How to Get a Student Visa for France in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Getting accepted to study in France is the exciting part. The visa paperwork that follows? However, the visa paperwork that follows is where many students start losing sleep. Between Campus France procedures, consulate appointments, financial proof requirements, and acronyms like VLS-TS and ANEF, the process can feel overwhelming before you have even booked your flight.

This guide breaks down every step of the French student visa process for 2026. In addition, it includes exact costs, realistic timelines, and the specific mistakes that trip up international students year after year. Whether you’re enrolling at the Cours de civilisation française de la Sorbonne (CCFS) or another institution, the procedure follows the same path — and it’s entirely manageable once you understand the sequence.

Do You Actually Need a Visa?

Not every international student needs a visa. Instead, your obligations depend on your nationality and the length of your program.

EU / EEA / Swiss nationals: You do not need a visa or residence permit to study in France. Bring a valid passport or national ID card and enroll directly. No Campus France procedure, no consulate visit, no validation upon arrival.

UK nationals (post-Brexit): You are treated as non-EU citizens. Therefore, a visa is required for any stay longer than 90 days.

Non-EU nationals: You need a visa. The type depends on your program length:

Most CCFS students enrolling for a full academic year — or even a semester-plus program — will need the VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour, mention “étudiant”). This is the visa this guide focuses on.

If you’re unsure which visa applies to your situation, use the official visa wizard at france-visas.gouv.fr to get a personalized answer in under two minutes.

Step 1: Get Your Acceptance Letter

Before you can touch the visa process, you need proof that a French institution. In other words, a conditional offer or simple email confirmation is not enough.

For CCFS students, this is your attestation d’inscription (certificate of enrollment). Here’s how to get it:

1. Choose your program on the CCFS registration page — French language courses, civilization lectures, or both
2. Complete the online registration and pay the required deposit
3. CCFS issues your attestation d’inscription, which includes your full name, program dates, and course details

This document is the anchor of your entire visa file. The dates on your attestation determine the visa dates the consulate will grant. If your attestation says September 2026 to June 2027, that’s the window you’ll receive.

Timeline note: Start your CCFS enrollment 4-5 months before your intended start date. This gives you enough breathing room for Campus France processing and the consulate appointment.

Step 2: Complete the Campus France Procedure

If your country has a Campus France office (and most do — there are 280+ spaces across 130 countries), you must complete the Études en France procedure before applying for your visa. Otherwise, the consulate will refuse to process your application.

What Campus France actually does

Campus France verifies your academic background, checks that your study plan is coherent, and conducts an interview (in person or online). They are not deciding whether to give you a visa — that remains the consulate’s job. They assess whether your academic project makes sense.

The Études en France process

1. Create your account on pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr (the Études en France platform)
2. Fill in your academic history — diplomas, transcripts, language certificates
3. Upload your documents — scanned originals, translations if needed
4. Select your procedure type: For CCFS and most language schools, this falls under the “Hors-DAP” (non-DAP) procedure, meaning you apply directly to the institution rather than through a centralized admission system
5. Pay the Campus France fee — this varies by country but is typically between €50 and €250. In many countries, the standard fee is around €190. Check your local Campus France website for the exact amount.
6. Attend the interview — this is usually a 15-20 minute conversation about your motivations, your language level, and your plans in France. It is conducted in French or English depending on your level.
7. Receive your Campus France approval — once your file is validated, Campus France transmits a favorable opinion to the consulate

Timing

The Campus France procedure takes 3 to 6 weeks from submission to approval, depending on the country and the time of year. Peak season (April-July) is slower. Do not wait until June to begin this process for a September start — aim for March or April.

Countries without Campus France: Some nationalities are exempt from the Études en France procedure. If there is no Campus France office in your country, you apply directly to the consulate. Check the list at campusfrance.org.

Step 3: Apply for Your Visa at the Consulate

Once Campus France has approved your file, you can book your consulate appointment. In many countries, this is handled through external providers such as TLS Contact or VFS Global.

Documents required for a VLS-TS student visa

Prepare the following — originals and photocopies of everything:

– Completed visa application form (Cerfa n°14571*05), available at france-visas.gouv.fr
– Valid passport — must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay, with at least 2 blank pages
– Two recent passport photos (35x45mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months)
– Attestation d’inscription from CCFS — your enrollment certificate
– Campus France receipt (attestation de pré-inscription or Études en France validation)
– Proof of financial resources — you must demonstrate a minimum of €615 per month for the duration of your stay. Acceptable documents include:
– Bank statements from the last 3 months showing sufficient funds
– A sponsorship letter (attestation de prise en charge) from a guarantor residing in France, accompanied by their tax returns and proof of income
– Scholarship certificate stating amount and duration
– For a 10-month academic year, this means approximately €6,150 minimum in available funds
– Proof of accommodation in France — a housing attestation, hotel reservation for at least the first weeks, or a letter from your host. CCFS provides housing assistance for students and can help with this document.
– Health insurance — either proof of coverage valid in France or intent to enroll in the French social security system upon arrival
– Visa fee payment — currently €99 for a long-stay visa (non-refundable, payable at the time of your appointment)
– Motivation letter — some consulates require a brief letter explaining your study project
– Academic transcripts and diplomas — originals plus certified translations if not in French or English

At the appointment

The consulate appointment itself is straightforward. You submit your file, provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo), and pay the fee. Some consulates conduct a brief interview; others simply verify your documents.

Processing time varies from 2 to 8 weeks depending on the consulate and the season. Summer is the busiest period. Do not book non-refundable flights before receiving your visa.

If your visa is refused

You have the right to appeal. The refusal notice must state the reasons. Common grounds for refusal include insufficient financial proof, incomplete documents, or doubts about the genuineness of the study project. You can submit a new application addressing the issues raised.

Step 4: Arriving in France — Validate Your VLS-TS

Arriving in France is not the final step. Instead, you must validate your VLS-TS online within three months of entry. If you fail to do so, your visa becomes invalid.

Once validated, your visa functions as a residence permit. Consequently, you may:

How to validate

Since 2019, the entire validation process is digital. No more queuing at OFII offices.

1. Go to the ANEF portal: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
2. Create an account using the email address linked to your visa application
3. Select “I validate my VLS-TS”
4. Enter your visa information (visa number, dates, entry date into France)
5. Upload the required documents (passport scan, visa page, proof of address in France)
6. Pay the tax on residence permits — for students, this is €75 (timbre fiscal, payable online)
7. Download your confirmation — this serves as proof that your visa has been validated as a residence permit

What validation gives you

Once validated, your VLS-TS functions as a residence permit (titre de séjour) for its entire validity period (up to 12 months). This means you can:

– Work part-time — up to 964 hours per year (roughly 20 hours per week)
– Travel freely within the Schengen zone
– Access French social security (sécurité sociale)
– Open a bank account
– Apply for housing assistance (APL/ALS) through the CAF

Before your VLS-TS expires

If you plan to continue studying in France beyond your initial visa period, you must apply for a titre de séjour étudiant (student residence permit) at your local préfecture at least 2 months before your VLS-TS expires. The CCFS administrative support page provides guidance on this renewal process.

Costs Breakdown

Here’s a realistic budget for the visa and administrative process alone — not including tuition, rent, or daily expenses.

Note on financial proof: The €615/month figure is the official minimum set by the French government. In practice, showing more than the minimum strengthens your application. For Paris specifically, a realistic monthly budget is closer to €1,000–€1,200 once rent, food, and transport are included. Consulates are aware of Paris living costs and may look more favorably on applications demonstrating realistic resources.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the errors CCFS staff see most frequently from incoming international students:

1. Starting too late. The single most common problem. Students begin the Campus France procedure in June for a September start and run out of time. Begin 4-5 months before your program starts. For a September 2026 enrollment, start in April at the latest.

2. Insufficient or poorly documented financial proof. A bank statement showing a lump sum deposited last week raises red flags. Consulates want to see consistent financial capacity — regular income over several months, or a guarantor with verifiable, stable resources. If using a sponsor, their documents (tax returns, payslips, attestation de prise en charge) must be complete and recent.

3. Mismatched dates. Your enrollment attestation, financial proof, accommodation, and insurance must all cover the same period. If your CCFS enrollment runs September to June but your bank statements only cover three months, or your housing proof covers only one month, the consulate will flag the inconsistency.

4. Skipping VLS-TS validation after arrival. This is surprisingly common. Students arrive, get swept up in orientation and adjusting to Paris, and forget to validate their visa online within the 3-month window. Set a reminder for your first week in France.

5. Booking non-refundable travel before receiving the visa. Visa processing times are unpredictable. Consulates do not accelerate processing because you have a flight to catch.

6. Submitting untranslated documents. Documents not in French (or sometimes English) must be translated by a certified translator (traducteur assermenté). This takes time and money. Plan ahead.

7. Using expired or nearly expired passports. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned stay in France and have at least 2 blank pages. If your passport expires in mid-2027 and your program runs until June 2027, renew it before starting the visa process.

8. Not checking country-specific requirements. Campus France procedures and required documents can vary by country. Always check your local Campus France website and consulate page for any additional requirements specific to your nationality.

How CCFS Supports You Through the Process

Navigating French bureaucracy from abroad, in a language you’re still learning, is genuinely difficult. CCFS has been welcoming international students since 1919 and has built support systems specifically for this:

Before you arrive:

– The CCFS admissions team issues your attestation d’inscription promptly after registration, formatted for visa applications
– Dedicated visa guidance page with country-specific advice and document checklists
– Housing assistance through the CCFS accommodation service, which can provide the proof of housing needed for your visa file

After you arrive:

– Administrative orientation during the first week of classes
– Guidance on VLS-TS validation, social security enrollment, and bank account opening
– Support with residence permit renewals and other legal documents
– A community of international students who have been through exactly the same process

If you’re considering enrolling, the CCFS registration page walks you through program options and timelines. For visa-specific questions, the dedicated visa page addresses the most common situations by nationality.

Your Timeline at a Glance

For a September 2026 start date, here is a realistic calendar:

– March–April 2026: Register with CCFS. Begin Campus France procedure (Études en France account, document uploads).
– April–May 2026: Campus France interview. Receive Campus France approval.
– May–June 2026: Book and attend consulate appointment. Submit visa application.
– June–August 2026: Visa processing (2–8 weeks). Receive passport with visa sticker.
– September 2026: Arrive in France. Validate VLS-TS on ANEF within the first weeks.
– Before December 2026: VLS-TS validation deadline (3 months after arrival).

Every step depends on the one before it. The earlier you start, the more margin you have if something goes wrong a missing document, a delayed consulate appointment, a Campus France interview that gets rescheduled.

The French student visa process is structured, but it is not arbitrary. Each requirement exists for a reason, and thousands of international students complete it successfully every year. Prepare your documents methodically, respect the timelines, and don’t hesitate to reach out to CCFS or your local Campus France office when you need clarification. The administrative hurdle is temporary. What comes after studying French at the Sorbonne, exploring Paris, building a life in France is worth every form you fill out.