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 / status | Who | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| VLS-TS étudiant | Non-EU, stay > 3 months | Long-stay visa; validate within 3 months |
| Titre de séjour étudiant | After renewal / multi-year | Card or digital attestation |
| Récépissé | Application pending | Often allows you to stay; check work rights |
| EU stay | EU/EEA/Switzerland | Free movement; attestation d’enregistrement optional |
| APS | Master’s graduate in France | Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour for job search (12 months) |
Last updated: May 2026 — Service Public — Étudiant étranger
EU / EEA / Switzerland
- Admission — Parcoursup, Mon Master, or your institution’s procedure.
- CVEC €105 — Certificate mandatory to enrol.
- Travel — Valid national ID card or passport.
- Enrolment — CVEC certificate, ID, health cover (EHIC or equivalent).
- CPAM — If stay > 3 months and not employed: student registration; with work: via employer.
- CAF (optional) — APL after lease and NIR.
- Attestation d’enregistrement — Optional at the Mairie if needed for some procedures.
Non-EU — Campus France and VLS-TS
Études en France (EEF) pathway
- Campus France account — Country of residence; procedure fee (amount varies by country).
- Dossier — Motivation, language level (often B2 French or English for international programmes), academic documents.
- Interview / review — If required by your local Campus France centre.
- France-Visas — VLS-TS étudiant application after favourable outcome.
- VAC (TLScontact / VFS) — Biometrics, visa fee (often €99 — check your country).
- Arrival — Validate within 3 months on the Interior Ministry platform.
- 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)
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum resources | €615/month | For the full requested stay duration |
| Example 10 months | ≥ €6,150 | Shown on account or sponsor |
| Paris (real life) | €1,000–1,400/month | Consulate knows €615 is legal minimum, not a real budget |
| CVEC | €105 / academic year | Separate from visa funds |
| VLS-TS validation fee | ~€75 (timbre fiscal) | Check current amount online |
| Visa fee | Often €99 | + Campus France fee if applicable |
Last updated: May 2026 — France-Visas
VLS-TS validation (within 3 months)
- Create an account on administration-etrangers-en-france.
- Complete the VLS-TS validation form (passport, visa, and France address details).
- Pay the timbre fiscal (~€75).
- 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
- APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — For master’s: job search/business creation (12 months, conditions on service-public).
- Move to salarié — CDI/CDD with employer and minimum salary threshold.
- Alternance / qualified internship — Paths with a specific contract.
- 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).
Official links
Sources
- cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr
- Service Public — Étudiant étranger — service-public.gouv.fr
- France-Visas — france-visas.gouv.fr
- etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr
- Campus France — campusfrance.org
- Administration étrangers en France — administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
- Service Public — Étudiant étranger — service-public.fr
- FranceConnect — franceconnect.gouv.fr
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.
Universities and pathways
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
Registration and permit
OFII / préfecture
Online validation then appointment. Mandatory university CVEC fee.
Social security
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.
Study & visas
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.
Prefecture calendars and city hall (mairie) steps differ by département—always cross-check with your préfecture website.
This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.