Depending on your nationality, your situation and the length of your stay, you may be able to obtain a visa to study or conduct research in France or to return here after you graduate.
Beware!
Beware : The French Embassy has noticed that a series of self-styled visa facilitation agencies have recently induced in vain students planning to go to France for furthering their studies. As a reminder, the main steps for applying for a visa are listed here: https://lk.ambafrance.org/Applying-for-a-French-visa-in-Sri-Lanka
Good News!
There is an official website for visa application to France : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
You will find all information you need to prepare your stay in France.
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.
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 Term 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 have 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 in your country of residence.
2/ the Temporary Long Term 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 rights than the VLS-TS.
Provisional residency permit
If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS - Provisional Residency Permit) allows you to remain one year in France after you graduate. It is reserved for holders of a professional Bachelor's, a Master's-level degree and all graduates who are starting a company.
The travel visa or Schengen 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 can request a travel visa at the end of your studies. Reserved for holders of a Master's-level degree from a French higher education institute, it allows you to regularly return to France if you reside in another country after your studies in France.
Student visa: Campus France answers your questions
Regardless of your situation or nationality, check the following articles to find the answers to your questions concerning student visas:
