List of French study visa types. How long does it take to apply for a French visa?

To study in France, what visa preparations do applicants need to make? Before applying, you need to confirm the type of visa you want to apply for. Let’s take a look at the list of French study visa types. How long does it take to apply for a French visa type?

Types of visas

1. Short-term student visa

If you are under 18 years old, the institution you are registered in does not fall into the category of higher education institutions (especially middle schools) or in If your stay in France does not exceed 3 months, it can be processed directly through the French Consulate in China.

For long-term student visas (more than 3 months) or examination visas, you must participate in the pre-visa process of the French Higher Education Agency.

2. Long-term student visa

If you want to study in France for more than 6 months, you need to apply for a long-term student visa.

The long-term visa will be marked with the word "college student" and will be valid for between six months and one year, and the longest will not exceed one year.

It should be noted that the long-term student visa itself does not have the effect of residence. Therefore, French students studying abroad can apply for visa activation online or at the local immigration bureau within 3 months of their first arrival in France. They must present it when applying. Long term student visa.

After studying in France for one year, students studying in France can extend their residence permit.

3. Temporary long-term residence visa

If you go to France to study a French-taught major, your French needs to reach a certain level before you can obtain a visa. But what should we do if we don’t have a foundation in French and want to learn the language in France? At this time you can apply for a temporary long-term student visa (VLST).

Generally, for 3-6 months of language study, you need to apply for a visa through the French Higher Education Agency in order to obtain a temporary long-term residence visa (non-extendable). It should be noted that this kind of visa can only be used for the purpose of simply learning a language. Courses in other majors cannot be included during the period. Students must be of age and apply in their personal capacity.

Unlike long-term student visas, students holding temporary long-term residence visas must return to their home country after completing their language studies. They cannot apply for an extension directly. Even if they want to continue studying in France, they still need to return to their home country to apply for a student visa.

Of course, students applying for this type of visa do not need to provide French test scores when participating in the interview assessment.

4. Examination visa

The maximum duration of the examination visa shall not exceed 90 days. It is mainly suitable for short-term students studying in France to participate in competitions or examinations in France.

After passing the exam and being admitted to a French university, you can obtain a long-term student visa without returning to your hometown to apply. If a French university requires students to take a preparatory or supplementary course before final admission and registration, a "student examination visa" can also be issued.

When applying for a visa, you should decide based on your actual situation and purpose of studying abroad. Don’t get confused!

Visa information

1. How many years does a French visa last?

It depends on the number of applications. Generally, the visa application process will take longer if the number of applications is greater.

1. First time application: generally 30 days;

2. Second time application: multiple round trips in 1 year or multiple round trips in 3 years;

3. The third application: usually multiple round-trips for 5 years;

4. Tourist France visa: generally valid for 30-90 days;

5. Study in France visa: Student exam visas generally last no longer than 90 days; short-term student visas generally last less than 6 months; long-term student visas last longer, ranging from 1 to 5 years, and are suitable for students studying in France for a long time.

2. How long does it take to issue a French visa?

If it is an individual application, it will basically take 48 hours to issue the visa, starting from the day when the materials are submitted.

If it is a travel agency in Paris, it may take 5-7 working days.

3. How long is the stay in France with a visa?

France has a multiple-time Schengen visa for one year. The "DUREEDESEJOUR (DURATIONOFSTAY)" on the visa page refers to the period of stay, which is normally 90 days. According to regulations, applicants can stay up to 90 days within any 180 days within the validity period. Of course, the applicant must ultimately refer to the "Period of Stay" specifically issued by the visa officer as to how long the stay is allowed.

Visa Process

Step One: Make an Appointment

Online appointments are free, and you can generally make an appointment relatively close by (such as next week or next month) , the phone appointment seems to be made relatively late (for example, two months later).

Generally, you can get a visa on the same day (if you go early, you may wait one or two hours, if you go late, you may wait three to six hours). The first time I went, I chose a later time, and the result was The few hours of waiting were extremely torturous and painful. After that, I chose an earlier time several times.

Step 2: Prepare materials

Required items include: passport, application form, student certification letter (or work certification letter), two photos, bank statements, air tickets , hotel reservation (or official reception certificate issued by the inviting person), travel insurance.

You can search for travel insurance on Google. I have seen one that costs 20 euros a year. You can get a longer visa if you buy it for a year than if you buy it for a few days - I have seen some people buy insurance for only four days, and in the end they get a visa for four days. If the insurance is for one year, generally students can get a visa The one you get is one that can stay for 30 days within the validity period of two to three months (this is the case for everyone I know and I have applied for). Many people who have jobs get the one that can stay for 90 days within six months.

As for the official reception certificate, it is issued by someone living in France at the local city hall. Some city halls charge 30 euros, some charge 45 euros, and inviting people has to prepare some materials, which is quite troublesome. If you are only visiting France for a few days, it is not recommended to ask a friend to do this - it is much easier to book a hotel yourself that allows you to return for free.

Step 3: Visa day

Copies of all materials are required - the embassy will keep the copies and return the originals (some people were rejected because of lack of copies).

Queue up outside the door early - there are many people in the same time period, so get there early and queue up earlier. If you make an appointment for the earliest time, usually if you get there an hour in advance, the queue will be the best. The first few.

Bring some food, drink and fun things - there are vending machines there, but there are not many choices. If you wait for a long time, it will be boring if there are no fun things.