Student Visa for France
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With the majestic Eiffel Tower in Paris, breathtaking beaches in Nice, and the Loire River estuary in Nantes, who can say no to France? Before you say au revoir to friends and family back home, let’s make sure you can enter France with the necessary documentation.
While this may be the first time you apply for a student visa, we’ve got you on this. Every year our team of visa specialists support each of our students studying abroad in France to have the proper documents to enter the country. Allons-y!
France visa processes and requirements are determined by the French government, not by IES Abroad. While our team of visa specialists regularly updates this page, the most up-to-date and official information can be found on the official visa website for France. This page was last updated August 30, 2019.
What is a French student visa?
A student visa for French is a legal document adhered to one of the inside pages of your passport that you must have before entering France. The visa serves as an approval from the French government to legally remain in France for the duration of your study abroad program. The French student visa is a long-term visa, meaning you plan to be in France for more than 90 days.
Do You Need a Visa to Go to France?
Depending on your IES Abroad program and citizenship, you may need a student visa to study abroad in France. We’ve outlined citizenship options below to help you learn more about your visa requirements
If you will be going on a Customized & Faculty-Led Program, you may need a student visa depending on the length and nature of your program. Learn more in your myIESabroad account.
If you are a U.S. citizen...
If you are going on one of our semester or academic year study abroad programs, you will need to apply for a student visa for France.
You are not required to obtain a visa for our France summer study abroad or internship programs.
If you are an EU citizen or U.S. military passport holder...
Lucky you! You may not need to apply for a student visa. Talk with your IES Abroad Advisor to confirm details about your legal entry and stay in France.
If you are a non-U.S. and non-EU citizen...
Refer to the France visa website to determine whether a student visa or other materials are required for you to enter France.
Applying for a Student Visa for France
Once you are accepted to your IES Abroad program, you will find detailed step-by-step instructions to apply for a French student visa in your myIESabroad account. For now, read below to get an idea of what the visa application process will look like as a U.S. citizen.
If you are a non-U.S. and non-EU citizen, refer to the France visa website to determine your visa application process. Contact your IES Abroad Advisor with further questions.
HOW
Shortly after confirming your place in your program, you will receive letters of support to begin the student visa application process. Then you will register with Campus France USA—a visa pre-approval process required by the Embassy of France.
Next you will fill out a visa application and bring it to your in-person appointment at your nearest visa processing center.
WHEN
After you are admitted into your program, you will need to make your visa appointment 30-90 days before your program start date for France.
Visa processing times vary, but usually take 3-4 weeks.
WHERE
In the United States, there are nine visa processing centers for France. You can book your in-person appointment at whichever location is most convenient for you.
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Chicago
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- San Francisco
- Washington D.C.
COST
Altogther, you can expect to pay around $350 to receive your French student visa. Fees include Campus France registration, an in-person appointment fee, and the student visa fee. You can expedite your Campus France registration for an additional $150.
These are prices determined by the French government and may change regularly depending on the current conversion rate.
You will need to travel to your in-person appointment and may also be required to return on a separate occasion to pick up your passport and visa. This may mean you will have to pay for flights, train tickets, hotel accommodations, or other travel-related expenses.
Our team of visa specialists are here to help. Step-by-step instructions to ensure you have the proper visa and/or entry documents to study abroad are available in your myIESabroad account once you are accepted to a program.
