Depending on your nationality, your situation and the length of your stay, you may be able to obtain a visa to study or conduct research in France or to return here after you graduate.
Good News!
There is an official website for visa application to France : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
You will find all information you need to prepare your stay in France.
Applying for Student Visa from Pakistan
The student visa process application must be well prepared. Once you get an admission in a French higher education institution, and at least three months before your intended departure, you have to prepare the student visa application:
Students can apply for visa who have already received their admission letter.
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Create your account on Etudes en France Platform Create Your Account
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Log In, https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/dyn/public/login.html
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Start with the application “ I am accepted” & fill the application with all required information and documents
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Pay the registration fee of 25000 PKR (You’ll get 50% reduction on your visa fee)
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Go to the France visas website to fill the visa application https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/pk
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Print the visa application and EEF payment proof, visit AEG for your visa appointment https://frenchvisa.aeg.com.pk/
1- What are the required documents to apply for the student visa?
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International Passport/ Original |
The International passport must be valid for all the period of trip to France. |
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Recent ID passport-size photographs (colour, clear background) / 3 copies |
The photographs will be attached with the visa application form. |
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Visa application form / 2 copies |
You will get the form from the website of the French Embassy |
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Admission letter from the French Institution / 1 copy |
Without admission letter in a French higher education institution, you cannot apply for a student visa |
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Personal Bank Statement of the LAST 6 MONTHS OR Affidavit of guarantor / original + Bank Statement of the guarantor of the last 6 months / 1 copy |
A minimum of 615 euros/month is required to cover your expenses in France
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Certificate of accommodation (if available) / 1 copy
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The accommodation certificate must mention : • Your name • The address of the accommodation • The dates (that should cover the duration of your course) If an individual is offering you accommodation, submit:
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Curriculum Vitae / 1 copy |
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Cover letter / 1 copy |
The cover letter has to offer evidence of your motivation to join France for your studies. |
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University Certificates & Transcripts |
The transcripts are very important. |
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Copy of all pages of passport /1 copy |
Every single page has to be copied |
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OFII form with the upper half duly completed by the visa applicant: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/IMG/pdf/LS-01d_formulaire_ofii.pdf
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Family Registration Certificate |
This document has to be requested from NADRA |
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Money for the visa fees |
The money will be paid at the visa section. |
2- What is the preliminary interview all about?
The aim of the interview held at the cultural & cooperation service of the Embassy of France is to assess the educational project of the candidate and to pre-check his file. All other aspects of your file will be assessed by the visa section that will make the final decision of giving (or not) the visa.
3- What do I do after the preliminary interview?
From the moment you submit your file, it takes the visa section approximately 10-15 working days to process your visa. You will be notified to collect your passport from AEG FRENCH VISA centre once the decision is made.
For further information, kindly contact Campus France Pakistan Officer
Fabiha AZIZ
Campus France Pakistan
(+92) 302 85 95 879
No visa obligation for European students
If you are a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country (EU) and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you do not need a student visa to study or do an internship in France. You may freely enter French territory regardless of the length of your stay or your studies.
On the other hand, you must have a sickness and maternity insurance and sufficient financial resources to meet your needs and those of any of your family you may be supporting.
Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland may work while studying in France without a residency permit to a maximum of 964 hours per year.
The short stay student visa
If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, and depending on your nationality, you must obtain a student visa to study in France even if your stay is less than 3 months.
There are two types of short stay visa: the "short stay for studies" visa and the "student in competition" (étudiant concours) visa, which should be requested if you are convoked by a French institute for an exam or interview.
Note that nationals from certain non-European countries are not required to have a visa if their stay does not exceed 90 days. Check the article "The student visa short stay"for more information on this subject.
The long stay student visa
If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you must request a student long stay visa to study, conduct research or do an internship in France for more than 3 months.
There are two types of long term visas:
1/ the Long Term Visa used as Residence Permit (VLS-TS)
This visa allows you to remain in France for one year without needing to request a residency permit. You will still have to have your visa approved on arrival. Depending on the nature of your stay, there are three types of long stay visas:
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the student VLS-TS for studies at the Bachelor's and Master's level;
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the Talent passport VLS-TS for a doctorate and beyond;
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the internship VLS-TS to do an internship in France as part of the programme you are enrolled in in your country of residence.
2/ the Temporary Long Term Visa (VLS-T)
With the VLS-T, you can stay in France for 1 year, and you don't need to validate it at your arrival. It cannot be renewed, and it doesn't grant the rights than the VLS-TS.
The Working Holiday visa
In the framework of a reciprocal agreement with several countries, France grants Working Holiday visas. Reserved for young people aged 18 to 30, they let you spend one year in France to learn about the country without studying here. They let you work in France to round out your resources during the year.
Check the article "Working Holiday visa" to find out if you are eligible for this and for more information on the subject.
Provisional residency permit
If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, the Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour (APS - Provisional Residency Permit) allows you to remain one year in France after you graduate. It is reserved for holders of a professional Bachelor's, a Master's-level degree and all graduates who are starting a company.
The travel visa or Schengen visa
If you are not a national of a European Economic Area country (European Union country and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or of Switzerland, you can request a travel visa at the end of your studies. Reserved for holders of a Master's-level degree from a French higher education institute, it allows you to regularly return to France if you reside in another country after your studies in France.