Foreigners student in France: long-stay visa or residence card

You are concerned if you are in France to pursue higher education without a residence permit for personal or family reasons (for example resident card, residence permit private and family life).

You must be registered (or pre-registered):

• In a public or private institution of higher education or initial training (university, college, etc.)
• Or a higher vocational training organization.

You must be able to justify resources of at least €615 per month.

This condition does not apply if you have passed the entrance examination to a higher education institution that has signed an agreement with the State.

You must apply for your residence card at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before the end of validity of your residence document (visa, VLS-TS or title).

The process is done online only:

Apply for a student residence permit

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

You can check the status of your case at any time. You can also respond to any requests for additional information and take note of the decisions taken.

It may be necessary to go to the prefecture for a fingerprint (if it has not already been taken).

• Valid long-stay visa or valid residence permit

• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old

• e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.

• Registration produced by the educational institution (which may be a public or private higher education institution) or pre-registration

• If you are applying for a residence card "student - mobility program" : any document produced by the institution justifying that your course is part of an EU mobility program

• Transcripts from the previous year

• Last degree obtained in France

• Certificate of achievement issued by the institution

• Proof of your resources (unless you have a short-stay visa "student contest") which must be at least €615 per month:
  
  • If you are a French government scholar or a beneficiary of European programs: justification for this situation
  • If you are a fellow in your country of origin: certificate from the paying agency of the country of origin specifying the amount and duration of the grant
  • If you work: your last 3 payslips
  • If you are taken care of by a third party: proof of identity of the third party + bank certificates of the planning of regular transfers (or certificate on the honor of payment of the sums enabling the amount of €615 / month)
  • If you have sufficient resources: bank attestation of sufficient credit balance.
  
  In the case of multiple resources, you must attach the proof of each resource.

• Signed copy of a commitment to respect the principles of the Republic

• If you do not have a valid long-stay visa or residence permit:
  
  • Full copy of birth certificate with the most recent entries
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas) or, if not, other supporting documents (consular certificate, identity card, consular card, etc.)

You must pay a tax and a stamp duty €75 by tax stamps.

The card is valid 1 year and renewable.

After 1 year presence in France on a long-stay visa as a residence permit (VLS-TS) or a temporary residence card student, you can benefit from a multi-year residence card student.

Its duration is equal to the number of years remaining in the course of study in which you are enrolled.

For example, if you have completed your 1^re year of license in France, you will receive a card valid for 2 years.

If you are studying at a large school, you will receive a card at the time of renewal covering the end of your training (until you obtain your engineering degree for example).

Conditions

You must comply with the 2 initial conditions for issuing the temporary residence card student, which means:

• Be enrolled in an institution (public or private) of initial education or training
• And justify monthly resources at least equal to €615.

You must also justify the reality and seriousness of your studies. Your entire course since your entry into France is taken into account.

To assess the real and serious nature of your studies, the following criteria will be checked:

• Attendance
• Test results
• Diplomas obtained
• Explanation provided when curriculum changes.

Request for multiannual card

The process is done online only:

Apply for a student residence permit

When you apply for a residence permit on the Internet, you immediately get a dematerialized certificate deposit.

You can check the status of your case at any time. You can also respond to any requests for additional information and take note of the decisions taken.

It may be necessary to go to the prefecture for a fingerprint (if it has not already been taken).

Documents to be provided

• Valid residence permit

• Proof of domicile less than 6 months old

• e-photo : enter the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the approved cabin on the photo board). If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service.

• Registration produced by the educational institution (which may be a public or private higher education institution) or pre-registration

• Transcripts from the previous year

• Last degree obtained in France

• Certificate of achievement issued by the institution

• Proof of your resources (unless you have a short-stay visa "student contest") which must be at least €615 per month:
  
  • If you are a French government scholar or a beneficiary of European programs: justification for this situation
  • If you are a fellow in your country of origin: certificate from the paying agency of the country of origin specifying the amount and duration of the grant
  • If you work: your last 3 payslips
  • If you are taken care of by a third party: proof of identity of the third party + bank certificates of the planning of regular transfers (or certificate on the honor of payment of the sums enabling the amount of €615 per month)
  • If you have sufficient resources: bank attestation of sufficient credit balance
  
  In the case of multiple resources, you must attach the proof of each resource.

• Signed copy of a commitment to respect the principles of the Republic

Cost of the residence card

You need to pay €75 (€50 tax + €25 stamp duty) by tax stamps.