Do you consider continuing studying or maybe start studying in France? This country is an excellent choice for studying abroad for your degree because of its rich culture, food, architecture, and vibrant student life. Studying in France allows you to master the language while also gaining cultural insight.
The French short-term study visa is for visitors who want to come to France for the purpose of studying for up to three months. One semester lasts at least four months so this visa is not ideal for students who desire to come and attend a university or college. If you want to participate in a course that lasts more than three months you should apply for a French Student Visa. If you want to know more about the French short-stay study visa, read this article.
The short-stay visa to France is designed for students who want to visit France in order to:
- Take a language class.
- Participate in a class as a student.
- Attend a university entrance interview.
- Prepare for an admission exam to a university.
- Participate in student training.
- Trainee caregiver (young au pair).
- School minors.
The application process for a France short-stay study visa is comparable to that for other French Schengen visas. Whether you need to apply or not for a France short-stay Study visa to study in France or one of its overseas territories, collectivities, departments, or regions, depends on your nationality. If your country of origin does not have a visa facilitation agreement with France or the EU, you will most likely need to apply for a short-term study visa before entering France or its overseas territories.
Remember that if you qualify and you submit all the supporting documents as well as you pay the fees, you have to attend the French short-stay visa interview which could last up to ten minutes. You will need to answer a few questions about your vacation to France, what you want to do there, and so on.
Required documents for French short-stay visa
You will need to submit some standard documents for a French short-stay visa, as well as some visa-specific documents, as listed below:
- A letter from your school or university confirming your leave dates and providing information about the school and your programme.
- Travel medical insurance that protects you for the duration of your stay in France and the Schengen Zone.
- If you’re employed, you’ll need a working certificate that states how long you’ve been there, as well as your income and payslips for the previous three months.
- If self-employed, a letter from your accountant or local Chamber of Commerce detailing your personal activity and revenues, as well as a VAT certificate.
Documents required for minors
Minors are still eligible for the French Short-Stay Visa. Besides some of the documents pointed above, minors have to provide:
- Both parents have valid passports.
- A parent’s permission if the minor is going with only one parent.
- If the child applicant is under the age of 18 and has been entrusted to a third party, that person must have an official document in the form of a signed authorization from both parents (proof of guardianship)
- If just one parent has sole custody of the kid, the court will make a decision.
- A current school letter authorising the child’s absence from school.
The French embassy or consulate in your home country has the authority to request further documents, which you must supply as soon as possible within the deadline.
Described reasons for obtaining the French Short-Stay Visa
To go to France you can have many purposes, like learning a language, attending classes, participating in student training, etc. Below the purposes are explained in more detail.
- Student course for Short-term visa in France – Foreigners who want to take a course in France (cooking, architecture, etc.) must first get a France short-stay study visa. They will not, however, require a resident visa.
- Language course for France short-stay study visa – this is a visa for people who want to learn a language in France, primarily French. It enables you to visit France and stay for up to three months without requiring a residency permit. When applying for this visa, you will not be charged a cost. However, unlike other forms of student visas, you will not be able to renew it.
- Training as a student in France – this visa is for students who want to engage in a study programme in France and participate in a European Union cooperation scheme, a project that is part of a training course that is being held in the applicant’s native country or an intergovernmental initiative in the areas of education, training, youth, or culture.
- France to attend a university entrance interview – if you have applied to a university or other educational institution in France and will be required to attend an interview in order to be admitted, you must apply for a France visa to attend the university entrance interview. As with the entrance exam, if you pass the interview and are formally accepted into the educational institution where you applied, you will be entitled to apply for a one-year, renewable residence visa.
- Au Pair Visa for Young People in France – a Young Au Pair visa is available to foreigners aged 17 to 30 who wish to reside with a family in France for a period of time in order to study French. The most important need from the candidate and the host family is an au pair placement agreement, which the host family must submit to the DIRECCTE.
- Visa for Étudiant Concours in France – if you want to enrol in a French educational institution (university or college), but first need to take an entrance exam in France, you’ll need to apply for an Etudiant Concours visa. If you pass your exam, you can apply for a one-year, renewable residence permit with this visa. In this situation, you must apply for a residency permit directly at the prefecture, which is a French municipal authority/administrative body.
- Minor Visa for French School – if you have a child under the age of 18 that you want to send to France to a public or private educational institution or a language, art, food, or sport centre you must apply for a School Going Minor visa, sometimes known as a ‘études’ visa. Keep in mind that you will only need to apply for this form of visa if your child’s stay will be less than three months. Otherwise, you’ll have to apply on your child’s behalf for a long-stay visa.
How much is the French Short-Term Study Visa fee?
A regular fee of €80 is charged for a French Schengen visa application; however, you may be excused from this fee if you belong to a specific category. For further information on the French visa fees, see the following article. Remember that if your visa application is denied or you do not show up for the interview, you will not be compensated.
