France Student Visa 2026: Long-Stay VLS-TS Guide for Indian Students

Last updated: June 2026 — Written by Sandeep Kumar, Founder, A-WAY Consultancy. We've placed 350+ Indian students in French universities and Grandes Écoles since 2014.

France is the #4 most popular destination for Indian students in Europe, behind Germany, the UK, and Ireland. The reasons: low tuition (€2,770/year for a licence, €3,770 for a masters at public universities), the 3-year post-study work visa (since 2019), the strength of engineering and business schools (Grandes Écoles), and the lifestyle.

To study in France for more than 90 days, you need a VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour). The VLS-TS is a long-stay visa that doubles as a residence permit for the first year — you validate it online with OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration) after you arrive.

This is the complete 2026 process, written for Indian students.

---

1. Step 1: Get admission to a French institution

French higher education works on three tracks:

• Public universities — Affordable (€2,770–€3,770/year). You apply via the central portal or directly to the university. Acceptance is competitive for licence (bachelor) and master programmes.
• Grandes Écoles — Top engineering and business schools (HEC, ESSEC, INSEAD, Polytechnique, CentraleSupélec, EDHEC). Tuition is €8,000–€45,000/year. You apply directly through each school's portal, often via competitive entrance exams.
• Specialised schools — Art, design, fashion, hospitality (Paris School of Business, IFM, Strate). Portfolio-based admissions.

A-WAY places Indian students in all three tracks. The most common destinations are Sciences Po, ESSEC, EDHEC, Paris-Dauphine, Sorbonne, Université PSL, Université Paris-Saclay, and INSA Lyon.

---

2. Step 2: Campus France procedure (mandatory)

Campus France is the French government's agency for promoting higher education to international students. The Études en France procedure is mandatory for Indian students.

You must:

1. Create an account on the Études en France portal (pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr).
2. Fill in your academic background, language tests, and programme choices (max 7).
3. Upload all required documents: transcripts, language proof (IELTS/TOEFL/DELF/DALF), motivation letter, CV, and recommendation letters.
4. Pay the Campus France fee of €5,300 (actually free for Indian students — the €5,300 was a misreport; the actual fee is paid only by students from certain countries; Indians pay only the visa fee).
5. Attend a Campus France interview at the French Embassy in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or Pune. The interview is 20–30 minutes and covers your academic goals, language ability, and financial plan.
6. Receive the Campus France attestation — required for the visa application.

The Campus France process takes 4–8 weeks. Apply early.

---

3. Step 3: VLS-TS visa application

After you have the Campus France attestation and admission letter, you apply for the VLS-TS at VFS Global.

Documents required:

• Valid passport (with at least 2 blank pages, valid 18+ months)
• 2 recent white-background photos (35x45mm, French standard)
• Completed France-Visas application form
• Admission letter from the French institution
• Campus France attestation
• Proof of financial means: €615/month for the duration of your stay (≈ ₹5.7 lakh/year). This can be a bank statement, scholarship letter, or sponsor's affidavit.
• Proof of accommodation in France (university residence, rental agreement, or hotel for first weeks)
• Travel insurance (€30,000 medical coverage) — usually provided by the university or you can buy from Indian insurers
• Round-trip flight reservation (refundable or open-jaw)
• Visa fee: €50 (long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit)
• OFII contribution: €50 (paid online after arrival)
• Total visa cost: ~€100 (~₹9,000)

The visa is usually processed in 15–25 working days.

---

4. Step 4: OFII validation after arrival

Once you arrive in France, you must validate your VLS-TS within 3 months. The process is online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr.

You will need:

• Your visa number
• Your French address
• A scan of your passport and visa
• Payment of the €50 OFII tax by credit card

Once validated, the OFII sends a confirmation. Your VLS-TS is now valid for the duration stated on the visa (typically 4–12 months depending on your programme). For programmes longer than 12 months, you will need to apply for a carte de séjour (residence permit) before the VLS-TS expires.

---

5. Living costs and tuition in France for Indian students in 2026

| Item | Cost (per year) | | --- | --- | | Public university tuition (masters) | €3,770 (~₹3.5 lakh) | | Grande École tuition (engineering) | €8,000–€18,000 | | Top business school (MBA / MIM) | €25,000–€45,000 | | Rent in Paris (CROUS residence) | €250–€500/month | | Rent in Paris (private studio) | €700–€1,200/month | | Rent outside Paris | €400–€700/month | | Food | €200–€350/month | | Transport (monthly Navigo pass) | €84/month (Paris) | | Health insurance (Sécurité Sociale) | Free (covered by registration) | | Total estimated annual cost (Paris, public university) | €11,000–€14,000 (~₹10–13 lakh) |

The French government subsidises tuition by 60–70%, so public university fees are far below what you'd pay in the UK, USA, or Australia.

---

6. Working in France during studies

International students with a VLS-TS can work 964 hours per year (the legal annual limit, equivalent to about 60% of full-time work). Most students work:

• On-campus jobs (library, restaurant, research assistant): €9–€15/hour
• Internships: paid (€600–€1,500/month) or unpaid (up to 6 months)
• Service jobs (retail, hospitality): €11.50/hour (French minimum wage SMIC)

After graduation, you can apply for a APS (Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour) — a non-renewable 12-month residence permit to look for work or start a business in France.

---

7. Pathway to French residency

After 2 years of post-study work on a Passeport Talent (Talent Passport) visa, you can apply for a carte de résident (10-year EU residency). Requirements:

• A job offer at 1.5x the French minimum wage (SMIC) — about €2,300/month gross in 2026
• 2 years of legal residence on a Talent Passport
• Health insurance coverage
• Clean criminal record

After 5 years of continuous legal residence in France, you can apply for French citizenship (naturalisation).

---

8. Common refusal reasons

• Insufficient financial evidence — most common. Show €615/month for the full stay duration. The bank statement must be in your name (or a sponsor's with a notarised letter).
• Incomplete Campus France process — you must complete the interview and have the attestation. A half-finished application is a refusal.
• Lack of academic motivation — if your programme choice doesn't match your previous study (e.g., applying for an MBA with a history background and no work experience), the Campus France interview may flag it.
• Previous visa refusals to Schengen/UK/US — declare them. Hiding is a refusal trigger.
• Inconsistent travel history — having visited 10 countries but no current strong ties to India is a concern.

---

Next step

A-WAY's Europe team has placed 350+ Indian students in France since 2014, with the largest cohorts in Paris (Sciences Po, Paris-Dauphine, ESSEC, EDHEC), Lyon (INSA, EM Lyon), and Toulouse (TBS, INP). Our Campus France process is run end-to-end, including the interview preparation, VLS-TS filing, and pre-departure briefing.

Book a free France study consultation →