Studying in France – visa, fees, health insurance and work rights

• Études en France: in the 72 countries where Campus France runs the Études en France platform, you apply to French institutions and for your visa through that single procedure.
• France-Visas: students from other countries apply for the visa through France-Visas once admitted.

For a first year, you usually receive a long-stay visa serving as a residence permit (VLS-TS) marked étudiant, valid from four months to one year.

Since 1 August 2026, non-EU students applying for a student visa or renewing a student residence permit must show resources of at least €877.50 a month, up from €615. The amount is linked to the minimum wage and can change when it does. Resources can come from savings, family support, a scholarship or a guarantor; the consulate or prefecture tells you which proof it accepts. Service-Public notes that the requirement does not apply to students admitted after passing the entrance examination of an institution with a state agreement.

• EU, EEA and Swiss students pay the national fees at public universities: €178 a year for a bachelor's degree and €255 for a master's in 2026-2027.
• Non-EU students registering for the first time usually pay differentiated fees of €2,902 a year for a bachelor's degree and €3,950 for a master's. Universities can exempt a limited share of international students (up to 30% in 2026-2027 and 25% in 2027-2028). Doctoral students, refugees and some other groups pay national fees.
• Everyone in initial higher education must obtain the student and campus life contribution (CVEC) certificate before enrolling: €105 for 2026-2027, paid on cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr, with exemptions for scholarship holders, refugees and Erasmus-type exchange students, among others.

Private schools set their own fees.

Within three months of arrival, validate your VLS-TS online on ANEF and pay €100. This keeps your stay lawful and lets you travel within the Schengen area. From your second year you apply on ANEF for a student residence card, either for one year or as a multi-year card covering the rest of your programme (two to four years). In 2026 Service-Public lists €100 for a one-year student card and €150 for a multi-year card. Apply between four and two months before your current document expires; late applications cost an extra €180.

International students register for French health insurance free of charge on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr once enrolled, with their passport, residence document, certificate of enrolment, birth certificate and bank details. Afterwards, declare a regular doctor (médecin traitant), request your carte Vitale and consider complementary insurance. EU and EEA students with a valid European Health Insurance Card can keep using it instead. See health insurance in France.

With a student VLS-TS or student card, you can work up to 964 hours a year (60% of the legal working time) without a separate work authorisation. The year runs from the date your visa was validated or your card issued. Service-Public points out that:

• you cannot be self-employed on a student permit;
• your employer must send a nominative declaration to the prefecture at least two working days before you start;
• apprenticeships and work beyond 964 hours need a work authorisation requested by the employer;
• exceeding the limit can lead to withdrawal or non-renewal of your residence permit.

Algerian students follow different rules.

Apply early. The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris houses master's and doctoral students and researchers; for September, complete your application by April. Crous residences open to international students not on exchange programmes in the complementary phase, from around mid-July. Many students use the free Visale guarantee and can claim housing aid from the CAF. See temporary accommodation in Paris and finding a flat in Paris.

Graduates of a French master's degree or equivalent (and certain professional degrees) can apply for a one-year job search or company creation card (carte de séjour recherche d'emploi ou création d'entreprise). Apply in the two months before your student card expires; it costs €150 in France and cannot be renewed. During that year you can work, and you can move to a work-based card, such as a talent card for qualified employees, once you have a qualifying job. See talent card.