Visa, Titre de Séjour
& Administrative Papers in France.
Your complete step-by-step guide to French immigration for international students — Campus France, VLS-TS validation, OFII, titre de séjour and renewal. All procedures verified against official French government sources. Updated for 2025–2026.
Do you need Campus France?
Check before you apply for your visa.
Campus France — Études en France Procedure
Campus France is the French government agency managing
international student admissions. If you live in one of
73 listed countries, you must go through
the "Études en France" online procedure
before applying for your student visa.
This step cannot be skipped — it is mandatory for
your visa application at the consulate.
The procedure is done on
pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance
.
Once your dossier is validated, you schedule an interview
at your local Campus France office before the consulate issues your visa.
PSE is a private institution — you apply directly
to PSE and receive your admission letter first,
then complete the Campus France procedure if required by your country.
Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal,
Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Madagascar,
Gabon, Congo, DRC, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Togo, Ethiopia, Djibouti
Middle East: Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran
Asia: India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia,
Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia,
Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore
Americas: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina,
Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Haiti,
Dominican Republic, USA, Canada
Europe (non-EU): Russia, Ukraine,
Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, UK
Which visa do you need?
The three types of French student visas.
Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour. The standard visa for international students studying in France for more than 3 months. Acts as a residence permit upon arrival — must be validated online within 3 months. Fee: approx. €99 at the consulate.
✓ PSE students — standard visaLong-stay visa that does not function as a residence permit. Suitable for short programs or semesters under 6 months. No OFII validation required. Cannot be renewed from within France. Fee: approx. €99.
Short programs · No renewalFor doctoral students and researchers. Multi-year residence permit from the start. Includes family reunification rights. Applied through your institution's international office or the French consulate with a hosting agreement.
Doctoral students onlyEU / EEA / Swiss citizens do not need a visa to study in France. No Campus France procedure. No VLS-TS. No titre de séjour required. You can enrol directly at PSE with your EU ID card or passport. You are free to live and work in France without restrictions.
You have arrived. Now validate
your visa within 3 months.
Your VLS-TS is your visa and
your residence permit — but only after it is validated.
Before validation, it only authorises entry into France.
Validation activates it as a legal residence document
and allows you to travel within the Schengen area
for up to 90 days during its validity.
This step used to be done at the OFII office —
it is now 100% online on the ANEF platform.
The term "OFII validation" is still widely used but
refers to the same online process.
After validating your VLS-TS online, some nationalities
receive a convocation (appointment letter) from OFII
for a medical examination.
This is not required for all students
— whether you need it depends on your country of origin
and the specific requirements at time of arrival.
If you receive a convocation — attend it.
Missing the medical appointment can jeopardise
your immigration status.
Continuing your studies in France.
How to renew your residence permit.
Carte de Séjour Pluriannuelle
When your VLS-TS expires and you want to continue studying,
you apply for a Carte de Séjour Pluriannuelle (CDS)
— a multi-year residence permit valid 2 to 4 years.
Example: completing your Bachelor's year 1 → you can get a
CDS valid until the end of year 3 (2 years).
For students at a Grande École (like PSE),
the CDS is often valid until diploma completion.
Apply at
administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
— the same ANEF platform used for VLS-TS validation.
Apply 3 Months Before Expiry
You must submit your renewal application
3 months before your titre de séjour expires.
Never wait until the last month — processing times
can take 4–8 weeks and delays are common.
If your renewal is pending when your current permit expires,
you receive a récépissé (temporary receipt)
that authorises your continued stay while the renewal is processed.
Keep it with you at all times.
Late renewal incurs a €180 fine
— avoid it by setting a calendar reminder 3 months in advance.
Documents required for renewal.
Prepare this file in advance.
From January 2026, students renewing their CDS for a second cycle (e.g. Bachelor → Master) must demonstrate A2 level in French and pass a civic knowledge test (80% pass mark). Prepare early — Campus France and French cultural institutes offer preparation resources.
Can you work
while studying in France?
All the links
you actually need.
Still have questions?
We have the answers.
The VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) is the standard French student visa for stays over 3 months. Unlike a regular visa, it acts as a residence permit once validated online — meaning you don't need to visit a prefecture to get a separate document in your first year. A regular long-stay visa (VLS non-TS) does not confer residence rights and cannot be renewed from within France.
It depends on your country. If you live in one of the 73 countries listed on the Études en France procedure, you must complete the Campus France process before your consulate issues your student visa — even for private institutions like PSE. The process: apply to PSE and get your admission letter first, then open your Études en France dossier at pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance , and schedule your Campus France interview before the consulate appointment. If your country is not on the list, apply for your visa directly at the French consulate.
Your stay becomes irregular (irrégulier). An unvalidated VLS-TS does not function as a residence permit — even if it appears valid on paper. This means you cannot legally renew your titre de séjour, and your immigration status is at risk. Validate as soon as possible after arrival — ideally within the first few weeks. The process takes 10 minutes on the ANEF platform.
Apply 3 months before expiry on the ANEF platform. Never wait until the last month — processing delays are common. If you apply on time, you receive a récépissé (temporary document) that authorises your continued legal stay while the renewal is processed. Late applications incur a €180 fine. Set a calendar reminder the day you receive your titre de séjour.
Yes. Non-EU students on a French student visa (VLS-TS) can work up to 964 hours per year — approximately 60% of full-time — without needing a separate work permit. This is already authorised by your student visa. EU/EEA students have no working hours restriction. Curriculum internships (stages) are generally not counted toward the 964-hour limit.
Yes — once your VLS-TS is validated, it allows you to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days during its validity period. Before validation, your visa only authorises entry into France. Always carry your validated VLS-TS confirmation and passport when travelling within Schengen.
The APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) is a temporary permit allowing graduates to stay in France for 1 to 2 years after completing their degree to seek employment. It is available to non-EU graduates from French institutions at Bachelor level and above. Apply at the prefecture (or online via ANEF) before your current titre de séjour expires. During this period, you can work full-time while job-hunting.
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