Visa and Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Australian students must obtain a long term visa marked étudiant if they intend to study in France for more than 6 months. After your first year of study visa will be automatically renewed when the correct documentation is supplied.
Note that Australian students not also holding a European passport and wishing to study in France must get an long-stay visa BEFORE leaving Australia.
The French state that applications for the visa must be accompanied by:
- a valid passport,
- an enrolment (or pre-enrolment) certificate in a French university or accredited college signed by the institution and indicating the length and purpose of studies (see below regarding pre-registration)
- evidence of degree most recently obtained in Australia,
- an accommodation document,
- evidence of sufficient financial resources,
- police certificate,
- evidence of comprehensive private health insurance,
- airline ticket or e-ticket number.
However we would note that French regulations may often be subject to change and we would recommend that you check specifically about current requirements with the Embassy at the beginning of your preparation.
Applications can be lodged in person, or by mail to the Consulate Sydney in Sydney. More information on the application process, and application forms are available and the Embassy and Consulate’s website.
Note that applications generally take between 2 weeks and 2 months to process.
Pre-Registration
Pre-registration for those undertaking postgraduate study is not handled by the French ministry but is arranged by the tertiary institutes (both public and private) themselves. More information can be found by clicking on the pages of the international or exchange offices of individual universities and grande écoles.
What you absolutely cannot do and what you must do!
3 very important pieces of advice with regard to student visas :
1 - A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa in France or in any other country of the European Union.
2 - If you plan to complete two programs in succession (such as a program in French as a foreign language, followed by an academic program), obtain admission to both programs before applying for your visa so that your visa will be valid for the duration of your period of study. French visas can not be extended in France.
3 - International students of all nationalities (except European Union nationals) residing in France for more than 3 months must obtain a student residency permit [link to residency permit below] (which is distinct from a visa), within two months of their arrival in France. Note that the residency permit is essential if you want to get a government housing subsidy!
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Before Leaving Checklist
Before leaving for France make sure you have
- a valid passport for the entire period of your stay
- a student visa
- Pre-registration with your tertiary institution
- The necessary documents from Australia you will need to get student residency permit [link to this section below] when you arrive.
Pre-registration for those undertaking postgraduate study is not handled by the French ministry but is arranged by the tertiary institutes (both public and private) themselves.
Full details on applying for a visa
For full details see Studying France Administrative Steps or make enquiries to the French Embassy in Canberra
Student Residency Permits - The Details
Note these Permits are not to be confused with your student visa, they are an additional document and are obtained after you arrive in France. However they require a great deal of documentation, some of which you will have to make sure you have before you leave Australia.
If are going to France to study for more than 3 months you must apply for a temporary "student" resident permit ("Carte de séjour temporaire") from the Préfecture in their place of residence as soon as possible after your arrival in France and absolutely no later than 2 months after you arrive. Note that without this permit you cannot get a government housing subsidy!
This application normally needs to be made by the student itself, at the closest prefecture (regional police administrative centre), although some universities and grande écoles in Paris provide this service directly for their students. Ask at your university or grande ecole’s international centre upon arrival. The carte-de-sejour application takes between 1 and 4 months, and it is advised to apply as soon after your arrival in France as practicable.
In order to obtain a student residency permit, you will need:
- A medical certificate (normally following government medical examination)
- Proof of enrolment in a French education institution.
- Proof of a personal travel insurance scheme.
- Proof of domicile: recent rent receipt slip (plus photocopy) or a certified statement by the person providing accommodation (plus proof of that person’s domicile).
- The documents presented to the French Consulate in Australia for the long term visa request, especially proof of income, which must be equal to 70% of the monthly rate of a basic French government grant (600 Euros per month for 2000).
- 3 passport photos, 3.5 x 4.5cm.
- A stamped self addressed envelope.
- Passport containing a student visa.
- The administrative tax is approximately 30 Euros.
Please note that photocopies are generally insufficient and the originals of these documents are required.
Please ensure you have original translations by an officially certified translator of all documents that are in English (such as birth certificate, Australian degrees, proof of income etc). It is often cheaper to have these translated in Australia before coming to France.
Note that your permit has a use-by date linked to both the term of your passport and that it cannot be extended beyond the duration of the candidate’s studies or traineeship. Thus, to avoid hassle, try not to be in a situation where your passport will expire before your period of study does.
Moreover, note that regardless of how many years your passport has to the maximum validity of the permit is 1 year, though it can be renewed provided you are still studying and still have the same passport.
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