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🇫🇷 France · Student visa

France Student visa approval odds

France's student visa runs through the Études en France (EEF) / Campus France procedure in 40+ countries: your academic file and an interview are validated before you ever apply for the visa. You need admission to a French institution, proof of at least €615/month for your stay, and accommodation for the first months. France does not publish one official student-visa approval rate — but complete, coherent EEF files with genuine admission generally do well, and the visa (VLS-TS) doubles as your first residence permit.

Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs — resource threshold for student visas .

France assesses a student visa on whether you are a genuine student who can fund and complete the course. As an approximate starting point, this route runs near a 87% base approval — your finances, ties and history then push your personal odds up or down.

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Key requirements

  • Complete the Études en France (EEF) / Campus France procedure — academic file check plus interview — where your country requires it (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey and 40+ others)
  • An acceptance letter from a French institution
  • Proof of at least €615/month for the planned stay (bank funds, scholarship or a documented sponsor)
  • Proof of accommodation in France for at least the first three months
  • Valid passport, photos and travel/health cover for the start of the stay
  • After arrival: validate your VLS-TS (long-stay visa worth a residence permit) online within 3 months

Visa fee (cost)

€50 visa fee for students applying through the EEF/Campus France procedure; €99 standard long-stay fee otherwise (plus any Campus France/EEF processing charge in your country).

Money & funds

At least €877.50 per month for the duration of your stay — about €10,530 for a full year. This replaced the long-standing €615/month threshold on 1 August 2026, so applications from that date are assessed against the higher figure. Evidence via bank statements, a scholarship award, or a sponsor's attestation backed by their own finances.

Typical timeline

Allow several weeks for the EEF/Campus France stage (file validation + interview), then the consulate commonly decides in 2–6 weeks. For a September intake, start in spring and apply by June — peak-season processing slows in May–August.

Common refusal reasons

  • An unconvincing EEF file or interview — a study plan that doesn't fit your academic background
  • Insufficient or poorly documented funds (below €615/month, unexplained deposits, no sponsor evidence)
  • Missing accommodation proof for the first months
  • Inconsistencies between the EEF file, visa forms and supporting documents
  • Doubts about genuine student intent — vague motivation or weak academic coherence

What actually moves the needle

Admission to an accredited institution

This is the heart of student decisions for France. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.

Clearly documented funding for tuition and living costs

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

A credible study plan that fits your background

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

Avoid the common pitfall

The most frequent reason this route fails is unclear funding or a course that does not fit your profile. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the France student visa success rate?

France doesn't publish a single official student-visa approval rate. In practice, complete EEF/Campus France files with genuine admission and clearly documented funds generally succeed; refusals concentrate on weak funds, incoherent study plans and inconsistent documents. The figure on this page is an educational estimate, not an official rate.

What is the Études en France (EEF) procedure?

A mandatory pre-visa procedure run by Campus France in 40+ countries: you build an academic file on the EEF platform, pay the local processing charge and attend an interview. Only after Campus France validates the file do you book the actual visa appointment.

How much money do I need for a French student visa?

At least €615 per month for your planned stay — about €7,380 for a year — proven with bank statements, a scholarship or a documented sponsor. Consulates read stability and source of funds, not just the balance.

What is the VLS-TS?

The long-stay visa 'worth a residence permit' (visa long séjour valant titre de séjour). It is your first French residence permit — you must validate it online within 3 months of arriving, or it lapses.

Can I work in France on a student visa?

Yes — student-visa holders can work up to 964 hours per year (about 60% of full time) alongside their studies, without a separate work permit.

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Schengen visa bank statements: how much money and how to show it → Schengen travel insurance: 30,000 euros cover & cost (2026) → Which Schengen country should you apply to? (2026 rules) → How to prove funding for a student visa → How to read visa approval and refusal rates → How to prove strong ties to your home country →