VISA

A visa is delivered by the French Consulate in your usual country of residence.

The French Consulate will provide you with a visa corresponding to the motive (examination,studies or placement) for and duration of your stay in France (short or long stay).

Important:

You must request a visa for France in order to study or carry out a placement there if:

-You are acitizen of a country outside the European Union (EU)

-You are in possession of a temporary residence permit delivered by another country in the Schengen Area

You do not need a visa if:

-If you are a citizen of the European Union (UE), the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or Liechtenstein. Nor do
you need to apply for a residence permit once you are in France. All you need is a valid identity card or passport.

-If you have an EU Long-Term Resident’s Permit (CRLD-UE). BUT you will have to request a residence card when you arrive in France.

-If you have a “student” Residence Card delivered in the context of a mobility program by another European Union State, you must follow the “Notification of the mobility in France ofa foreign student authorized to stay in another EU Member State” procedure.

Beware:

In order to obtain the right to stay in France, you must: validate your visa if you have a Long-Stay Visa valid as a Residence Permit (VLS-TS)

request a residence permit if you have:

· a Temporary Long-Stay Visa (VLS-T) with the reference “Residence Card to request upon arrival in France”

· a short-term “competitive exam” visa and you have passed the exam for which the visa was delivered to you

· a long-stay “school-going minor” visa and you are 18 years old

· The “student” Temporary Long Stay Visa (aka VLS-T) with the reference “temporary waiver of residence permit” enables you to stay in France from 4 to 6 months maximum in order to attend a short course. It acts as temporary authorization to stay in France. So, you do
not need to request a residence card as long as the visa is valid. When this type of visa expires, you must return to your country of residence.

· It is very important to arrive with the “RIGHT” visa, as once you are in France, you will not be able to request:

· modification of the status on your visa

· a residence permit on the basis of a tourist visa

· an extension of a tourist visa

=> If you arrive in France with a tourist visa and you want to study or carry out a placement there, you will have to return to your usual country of residence to request a “student”or “trainee” visa.

Additional link : Foreigners student in France:long-stay visa or residence card | Service-Public.fr