The different types of student visas

Étudiants

Pays concerné(s)

Afrique du Sud

Accepted at an institution in France for your Licence (Bachelor's), Master’s or PhD?

Before completing your visa application, you MUST complete the pre-visa procedure on the Etudes en France platform!

Once this is done, you can attend your visa appointment.

Good news!

There is an official website for visa application to France : france-visas.gouv.fr

France has launched a new service to facilitate all international visa applications. For more information or to register for your visa application documents, log on to France-Visas, the official website for visas for France.

France-Visas is the sole portal providing all necessary information to guide you through your visa application and to assist you at each stage of the process (file preparation, submission, and follow-up of your application).

Once you have completed the registration process online on France-Visas, you will be redirected to the CAPAGO website to make an appointment for the submission of your visa application and the collection of your biometric data.

Visa applications for long-stay students have also been digitised since 07 April 2021!

Follow this guide for more information and how to apply!

Take note!

The academic year starts in September or October, depending on the institution.

Enrolling in a programme that starts after the standard Rentrée in France (in January, February, etc.) is strongly discouraged!

Such programmes can cause problems for obtaining a long-stay student visa.

Student Visa Checklist

ID Photograph (a European-size passport-style headshot photograph, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, in colour, against a uniform and clear background).
Passport
University acceptance letter
EEF Admission Certificate (Accord préalable d'Inscription)
EEF number (ZA21-XXXXX-PXX)
Proof of temporary accommodation in France
Proof of sufficient funds for your time in France (the equivalent of 615€ per month for the duration of your stay in France)
Visa application form (completed)
France-Visas receipt (generated by the France-Visas platform when you complete the visa application online)
*For non-South African citizens, proof of legal status in South Africa

Please note that the requirements are subject to change.
Students should always follow the checklist generated by France-Visas, which may include additional documents not listed here. This article serves an explanatory purpose to help students understand the items they will see on the France-Visas checklists.

Short-Stay Visas (0-3 Months)

Article

The "student-in-competition" short-stay Visa

Article

The Schengen Short-Stay Visa

Article

The Travel Visa, or Schengen Visa

The short-stay student visa

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, and depending on your nationality, you must obtain a student visa to study in France even if your stay is less than 3 months.

There are two types of short stay visa: the "short stay for studies" (court séjour pour études) visa and the "student in competition" (étudiant concours) visa, which should be requested if you are convoked by a French institute for an exam or interview.

Note that nationals from certain non-European countries are not required to have a visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days. Check the article "The student visa short stay"for more information on this subject.

Long-Stay Visas (3+ Months)

Article

Long Stay Visa for Students (VLS-TS Étudiant)

Article

The "researcher-talent passport" long-stay visa

Article

The Long-Stay Internship Visa, or Internship VLS-TS

Article

The working-holiday Visa

The long-stay student visa

If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you must request a student long-stay visa to study, conduct research or do an internship in France for more than 3 months.

There are two types of long-term visas:

1/ the Long-Stay Visa used as Residence Permit (VLS-TS)

This visa allows you to remain in France for one year without needing to request a residency permit. You will still need to have your visa approved on arrival. Depending on the nature of your stay, there are three types of long-stay visas:

the student VLS-TS for studies at the Bachelor's and Master's level;
the Talent passport VLS-TS for a doctorate and beyond;
the internship VLS-TS to do an internship in France as part of the programme you are enrolled in your country of residence.

2/ the Temporary Long-Stay Visa (VLS-T)

With the VLS-T, you can stay in France for 1 year, and you don’t need to validate it at your arrival. It cannot be renewed, and it doesn’t grant the same rights of the VLS-TS.