First application for a student residence permit in France: Complete Guide 2025
Author: Syndou
If you are a foreign student coming to studyen France, il vous faut obligatoirement effectuer une première demande de titre de séjour dès votre arrivée sur le sol français. Les procédures de la demande diffèrent selon que vous ayez un visa long séjour ou court séjour et peuvent s’avérer au mieux compliquées, au pire embarrassantes et déroutantes vu la complexité et la multitude des sites du gouvernement. But don't panic! Dans cet article, vous aurez tout ce qu’il vous faut pour effectuer vos démarches en toute simplicité. L’objectif est donc d’éviter que vos débuts en France se transforment en un calvaire administratif.
Quels types de visa étudiant existe-t-il en France ?
There are several types of student visa for France, depending on duration and purpose.
Stays of less than 3 months
Short-stay student visa (type C) with a “short-stay student” label. Generally for university exchange students in France.
Short-stay visa with “competitive student” status to take an entrance exam (reserved for non-European students). Generally for students in classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles taking competitive entrance exams such as BCE, ECRICOME or CCP.
Stays over 3 months
Long-stay visa with residence permit (VLS-TS) for studies from 4 months to 1 year
Long-stay “talent passport” visa for doctoral students, researchers and teacher-researchers
Long-stay visa with trainee status for internships of over 3 months
Finding your visa type is easy! Just read it !!!
Commencez par rassembler les documents nécessaires
Maintenant que vous savez quel type de visa vous avez, commençons par lister les documents dont vous aurez besoin pour effectuer votre demande de carte de séjour.
FOR SHORT-STAY VISAS
If you have a short-stay visa, there's a good chance you've taken a CPGE-type competitive entrance exam. Here's the list of documents you'll need to prepare:
Your passport and short-stay visa
A photo code and a digital signature. Rendez-vous simplement dans un photomaton dans une gare RER ou dans un supermarché pour prendre la photo d’identité et signer. Faites attention à bien sélectionner l’option titre de séjour lors de la prise de photo, le photomaton vous demandera aussi de signer numériquement. Les frais sont autour de 8 euros.
Proof of address less than 6 months old If you're staying with a private individual, you'll need to provide a dated and signed “attestation d'hébergement” + a copy of your residence permit or identity card (or a bill showing the private individual's address if he or she is not staying with you). If you are staying with a private individual, have ready a dated and signed attestation d'hébergement + a copy of your residence permit or CNI (or an invoice showing the private individual's address if he or she does not have a residence permit).
A certificate of enrolment or pre-registration issued by an educational establishment. Please note that if you submit a pre-registration certificate, the registration certificate must be submitted before you receive your residence permit!
Proof of sufficient means of subsistenceat least €615/month. A scholarship certificate if you have a scholarship, the last 3 pay slips or a bank statement showing a sufficient balance if you are paying your own way. If you are being cared for proof of identity of the third party (ID card, etc.) + bank statement of regular transfer schedule or a sworn statement of regular transfer of at least €615/month (sample sworn statements are available on Google and are easy to draft!). If you have multiple sources of incoming funds reaching the 615€/month mark, provide proof of each source.
A certificate of admission to the competition (faites les captures de vos résultats d’admission+sigem pour ceux qui ont fait la prépa commerciale). Vous pouvez aussi demander à votre école de vous fournir une attestation de réussite aux concours. Apportez une attestation de scolarité si l’école vous en a fournie !
Enfin, téléchargez et fill in the following form :
First of all, you need to know that you can only apply for a long-stay visa online!
Valid passport (identity and validity pages).
Visa long séjour valant titre de séjour (VLS-TS) validated.
Proof of address less than 6 months old.
Une carte de paiement pour acheter un timbre en ligne à 50€ (il porte un numéro qui vous sera demandé lors de la demande). Si vous n’avez pas encore de carte bancaire, vous pouvez acheter le timbre dans un tabac. Profitez-en pour lire nos articles comparatifs sur les offres étudiantes de nos banques partenaires et créez votre compte pour bénéficier d’un dépôt gratuit dès l’ouverture du compte ! Cliquez sur ce lien :
As mentioned above, the application procedure depends on the type of visa you have. Let's go a step further:
I- SHORT-STAY VISA
1- Make an appointment
Make sure you know which prefecture is responsible for processing your application. Usually, it's the one where you live. If you're having trouble finding.., here is the link which will show you your prefecture according to your town or zip code. Below are images of the links to click on to access the search bar:
Please note that some prefectures do not allow online appointments.. To check, you can click on the link for your prefecture and type in the search bar on the site “Make an appointment. If you are unable to book an appointment online, please contact your prefecture directly via their mail or telephone number for an appointment. Note also that some establishments help their students to make appointments or even speed up the application process. So don't hesitate to ask your school's administrators for help! Remarque : les RDV sont fixés généralement à 1 ou 2 mois à partir du jour de la demande de RDV dans les grandes agglomérations !
2- Submitting files
It's now the day of your appointment. Be on time and don't forget any documents!!!. From experience, if you file all your administrative documents in a folder or binder, bring it with you, as an additional document may be requested at the time of filing. And make sure you have enough paper to make photocopies! The aim is to ensure that you don't fail the application process because of a missing document, otherwise you'll be forced to make another appointment... And hello hassle!
After filing the documents, you will receive a receipt for your residence permit application and you can pick up your residence permit 1, 2 or even 3 months later. Go to the additional information section to find out more about the duration and what you can and cannot do with your récépissé.
II- LONG-STAY VISA
Long-stay visa applications can only be made online. Take your documents with you and visit the website of the Direction Générale des Etrangers en France (here is the link):
Enter your visa number and follow the instructions. Everything should go smoothly if you have all the necessary documents. above.
At the end of your registration, you'll receive a VLS confirmation, which is the document you need to attach to your long-stay visa for all administrative purposes!
CONGRATULATIONS! You've just converted your long-stay visa into a residence permit.
Further information
It is important to note that the receipt of the first application for a residence permit does not have the same probative value as the residence permit itself. which means thatits use is limited. D’abord, vous ne pourrez pas sortir de l’espace Schengen avec votre récépissé de première demande. Ou si vous voulez voyager, vous serez obligé de demander à nouveau un visa pour pouvoir rentrer en France. Certaines entreprises refusent également le récépissé de première demande pour les recherches de stage. Enfin, il a une durée limitée (autour de 3 mois) et donc vous aurez besoin de le renouveler auprès de votre préfecture si la carte de séjour n’est pas prête entre-temps.
To remedy this, we recommend that youstart your application for a carte vitale as soon as possible, in parallel with your application for a residence permit qui peut être un alternatif à la carte de séjour dans vos démarches. Accédez dès à présent à notre guide pour la carte vitale : The carte vitale
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