Start My Assessment

← All countries

France

Start My Assessment

At a glance

Living index rating
Moderate
Monthly rent
€400 – €700 outside Paris; Paris €600 – €900 shared (housing aid CAF can cut this)
Monthly food
€250 – €350
Other monthly expenses
€150 – €300 (transport pass, phone, insurance, personal)
Visa processing time
Campus France stage 3 – 6 weeks, then about 2 – 3 weeks for the visa
Family allowed for students
Limited

Visa requirements

  • Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS), usually applied for through the Études en France / Campus France procedure
  • Admission or pre-registration from a French institution
  • Proof of funds: at least €615 a month (€7,380 a year)
  • Proof of accommodation for at least the first 3 months
  • Validate your VLS-TS online within 3 months of arriving
  • Work up to 964 hours a year (about 60% of full-time)

Work permit after studies

  • APS / 'job seeker' residence permit (Recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise): 12 months to look for work or start a business
  • Available to master's-level graduates and holders of a licence professionnelle and some other diplomas
  • Once you have a job, switch to an employee or 'Talent Passport' residence permit

Citizenship route

  • Naturalisation normally after 5 years of residence in France
  • Reduced to 2 years if you've successfully completed 2 years of higher education in France leading to a French diploma
  • French language at B2 level from 2026 (previously B1), plus a civics test and interview

Family details

  • The student visa covers only the student; there's no dependant visa for students' families
  • A spouse can apply in their own right, e.g. as a long-stay visitor with their own funds, but can't work on that visa
  • PhD students on a 'Talent Passport – researcher' permit can bring their spouse and children, and the spouse can work

Universities in France

Top-ranked

All other universities and colleges (282), A–Z

This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.