Types of Student Visa for France: Process & Work Permissions for Indian Students

France, as a study abroad destination, offers a wide variety of rather well-known options for international students. From world-renowned B Schools like HEC Paris and INSEAD to top-rated universities like École Normale Supérieure and École Polytechnique, France offers the very best in higher education. Along with the many university programs for master's and bachelor's degrees, the country also offers different certificate programs in special courses ranging from Luxury Management to Design to Culinary Arts. With the variety comes the question, which student visa do I apply for? And how to apply for a Student Visa for France? With this article, we aim at providing you with that very information.

LATEST UPDATE: France has come up with a new initiative according to which 30,000 Indian alumni would obtain a 5-year Schengen visa by the year 2030. The objective behind this is to nurture academic excellence, tighten cultural ties, and enhance the friendship between the two countries. Under this programme, Indian students will get a five-year Schengen circulation visa. The announcement regarding this was made by the French President Macron. 

The French Embassy shared that this is a specialised programme through which students will obtain comprehensive training in the French language and other academic disciplines. This way they will be able to do well in their studies and adapt to the French education system smoothly.

Types of French Student Visas

The French Student Visas are broadly classified on the kind of stay expected out of you. Depending on the duration of your stay (or duration of your course), you can apply either to a Short Stay visa, a temporary long-stay visa or a long-stay visa. Here’s a quick look at them.

Extended stay research scholar visa

This is for the master's degree or higher degree holders who wish to visit France for carrying out research or teach at a university. The institution can get you to France on an extended stay research scholar visa VLS-TS. For this, students will require a hosting agreement from the institution which will also describe the kind of research or work they'll do and the time period of the same. After getting it stamped from the local prefecture, you'll have to submit the same to your home country's consulate with your application for a visa.

Documents Required for Applying for a French Visa

International students who wish to apply for the French Student Visas must provide:

1. Admission Letters from the polytechnics, Universities/ higher education institutes
2. Visa Application form
3. French Language Proficiency Certificate
4. 2 passport size photographs
5. Valid Passport
6. Language Proficiency Certificate (as desired by the course)
7. Academic Transcripts
8. Airline Ticket reflecting your departure date
9. Medical Insurance (with a cover of €30,000)
10. Proof of Funds
11. Proof of Civil Status, if applicable
12. Proof of Accommodation

This is along with the essential copies of Id proof as well as age proof.

For the proof of funds, the candidate has to show documentary evidence that s/he is capable of taking care of the living expenses in France for at least the first year of studies. The figure is decided by and shared by the immigration authorities and averages at about €615 per month. This is over and above the tuition fee (if applicable).

How to apply for a French student visa

Indian Students can apply for a French Student Visa via Campus France. Campus France is a national agency for higher education in France for international students. Set up for the sole purpose of facilitating the travel of international student to France, the organization also assists with visa processing. Indian nationals fall under the CEF Procedure and can accordingly apply.

In order to apply, Indian students can log on to Campus France Website and register there. This is done for universities that admit students under the CEF Procedure. In case you are applying to an autonomous university in France that is not catered to by Campus France, you can also go via the French Consulate. Once you submit the documents, the organization would screen the same and accordingly process your visa.

Programs for which French Student Visa is Required

• Student Exchange Programs
• French Language Learning Programs
• Full-Time Programs (UG/PG/Dual-Degree)
• Erasmus-Mundus Programs
• Short-Term Internship Programs (Part of UG/PG courses)

Work Permissions on Student Visa

The Long Stay Student Visas permit you to work for 964 hours in a year as long as your course is not affected. Usually, students work at universities or other educational institutes that offer a yearly contract of employment. These jobs are often adjusted to accommodate your academic calendar. International students are eligible for the minimum wages offered in the country.

After completing a master’s degree, a student can apply for and is granted permission to stay in the country for two years now. The residence permit offered is a non-renewable temporary visa. This, however, does not allow you to take up full-time employment and limits the hours you can work to 60 hours a week. This can then be converted to a Work Permit if you have a full-time employment offer (more than 1.5 times of the minimum wage guarantee) in the country. Recent changes in the policies now allow Indian students to obtain visas lasting up to five years if they have graduated from a Master’s or Ph.D. course from a French higher education institution.

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