Introduction
Are you planning to study in France for more than three months? The Long-Stay Visa as a Residence Permit (VLS-TS) is one of the options available to you. If you’re not a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, this is likely the visa you’ll need.
The VLS-TS student visa offers you numerous rights and opportunities throughout your stay in France, including the flexibility to travel freely across the Schengen Area.
In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about this visa: its benefits, how to apply, the validation process, and the steps for renewal.
Ready? Let’s get started! 😊
What is the VLS-TS Student Visa?
What the VLS-TS Student Visa Allows You to Do
The VLS-TS student visa is a long-term visa that allows you to pursue higher education in France for 4 months to 1 year. It replaces the temporary residence permit during your first year. With a VLS-TS labeled "student," you can:
- Study legally at a French higher education institution.
- Work part-time: up to 964 hours per year (around 20 hours per week).
- Travel freely within the Schengen Area.
- Access certain benefits: the free Visale rental guarantee, and housing assistance if you meet one of the three conditions left open to non-EU/EEA students since the July 2026 reform.
When your visa expires, you can apply for either:
- A temporary residence permit (1 year), or
- A multi-year residence permit (2 to 4 years).
Multiple-Entry Benefits
With a multiple-entry VLS-TS, you can travel outside France. This is particularly useful if you want to explore neighboring countries during your study year in France!
Note: After the first three months, you must validate your visa to continue traveling freely. The validation process is now fully online, through the ANEF portal run by the French Ministry of the Interior.
VLS-T or VLS-TS: Which One Do You Need?
Two French long-stay visas have similar names, and they do very different things.
The temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T) runs from more than 3 months to 12 months at most (official information sheet). It covers short courses, artistic activity, and visitor stays, and visitors must be able to live on their own resources. It does not allow you to work or to receive social benefits, and when it ends you have to return to your home country.
If you’re coming to France for higher education lasting more than 3 months, the VLS-TS is the one you need: it is the visa that opens the right to work, access to housing assistance, and the option to extend your stay. The rest of this article is about the VLS-TS only.
Eligibility Criteria for the VLS-TS Student Visa
Who Can Apply?
The VLS-TS student visa is available to:
- Students accepted at a French higher education institution for a program of at least three months.
- Students who can demonstrate sufficient financial resources: at least 47% of the gross monthly French minimum wage (SMIC), which comes to €877.50 per month at the current rate.
- Applicants with health insurance coverage for the whole of their stay.
Simplified Procedure for Certain Countries
For other countries: Applications are made directly through the French consulate in your country of residence.
Countries Covered by Études en France
🌍 AFRICA South Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Chad, Togo.
🌏 ASIA Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
🌎 AMERICAS Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic.
🌍 NORTH AFRICA / MIDDLE EAST Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia.
🌍 EUROPE Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine.
Our Tip: Use the Visa Assistant tool on the France Visas website to check if you need a visa.
How to Apply for the VLS-TS Student Visa
Step 1: Prepare the Required Documents
Make sure you have the following documents ready:
- A valid passport (valid for at least six months beyond your planned stay).
- An acceptance letter from a French institution.
- Proof of sufficient financial resources (bank statements, scholarship confirmation, etc.).
- Proof of accommodation (rental contract, letter from a host, or booking in a student residence).
- Proof of health insurance covering your whole stay.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
- For countries using Études en France: Your application will be processed through the centralized platform.
- For other countries: Book an appointment with the French consulate in your home country.
Step 3: Processing Time and Fees
- Processing time: 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the time of year and your country.
- Application fees: Between €50 and €99, depending on bilateral agreements.
Validating Your VLS-TS After You Arrive
Why Validation Is Mandatory
Without this validation, your visa will become invalid after three months. Completing this step is essential to legally stay in France. The good news? The entire process is quick and fully online, on the ANEF portal run by the Ministry of the Interior (this is the step long known as "OFII validation") ✌️
Step-by-Step Guide to Validate Your Visa
- Go to the ANEF portal.
- Fill out the online form with your details (arrival date, address, etc.).
- Pay the validation tax (€100) via credit card or using an electronic stamp.
- If OFII summons you, attend the medical examination.
Rights and Obligations with the VLS-TS Student Visa
Your Rights
- Study in France without additional formalities during your first year.
- Work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) without needing a work permit.
- Travel freely within the Schengen Area.
- Claim housing assistance, but only in three cases since 1 July 2026 if you are a non-EU/EEA student holding a residence permit for studies: you receive a means-tested scholarship (a CROUS grant, or a regional health and social-care grant aligned with the same criteria), you have a job, or you are on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. A scholarship paid by a foreign government or an international organisation does not count.
Your Obligations
- Validate your visa online on the ANEF portal within three months of arriving in France.
- Renew your residence permit if you plan to extend your studies.
Renewing Your VLS-TS: What You Need to Know
When your VLS-TS is about to expire, you have two options to extend your stay:
- Apply for a temporary residence permit (valid for 1 year).
- Apply for a multi-year residence permit (valid for 2 to 4 years).
These options are available to students pursuing higher education in France who do not hold another residence permit (such as a resident card or family-related permit).
Conditions for Renewal
- Mandatory enrollment: You must be enrolled or pre-enrolled in a French higher education institution (university, grande école, or professional training center).
- Financial resources: You must prove you have at least 47% of the gross monthly SMIC in force on the day you file, which comes to €877.50 per month at the current rate. The percentage is the rule; the euro figure moves every time the SMIC goes up. This requirement may be waived if you’re attending an institution with a state agreement.
Renewal Process
- Apply for renewal 4 to 2 months before your visa or permit expires.
- Complete the process online via the official administration portal: You’ll receive a digital acknowledgment of receipt upon submission.
- Track your application status and respond to additional requests online.
- If required, visit the prefecture for fingerprinting (if not already done).
Documents Required for Renewal
Here’s what you’ll need to submit:
- Your current VLS-TS or valid residence permit.
- Proof of address (less than six months old).
- A compliant digital photo (e-photo with a code).
- Proof of enrollment or pre-enrollment in a French higher education institution.
- Academic records: transcripts, your most recent diploma earned in France, and a certificate of achievement.
- Proof that you meet the resource threshold: scholarship documentation, pay slips, transfers from a sponsor, or sufficient savings.
- A signed commitment to uphold the principles of the French Republic.
Fees and Deadlines
- Fee: €100 (tax and stamp duty) for a temporary residence permit, €150 (€100 tax + €50 stamp duty) for a multi-year permit.
- Late application penalty: a visa regularization fee applies, unless you can prove force majeure. Since 1 May 2026 it is €300, of which €100 is non-refundable and due when you file. The figure comes from the 2026 budget act, so it can change with the next one, and several government pages still show the old amount.
Validity of the New Permit
- The multi-year residence permit aligns with the remaining duration of your academic program.
- Example: If you’re in your first year of a bachelor's program, the permit will be valid for two years, covering the remainder of your degree.
- For grande école students, the permit lasts until the completion of your program (e.g., engineering degree).
Conclusion
Navigating the French immigration process can be challenging, and the VLS-TS is no exception. Preparing early and organizing your documents in advance will save you from unnecessary stress.
Resources like Campus France and France Visas are invaluable in helping you through this process. If you have additional questions or need support, our community is here to guide you! 😊
Sources
- service-public.gouv.fr (information sheet F2231, checked on 01/08/2026) - €877.50 per month resource requirement, €100 VLS-TS validation tax, cost of the student residence permit (€100 for the temporary card, €150 for the multi-year card) - https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231
- service-public.gouv.fr (information sheet F16162, checked on 21/08/2026) - types of long-stay visas and the 4-to-12-month validity of the VLS-TS; temporary long-stay visa of more than 3 months up to 12 months for short courses, artistic activity or visitor stays, which “does not allow you to work or to receive social benefits” and at the end of which “you must return to your country of origin” - https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F16162
- French decree no. 2026-526 of 22 June 2026 (codified in the CESEDA, article R. 422-2) - resource threshold for foreign students: at least 47% of the gross monthly SMIC in force on the day the application is filed
- French Ministry of the Interior (ANEF portal) - online validation of the VLS-TS and payment of the tax - https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
- Campus France - VLS-TS validation entirely online, 4-to-12-month validity and the right to work 964 hours per year - https://www.campusfrance.org/en/student-long-stay-visa
- France-Visas - visa assistant and visa cost by country - https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/etudiant
