This information is for orientation only. Campus France, visa, and residence procedures change often. Always check france-visas.gouv.fr, administration-etrangers-en-france, and your international office before you travel.

Bureaucracy roadmap

Admission → Campus France (non-EU) → VLS-TS visa → Entry → VLS-TS validation (3 months) → CVEC → Enrolment → NIR/CPAM → Titre de séjour renewal → After graduation (APS / CDI)

France has no single «Anmeldung» like Germany: immigration (visa/titre), university (CVEC, enrolment), and social rights (NIR, CAF) run in parallel.

Student checklist — where are you now?

  • Before the visa (non-EU): admission, Campus France / Études en France dossier, funds ≥ €615/month, housing (at least first months), entry insurance if required.
  • CVEC: payment of €105 (2025/2026 academic year) at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr — certificate required for enrolment.
  • Before travel (EU): ID document, university letter, EHIC/TEAM.
  • Within 3 months of entry (non-EU): VLS-TS validation online + timbre fiscal — mandatory.
  • Week 1–2: enrolment, NIR application (CPAM), bank account, lease.
  • Before working: respect hour limits (964 h/year for many non-EU students) — see Work.
  • Every year: renew titre de séjour with attendance/pass certificate.

Status types relevant to students

Document / statusWhoKey point
VLS-TS étudiantNon-EU, stay > 3 monthsLong-stay visa; validate within 3 months
Titre de séjour étudiantAfter renewal / multi-yearCard or digital attestation
RécépisséApplication pendingOften allows you to stay; check work rights
EU stayEU/EEA/SwitzerlandFree movement; attestation d’enregistrement optional
APSMaster’s graduate in FranceAutorisation Provisoire de Séjour for job search (12 months)

Last updated: May 2026 — Service Public — Étudiant étranger

EU / EEA / Switzerland

  1. Admission — Parcoursup, Mon Master, or your institution’s procedure.
  2. CVEC €105 — Certificate mandatory to enrol.
  3. Travel — Valid national ID card or passport.
  4. Enrolment — CVEC certificate, ID, health cover (EHIC or equivalent).
  5. CPAM — If stay > 3 months and not employed: student registration; with work: via employer.
  6. CAF (optional) — APL after lease and NIR.
  7. Attestation d’enregistrement — Optional at the Mairie if needed for some procedures.

Non-EU — Campus France and VLS-TS

Études en France (EEF) pathway

  1. Campus France account — Country of residence; procedure fee (amount varies by country).
  2. Dossier — Motivation, language level (often B2 French or English for international programmes), academic documents.
  3. Interview / review — If required by your local Campus France centre.
  4. France-Visas — VLS-TS étudiant application after favourable outcome.
  5. VAC (TLScontact / VFS) — Biometrics, visa fee (often €99 — check your country).
  6. Arrival — Validate within 3 months on the Interior Ministry platform.
  7. CVEC + enrolment — Same as all students.

Documents (orientation checklist)

  • Passport + photo.
  • Campus France certificate / admission letter.
  • Proof of funds ≥ €615/month (bank statements, scholarship, attestation de prise en charge).
  • Housing: lease, booking, university letter, or host letter.
  • Health insurance for pre-CPAM period if required.
  • Signed Engagement à respecter les principes de la République.

Financial requirement (2026)

ItemAmountNote
Minimum resources€615/monthFor the full requested stay duration
Example 10 months≥ €6,150Shown on account or sponsor
Paris (real life)€1,000–1,400/monthConsulate knows €615 is legal minimum, not a real budget
CVEC€105 / academic yearSeparate from visa funds
VLS-TS validation fee~€75 (timbre fiscal)Check current amount online
Visa feeOften €99+ Campus France fee if applicable

Last updated: May 2026 — France-Visas

VLS-TS validation (within 3 months)

  1. Create an account on administration-etrangers-en-france.
  2. Complete the VLS-TS validation form (passport, visa, and France address details).
  3. Pay the timbre fiscal (~€75).
  4. Keep the digital certificate — needed for renewals and many procedures.

CVEC (Contribution vie étudiante)

  • Who: almost all students at public/partner higher-education institutions.
  • 2025/2026 amount: €105.
  • Exemptions: scholarship holders, some statuses — check on the CVEC portal.
  • Certificate: upload to student services / university platform.

NIR (numéro de Sécurité sociale)

  • 15 digits — essential for CPAM, work, CAF, payslips.
  • Non-EU students: often via etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr after enrolment.
  • Provisional number — possible at first; replaced by the definitive NIR.

Titre de séjour renewal

  • Lead time: start 2–4 months before expiry (prefectures are overloaded).
  • Evidence: enrolment certificate, exam results, resources, insurance.
  • Repeated failures: risk of non-renewal — plan with your academic advisor.
  • ANEF platform — Many applications online only.

After graduation

  1. APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — For master’s: job search/business creation (12 months, conditions on service-public).
  2. Move to salarié — CDI/CDD with employer and minimum salary threshold.
  3. Alternance / qualified internship — Paths with a specific contract.
  4. Exit — If you do not renew, leave the territory before expiry.

FranceConnect and tax number

  • FranceConnect — Single sign-on for CAF, impôts, Ameli, ANEF.
  • Numéro fiscal — Request online if missing; required for IR declaration.
  • Prélèvement à la source (PAS) — Monthly withholding on salary — see Work.

University life — what to ask the international office

  • Letter for visa / attestation d’inscription.
  • Guide to VLS-TS validation and ANEF renewal.
  • Health policy meeting consulate requirements.
  • Housing support (CROUS, résidences).
Prefecture delays

In Paris, permit renewals can take months — keep receipts.

Quick reference

EU: carte séjour often not necessary for <1 year but registration mandatory. Extra-EU: visa VLS-TS étudiant, validation OFII, renouvellements préfecture.

  • Campus France for many admissions
  • OFII within 3 months of arrival (non-EU)
  • Social security number after registration
  • Work: 964h/year common rule for students

Universities and pathways

National rule

Frais inscription low in public; expensive grandes écoles. Bourses CROUS on social dossier.

Recognition

ENIC-NARIC France. DAP for some international bachelors.

  • Campus France
  • CROUS
  • DAP

First documents

  • Passport + visa/ titre de séjour
  • Attestation inscription
  • Bail contract
  • Banking RIB
  • Photo and OFII stamps if requested

Registration and permit

OFII / préfecture

National rule Harder

Online validation then appointment. Mandatory university CVEC fee.

Social security

National rule

Student registration — then Vitale cards. Mutuelle recommended for top-ups.

Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Tax ID & digital identity

Personal tax number (SPI)

Your French tax identifier is used for declarations, banking, and many public portals.

FranceConnect / France Identité

Single sign-on to health, tax, family benefits, and other public services.

Residence permit

Applications and renewals go through your préfecture—book slots early and keep receipts.

CPAM & CAF

Health insurance fund

Open your file with the local CPAM after you settle; declare a médecin traitant for coordinated care.

Family allowance fund

Housing benefits and student-related aids via your CAF account.

Study & visas

Campus France

Etudes en France workflows and visa routes for many non-EU students.

Diploma recognition

Check with your institution; ENIC-NARIC France can help for international comparisons.

OFII (first arrival)

Some long-stay visas trigger an OFII medical visit and civic training—follow the letters you receive.

Local rules

Prefecture calendars and city hall (mairie) steps differ by département—always cross-check with your préfecture website.

Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Sources · Last verified: 2026-05

Trusted sources we used for this content

Official French and EU portals: Eurostat, service-public.fr, impots.gouv.fr, Ameli, OFII, Urssaf, and the Foreign Ministry. Always confirm amounts on the competent site.