Visas

Depending on your nationality, your situation and the length of your stay, you may need a visa to study or do research in France or to return to France after obtaining your degree.

 

• You are a student and you wish to apply for a visa to come to France
   
• You are a doctoral student or teacher-researcher and you wish to apply for a long-stay visa (VLS) with the mention "passport talent - researcher" to come to France

• If you are a citizen of a European Economic Area country (European Union (EU) countries and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you do not need a student visa to study or do an internship in France. Entry into France is free whatever the length of your stay or studies.
   
• If you are not a citizen of a European Economic Area country (EU countries and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you must apply for a long-stay student visa to study, conduct research or do an internship in France for a period of more than 3 months, this is the "long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS)". It allows you to stay in France for one year without having to apply for a residence permit. In order to apply for your VLS-TS you must connect to the official website for visas for France: France Visas
  However, you will need to have your visa validated on arrival on the Étrangers en France website. 

Please note that it is impossible to apply for a visa from France, you must apply from your country of origin


More information on how to apply for a student visa on the Campus France website (website in French, English and Spanish)

Long-stay visas or residence permits with the mention "passeport talent - chercheur" allow holders of a master's degree to stay in France to carry out research work or to teach at university level under a hosting agreement. They are reserved for doctoral students, researchers and teacher-researchers.

Eligibility criteria for the status of researcher:
• Degree: hold a degree at least equivalent to a Master.
• Resources: must hold a French employment contract providing the necessary financial resources (minimum salary).
Please note that the hosting agreement is equivalent to a work permit in France.

In order to apply for your VLS with the mention "passeport talent - chercheur" you must connect to the official visa website for France: France Visas

If you already have a visa and wish to extend your stay in France, please consult our "residence permits" section (soon).