How to Apply For France Student Visa | Requirements, Fees, and Eligibility

Many Nigerians desire to study in France because of their country’s outstanding educational history, extensive academic programs, and rich cultural legacy. Prospective Nigerian students must understand the French student visa application process and requirements to make their dreams come true.

France houses several top-ranked institutions and colleges worldwide, and it has a longstanding tradition of offering top-notch education to both domestic and foreign students. Studying in France is also more affordable than in well-known study locations like the UK and the USA.

This thorough guide seeks to give Nigerian students a clear understanding of the requirements, guidelines, and crucial tips for submitting a successful application for a student visa to France.

Types of France Student Visa for Nigerian Students

Let’s look at the various France student visas the French government provides to foreign students before you start packing your bags.

Remember that the type of student visa you need for France varies depending on how long your study is.

The various kinds of student visas for Nigerians to study in France include:

• Schengen short-stay student visa
• Temporary long stay visa (VLS-T)
• Long-stay visa (VLS-TS)

#1. Schengen Short-Stay Student Visa

International students enrolled in courses lasting no more than 90 days are eligible to apply for this visa.

To apply for this visa, you must be a student or academician planning to travel to France for a conference, seminar, business trip, internship opportunities, or brief training program.

#2. Temporary Long-Stay Visa (VLS-T)

Students with a course duration of three to six months are granted a temporary long-stay visa (VLS-T).

If you are a Nigerian student intending to study in France for a six-month diploma, you can apply for a temporary long-stay visa.

#3. Long-Stay Visa (VLS-TS)

Typically, students who apply for a French student visa do so, hoping to obtain a long-stay visa.

Students who plan to study in France for a year or more are granted a long-stay visa.

Before leaving Nigeria, Nigerian students who have applied for graduate and postgraduate programs in France can apply for a long-stay student visa to study there.

This type of visa includes a residence permit. Depending on their needs or courses, students may request a residence visa extension after their first year in France.

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How to Apply for a France Student Visa

1. Accept your offer from university: Once you’ve received and accepted your offer from a university in France, you can apply for your visa.
2. Submit your application: Complete and submit the required documents including visa application forms.
3. Await a decision: Visa processing times vary depending on the consulate handling your request, but it can take three months to receive a decision.
4. Validate your visa: When you arrive in France, you will have three months to validate your VLS-TS. This can now be done online here. You must provide an email address, information about your visa, your address in France, and your arrival date. You must also pay the € 99 visa fee using a bank card.

The Études en France platform allows applicants from 43 non-European countries, including Nigeria, to apply for study visas in France. In this case, your application for a visa will be instantly forwarded to the French consular authorities in your home country.

If you are not from one of these nations, contact the French consular representatives in your country.

See also: How To Get Student Visa In Switzerland | Step By Step Procedures

Documents Required for France Student Visa

Students completing an online visa application form and applying for a student visa to France can now send digital copies of their supporting documents. This is optional, and doing so will enable the external service provider (ESP) to complete the process quickly.

You should submit two sets of application photocopies of the following documents:

1. Long stay application form for more than 90 days,
2. Two passport-size photographs,
3. A copy of the Passport,
4. A printout of your Campus France NOC,
5. Letter of appointment from the academic institution,
6. Cover letter explaining the study project and an updated CV/Resume,
7. Proof of funds – tuition fees + a minimum of 615 Euros/month, for the complete academic term,
8. Proof of medical insurance with coverage valid in France,
9. Copy of your round-trip airline ticket (if you are studying for six months or less) or a one-way ticket if you are studying in France for more than six months),
10. OFII form (Office Francais de Immigration et de Integration),
11. Proof of residency in France such as a lease, electricity bill, title of property, etc. for a minimum of three months or a hotel reservation, and
12. Copies of the degree and academic diplomas, and certificates.

You will need to bring photocopies of all of your documents and the originals to the interview.

France Student Visa Fees

Once your application is finished, send it to Campus France Nigeria for evaluation. Following validation, you will be asked to pay the Campus France fee, which is 50,000 Naira for regular students, 15000 Naira for recipients of Nigerian scholarships, and free for recipients of French government scholarships.

You will need to make your payment on the platform after paying it. You will be prompted to schedule a time for your visa interview with Campus France Nigeria once it has been verified.

France Visa Interview for Nigerian Students

After gathering the necessary paperwork, candidates must make an appointment for a visa interview at the French consulate or embassy in Nigeria.

The purpose of the visa interview is to evaluate the student’s intent, eligibility, and compliance with the terms of the visa. You must come prepared, professionally present yourself, and confidently respond to questions about the study program, housing, and funding.

See also: Universities in Cyprus For International Students

France Student Visa Processing Time

Although the processing time for obtaining a visa can vary, it usually takes at least two to three weeks.

Applying for a visa cannot start earlier than ninety days before your intended departure date from Nigeria to France. Thus, you must begin the process as soon as possible.

How To Apply for France Residence Permits

Nigerian students must apply for a residence permit if they want to study in France for a year or longer.

The long-stay visa (VLS-TS), which serves as a residence permit, must be validated within three months of arriving in France. This permit is only valid for a year.

For your second year of study in France, you can renew or extend your residence permit on campus. This is where you apply for an official French residence permit (known as a Carte de Séjour (CDS) or “titre de séjour”).

You must renew the permit three months before it expires. If it exceeds the three-month deadline, there would be a lateness fine of €180.

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Language Proficiency to Study in France

For schools that request this, admission to French universities requires passing language examinations. Depending on the university and its language requirements, students will need to upload the exam results to apply for a visa.

Some courses are taught in French, and as such, need proficiency in the French language. Courses taught in English will require proficiency in the English language.

Therefore, it could be necessary to take language proficiency exams like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test de Connaissance du Français (TCF).

An easy application process for a visa is facilitated by adequate planning and promptly passing language proficiency exams.

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Working with a French Student Visa

If you have an extended-stay student visa, you can work up to 964 hours annually in France. This equals 18.5 hours a week, or roughly 60% of a full-time job over a year.

Your income while working and studying in France should be supplementary, meaning it shouldn’t be your primary source of support.

See also: Work-Study in the UK: 5 Types of Visa to Apply for After Graduation

France Student Visa: Dependents

You may be able to live in France with your spouse and kids while you study, but there are conditions. These conditions include appropriate living space and sufficient, suitable funding.

Each case is handled at the French embassy, and if you can effectively explain your circumstances to the consulate, you can be granted special treatment.

If a French university accepts you for a Bachelor’s degree (referred to as a “Licence”) unless your spouse is a citizen of Europe, they will not be granted a visa to join you or be allowed to work in France.

Research or PhD students may have a distinct situation. Depending on several conditions and regulations, they might be permitted to bring their partner or children.

See also: What Are The Benefits of Having A Student Bank Account?

FAQs

Conclusion

A France student visa is a must for any foreigner who wants to study in France for more than three months, provided they meet the requirements.

This visa permits the student to remain in France to study and, in many cases, to work a certain number of hours per week.

We hope that with the information here, you can now apply for your France student visa.

References

• Gradright.com – France Student Visa Requirements for an International Student (Types and Fees Included)
• Africred.org – France Student Visa for Nigerians – Application Guide
• Studee.com – How to apply for a France student visa

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