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All study destinations·France, Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant)
Study visa check

Check your France study visa application before you apply

This page shows what the official pages say a France study visa application must contain, in their own words, with a free pre-check of your answers.

Consular officer at the French visa sectionFrench consular authorities in NigeriaLong-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant)

What is being checked

Your admission letter, the money the rules ask you to show for living costs, your fees, the language level for your course, health insurance where it is asked for, and your past visas.

Why applications fail

Money shown in the wrong form or below the amount the rules set, an admission that is not final, or papers that do not match each other.

What our software does

The free pre-check reads your answers against these rules and shows where they usually fall short. Paid study checks for France are not open yet.

01
VLS-TS étudiant: enrolment in higher education

Proof of enrolment at a French school

Vous devez être accepté par un établissement d’enseignement supérieur.

What the officer assesses: Whether a French higher education school has accepted you, and whether its enrolment letter (attestation d'inscription) or pre-enrolment matches your name, course and dates.

You need a place at a French university, school or higher training centre before you apply. The school gives you a letter that says you are enrolled or pre-enrolled. This letter is one of the papers the visa needs. Your name, the course and the start date on it must match the rest of your file.

Where this comes from 3 official sources
  • Vous devez être accepté par un établissement d’enseignement supérieur.

    France-Visas: Etudiant (student visa), Etudiant: votre situation

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Vous devez joindre notamment l’attestation d'inscription dans l’établissement d'enseignement supérieur qui vous a accepté.

    France-Visas: Etudiant (student visa), Etudiant: vos justificatifs

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Dans un établissement public ou privé d'enseignement supérieur ou de formation initiale (université, grande école, etc.)

    Étudiant étranger en France : visa de long séjour ou titre de séjour, Quel étranger est concerné par un titre de séjour ou un VLS-TS « étudiant » ?

    dated 1 August 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The attestation d'inscription (enrolment letter) or pre-enrolment from the French school
  • Your passport, so the name can be matched
02
Études en France procedure and the Campus France interview

Études en France file and Campus France interview

need to create an account on a platform called Etudes en France before they can complete their visa application on France-visas

What the officer assesses: Whether you went through Études en France, Campus France Nigeria checked your documents, and you had the interview before the TLS visa appointment.

Nigeria is one of the countries that must use the Études en France platform. You make an account, fill in your details and upload your papers, such as your passport, CV, admission letter, school results and housing paper. Campus France Nigeria checks them, you pay its fee, and you go to an interview at its office. Only then can you book the visa appointment at TLS. Campus France says to start about 3 months before your course begins.

Where this comes from 4 official sources
  • All students accepted into an institution of higher education in France who is invited to go study there for more than three (3) months need to create an account on a platform called Etudes en France before they can complete their visa application on France-visas and finally submit it at TLS.

    Campus France Nigeria: I have an admission (student visa process), Etudes en France

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Only after this interview are the students allowed to proceed with the visa appointment with TLS in Abuja or in Lagos.

    Campus France Nigeria: I have an admission (student visa process), Etudes en France

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • vous devez obligatoirement au préalable effectuer votre demande d’inscription dans l’enseignement supérieur via la plateforme « Etudes en France ». Votre demande de visa sera automatiquement transmise aux autorités consulaires françaises de votre pays de résidence via cette plateforme.

    Campus France: Le visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour ou VLS-TS, Comment obtenir un VLS-TS "étudiant" ?

    dated 5 August 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Les étudiants qui résident dans l’un des 75 pays et territoires concernés par la procédure "Études en France" doivent faire une demande spécifique d’inscription dans un établissement d’enseignement supérieur.

    Campus France: Candidater si vous résidez dans un pays relevant de la procédure Études en France, Quels sont les pays ou territoires concernés par "Études en France" ?

    dated 28 September 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Your Études en France account and file number
  • Proof of the Campus France fee payment
  • Proof that the Campus France interview took place
  • The same documents you uploaded to Études en France
03
VLS-TS étudiant: minimum resources

Money to live on: at least EUR 877.50 a month

Vous devez pouvoir justifier de ressources au moins égales à 877,5 € par mois.

What the officer assesses: Whether you can show at least EUR 877.50 a month for living costs, from your own money, a grant or a person who supports you, and whether the money and its source are clear.

France sets a fixed lowest amount for a student: EUR 877.50 a month for living costs. You can show it with a grant letter, a bank letter that shows enough money, or a person who pays for you. If someone supports you, show who they are and that they send money to you on a regular basis. Money that arrives just before you apply, with no reason, looks weak.

Where this comes from 3 official sources

Evidence that addresses it

  • A bank letter or statements showing enough money in credit (attestation bancaire)
  • A grant letter that states the amount and how long it lasts, if you have a grant
  • For a sponsor: proof of who they are, and bank papers showing regular transfers to you, or their signed promise to pay
  • A short note on any large deposit
04
VLS-TS étudiant: registration fees

Tuition and registration fees

Tous les établissements d’enseignement supérieur perçoivent des frais d’inscription.

What the officer assesses: Whether your plan shows how the school's fees will be paid, on top of the living-cost money, and whether the amount matches what the school charges.

Every French higher education school charges fees. At a public university Campus France gives EUR 2,770 a year for a bachelor's (licence) and EUR 3,770 a year for a master's. Private schools can charge EUR 5,000 to more than EUR 10,000 a year. The official pages do not say the fees must be paid before the visa, but your money has to cover the fees and your living costs together.

Where this comes from 3 official sources
  • Tous les établissements d’enseignement supérieur perçoivent des frais d’inscription. Ces frais sont très différents selon les établissements, de quelques centaines d’euros pour les universités, à plus de 10.000 euros par an dans certaines écoles supérieures privées.

    France-Visas: Etudiant (student visa), Le coût des études

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • €2,770 per year at the licence (bachelor) level

    Campus France Nigeria: Cost of education, Tuition rates in public institutions

    Tuition fees for academic year 2023/24 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • €3,770 per year at the master level

    Campus France Nigeria: Cost of education, Tuition rates in public institutions

    Tuition fees for academic year 2023/24 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The school's letter or invoice showing the fees for the year
  • A receipt for any fees or deposit already paid
  • Proof of a grant or fee waiver, if you have one
05
VLS-TS étudiant: chosen course and education history

Your study plan, past studies and gaps

Vous devez avoir choisi votre formation ou votre cursus d’étude.

What the officer assesses: Whether you have chosen a clear course, whether your school results, CV and work history explain the path to it, and whether any gap is accounted for.

You must have chosen your course before you apply. On Études en France you fill in your school history and work history and upload your CV and school results. The Campus France interview asks about this. A course that does not follow from what you studied or did before needs a clear reason. A gap since your last studies needs an account of what you did, with papers.

Where this comes from 3 official sources

Evidence that addresses it

  • Your transcripts and certificates from past studies
  • Your CV, with dates that match your employer letters
  • A short note on why this course, and on any gap since your last studies
06
Language of the course

French or English for your course

Plusieurs tests et diplômes de langue française vous permettent de prouver votre niveau de français.

What the officer assesses: Whether you can show the language level your course asks for: a French test or diploma (TCF, TEF, DELF or DALF) for a course in French, or the school's English entry level for a course in English.

Your course is taught in French or in English. For a course in French, a test or diploma shows your French level. The school may ask for one when you enrol. A TCF result lasts two years. A DELF or DALF lasts for life. For a course taught in English, show what the school asked for. The school sets the level, so check its letter.

Where this comes from 2 official sources

Evidence that addresses it

  • Your TCF, TEF, DELF or DALF result, for a course in French
  • Proof of English, for a course taught in English, as the school asked
  • The school's letter showing the language of the course
07
VLS-TS étudiant: address in France and health cover

Where you will live, and health cover

Pour votre demande de visa, vous devez fournir soit une adresse provisoire de vos 3 premiers mois de séjour, soit une adresse définitive si vous avez déjà trouvé un hébergement.

What the officer assesses: Whether you give an address for at least your first 3 months in France, and whether you know how your health care will be covered.

The visa needs an address in France. It can be a short-term address for your first 3 months, or your long-term home if you have one. For health care, joining French social security is free and you must do it if you are a non-European student under 28. You do it on the French health insurance website. Many students also add a top-up plan (mutuelle).

Where this comes from 2 official sources
  • Pour votre demande de visa, vous devez fournir soit une adresse provisoire de vos 3 premiers mois de séjour, soit une adresse définitive si vous avez déjà trouvé un hébergement.

    France-Visas: Etudiant (student visa), L’hébergement

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • L’affiliation à la sécurité sociale est gratuite et obligatoire pour tous les étudiants non européens de moins de 28 ans.

    France-Visas: Etudiant (student visa), Se soigner pendant ses études

    checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • A housing paper for your first 3 months, or your rental contract
  • If you stay with someone: their letter and proof of their address
08
Long-stay visa: cases where no visa is issued

Past removal orders, bans and refusals

Le visa n'est pas délivré dans les cas suivants :

What the officer assesses: Whether you were ordered to leave France in the last 5 years and cannot prove you left on time, or are under a ban from France, and whether past refusals are declared.

French law says no long-stay visa is given to someone ordered to leave France in the last 5 years who cannot prove they left in time, or to someone banned from France. Tell the truth about every past visa, refusal and stay. If you were refused before, show what has changed since.

Where this comes from 3 official sources
  • Le visa n'est pas délivré dans les cas suivants :

    Visa de long séjour (séjour de plus de 3 mois à 1 an), Qu'est-ce qu'un visa de long séjour ? (À noter)

    dated 9 October 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Étranger qui a fait l'objet d'une obligation de quitter le territoire français depuis moins de 5 ans et qui n'apporte pas la preuve qu'il a quitté le territoire français dans le délai qui lui a été accordé, sauf circonstances humanitaires

    Visa de long séjour (séjour de plus de 3 mois à 1 an), Qu'est-ce qu'un visa de long séjour ? (À noter)

    dated 9 October 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

  • Étranger qui a fait l'objet d'une peine d'interdiction judiciaire du territoire, d'une décision d'expulsion, d'une interdiction de retour sur le territoire français, d'une interdiction de circulation sur le territoire français ou d'une interdiction administrative du territoire.

    Visa de long séjour (séjour de plus de 3 mois à 1 an), Qu'est-ce qu'un visa de long séjour ? (À noter)

    dated 9 October 2026 · checked against the page on 4 November 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Old passports with past visas and entry and exit stamps
  • Proof you left France on time, if you were ever ordered to leave
  • Each past refusal letter, for any country, and what has changed since

This is a national long-stay type D visa for students, called a VLS-TS étudiant. It also works as your residence permit for the first 4 months to 1 year. From Nigeria you must first use the Études en France platform. Campus France is the French state agency for international students: a public body run by the foreign ministry and the higher education ministry. Campus France Nigeria checks your file and holds an interview with you. Only after that interview do you book the visa appointment at TLS in Abuja or Lagos. Campus France does not decide the visa. The French consular services do. After you arrive, you must validate the visa online within 3 months and pay a tax of EUR 100. When it runs out, you ask the préfecture (the local state office in France) for a student residence card. The official pages do not list reasons for refusal, so these grounds follow what the official pages say a student must have and send.

Free check

Where does your study application stand?

Six questions, read against the requirements above. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

  1. 1 Where are you with your place on the course?

    The school’s confirmation (a CAS, a letter of acceptance or an I-20) comes before the visa, and the visa is checked against it.

  2. 2 Have you paid the course fees?

    Fees paid reduce the money you have to show, and in Ireland and most Canadian cases they must be paid before you apply.

  3. 3 How will you pay for your living costs?

    Every destination checks that the money is there and that its source makes sense.

  4. 4 How will you show your English?

    The UK and Ireland set a level for the visa itself; Canada and the US rely on the school’s own entry requirement.

  5. 5 How does this course follow your last study?

    Officers ask why this course, now, and a gap or a change of subject has to be explained.

  6. 6 What is your visa history?

    A previous refusal for any country has to be declared and answered.

Answer all 6 questions to see the result. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

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