France Student Visa for Indians

France or the French Republic is a beautiful place where every traveler forms a connection with the destination. From romantic Paris to the adventurous French Alps, France has everything for everyone. No wonder, it is the leading tourist destination in the world. France is rich with history and culture that has monuments from Neolithic Age to modern times, so whether you are a history buff or a free soul, you would always wish to go back again and again to this beautiful country. Whenever you will book a France tour package and go sightseeing in France, you will realize it is like traveling back in time. From remains of old Roman Lutetia, magnificent medieval abbeys, gothic monuments, breathtaking architecture, and tons of museums make it a traveler’s paradise. Packed with world-renowned universities and business districts, along with so many tourist spots would make anyone rush to apply for their France visa online and check it off their bucket list right away.

If you want to study in France, you will be required to get a France Student visa or permit depending on your nationality and condition. The duration of your course also plays a vital role in the France Student Visa Selection.

Different application procedures apply depending on what you will be studying in France, and how long you will need to live in France in order to complete your studies. This can be applicable to students applying for a degree, taking a short course, or enrolling to study French in France.

Types of Student Visas for France:

You need to apply for a long-term France student visa if you want to study for longer than six months. This type of France Student Visa (which is also your residence permit) now lasts for the duration of your course in France: three years for a bachelor's, two years for a Master’s, and four years for a Ph.D.. Long-stay visas act as residence permits and are called VLT-TS.
Short-stay France visa allows study for up to three months on this visa without the need for a separate residence visa. This is suitable for those enrolling in a language course or other short-term program.
“Sitting entrance exams” France Visa allows you to take an entrance exam at an institute of higher education. If you pass, then you can apply directly to your local administrative office in France for a one-year, renewable, residence permit.
A temporary long-stay France visa allows you to study in France for between three and six months without the need for a residence permit. It is non-renewable.

France Student Visa Application Submission

French universities intake students twice a year. First during the Summer Semester which commences in October and second during the Winter Semester which is available for selected courses and commences in April.

Indian students may have to provide biometrics during the visa application process. Your biometrics (it includes fingerprints and pictures) are the proof that countries use for security purposes. You will have to attend a visa interview during the application process.

Depending on your situation, French authorities will allow you to pay this fee online, on location at a visa application center in India, or through a bank transfer. Indian students will not need to get health insurance for the France student visa

After you arrive in France

Within the first 2 months of arrival, visit and register yourself at the Immigration and Integration Office (OFII) and validate your visa.

If your visa reads - “carte de séjour à solliciter” (residence permit to be applied for), apply for a France Residence Permit.

France Student Visa Stay Period & Renewal

A short-stay visa will be issued to applicants who wish to attend a training course for less than 3 months.
A temporary long-stay visa will be issued to applicants who wish to attend a training course for less than 6 months but more than 3 months.
A long-stay student visa France which is equivalent to a France residence permit will be issued to applicants who wish to attend a training course for more than 6 months.
The VLS-TS from France is valid for a stay period of up to 3 months or more so that you can stay during your entire degree program.
You may need to renew your visa every year if you want to stay in France after your degree is over. You will have to apply for a different visa or get a Fance visa renewal through the immigration office.

After you graduate in France

After receiving your Bachelor's degree,= you can stay and work in France only if you have a France work permit. If you wish to pursue your Master's degree, you need to apply for an Autorisation Provisioire de Séjour (APS) which is a temporary residence permit that is valid for 2 years.
You can apply for a 2 year France visa extension after receiving your Master’s, Ph.D., or any other post-graduate degree from any university in France.
You can apply for a work permit if you find employment with a minimum 1.5 times of the monthly wage in France. After receiving a work permit you can easily get an EU Blue Card.

France Student Visa Processing Time

Make sure that you allow yourself extra time for your France visa application form to process. You should apply for your France Student visa at least 3 months before your university degree program starts.
Immediately after you have been accepted to and enrolled in the University of your Choice, you can already start your application for the French VLS-TS. Once you complete your Visa application process, you can expect the decision in at least 2-3 weeks.

France Student Visa Documents Checklist

The France student visa requirements for Indian citizens are as follows:

Visa application form
Original Passport
France student visa cost payment receipt
Photographs according to France visa photo specifications
Original academic education certificates
Letter of Acceptance from the French university (proof of enrollment)
Proof of sufficient monetary funds
Proof of accommodation (if staying in a hostel: letter from the authorities, if staying in a residential complex: copy of lease agreement)
Evidence of English Language proficiency – Accepted tests are: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic
Evidence of France Language proficiency (if enrolled in a course taught exclusively in French) – Accepted tests are: DELF/DALF, TCF
Standardized Tests (where necessary for the program)
Two academic references
Two references from employers (where applicable)
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Resume/CV
Medical insurance
Health certificates
Draft for application fees, if applicable
Other Certificates & Achievements of Extracurricular Activities

Note: The documents required for France student visa for individual universities and individual courses may vary in France. Get complete information about France Visa here.

FAQs:

Q.Is France student visa appointment mandatory?

Ans - Yes. You have to attend your France visa appointment in order to submit your biometrics, digital photographs and your France visa application form along with all the relevant documents.

Q.Can I work full time in France with a student visa?

Ans - No. With a student visa in France, you can only work part time. The authorities allow students to work up to 964 hours in a year which is roughly equivalent to 60% of the maximum work hours permitted.

Q.Does France student visa get rejected?

Ans - Yes. There are quite a few reasons as to why a visa for France for Indian citizens may be rejected. A few reasons are: not filling out the France visa forms correctly, selecting the wrong France visa types in the application, not fulfilling visa requirements for France, and submitting fake documents or lack of relevant documents, etc.

Q.Can I stay in France after study?

Ans - Yes. If you have secured employment or have a work contract and will be paid 1.5 times the annual minimum wage in France, you can easily stay in France after completing your studies.

Q.Can I study in France without IELTS?

Ans - Yes. You can study in France without appearing for an IELTS exam but you will have to submit other acceptable English proficiency test results such as TOEFL, PTE Academic, etc.

Q.Is France visa free for Indians?

Ans - No. Indians planning to visit France need a France Schengen visa to visit the country.

Q.Is France free for Indian students?

Ans - No. However, France has on of the lowest tuition rates in the world. International students enrolled in higher educational institutions pay up to EUR 2,770 approx. per year for a Bachelor’s Degree and EUR 3,770 approx. per year for a Master’s Degree.

Q.How long does France student visa take?

Ans - After submitting your France visa application form, along with all the relevant documents and biometrics, you can receive your student visa for France within 3 weeks. However, it can take up to 2 - 3 months due to many unforeseeable circumstances, hence it is recommended to apply atleast 3 months in advance before you start your semester at your registered university.

Q.Is it easy to get France student visa?

Ans - Applying for a France student visa can get tricky as it requires scheduling an appointment and gathering all the relevant documents. However, if you take the help of a reliable travel agent, such as Akbar Travels, you need not have to worry about anything and can easily get your France student visa.

Q.How much does a student visa cost for France?

Ans - The France visa cost for students varies depending upon the duration of stay and the course for which the student is applying.

Why choose Akbar Travels?

We at Akbartravels.com not only understand the value of quality education but also know its importance for a bright future. That is why we have a sister concern called – Study Abroad by Akbar Group which focuses solely on helping students who wish to study overseas. As leading overseas education consultants we have a qualified team of specialists that provides special counselling to students and guides them step by step in the admission application process until they receive their offer letter. We also have a visa processing and documentation team that takes care of all the documentation and visa application process of the students. And finally, we also have a client assistance team takes care of other concerns such as booking flight tickets, forex, etc. Moreover, from cheap flightstoFrance, visa to accommodation France tour packages and everything in between, we can handle it all.

France Visa Blogs:

Apply Visa Online

International Holiday Packages

Domestic Holiday Packages

Packages by Themes

Domestic Flights

International Flights