Schengen area. This can be either used for an uninterrupted period of 90 days or several periods totaling 90 days. The holder is limited to remaining in the Schengen area no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period. Short-term Schengen visas are valid for business or leisure purposes, which could include a short course, an internship or a paid position (providing the holder has obtained the right to work). Schengen single-entry visas are only valid for a single trip. Schengen single-entry and multiple-entry visas allow you to travel around the Schengen area for a fixed period of six months to five years. There are no formalities required upon arrival or departure when using this kind of visa. At the end of the 90-day period you must leave the Schengen area. The Schengen short-stay visa is renewable, however you must wait six months before submitting a new application. Unlike with a long-stay visa, this visa does not allow you to take up residence in France.

If you hold a Long-Stay Visa Valid as a Residence Permit (VLS-TS) and this is your first application, you have three months to take the necessary steps. You will have to validate your visa online by logging on administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. In order to validate your VLS-TS online, you will need a valid email address, the information on your visa, your date of arrival in France, your address in France and a payment card to pay the tax online. If you do not have a payment card, you can buy an electronic stamp from a tobacco shop and pay in cash. Once you have completed the online procedure, you will receive by email your login details to access your account and obtain confirmation of validation of your VLS-TS. A second email that can be downloaded will confirm the information that you filled in online.

If you hold a Temporary Long-Stay Visa or VLS-T you do not need to get your visa certified at a prefecture when you arrive. You are not required to take any further steps in relation to your visa. VLS-T visas cannot be renewed and it is not possible to have this kind of visa extended. You must leave France when this visa expires.

If you hold a long-stay visa with the following clause “residence permit must be requested within the first two months following arrival in France” then you must imperatively apply for a residence permit at your local prefecture no more than two months following your arrival in France.

If you are the holder of a short-term visa for students sitting examinations and you obtain a place to study in France you can apply for a study residence permit at a prefecture without having to return to your country of residence. If you are unsuccessful, you must leave France as soon as the results of your examination/ admission interview are published.

If you are the holder of a short-term Schengen visa there are no formalities required upon arrival or departure. At the end of the 90-day period you must leave the Schengen area. The Schengen short-stay visa is renewable, however you must wait six months before submitting a new application. Unlike with a long-stay visa, this visa does not allow you to take up residence in France.

Keep in mind that tourist visas cannot be converted to student visas or student residence permits in France or any European Union member state.