When you arrive in France, you must validate your Long-Stay Visa (VLS). This validation turns your visa into a Long-Stay Visa with Residence Permit (VLS-TS). Note that when the visa is issued by the French consulate in the country of origin, a document is usually attached to the passport, or even stapled to the passport if the visa is subject to validation.

This procedure, which can only be carried out online, ensures that you remain legally in France throughout the validity period of your visa.

You must validate your long-stay visa within 3 months of your arrival in France. This process costs 50 euros.

Once your VLS-TS has been validated, you can travel in and out of France without having to apply for a new visa.

To validate your VLS-TS, you will need the following:

• A valid email address
• The information on your current visa
• Your arrival date in France
• The address at which you live in France
• A bank card to pay the electronic fiscal stamp (timbre fiscal – titre étranger) online
• If you don’t have a bank card, you can pay for an electronic fiscal stamp in cash at a tabac shop. You will be given a payment receipt containing a reference number that you must enter online to validate your VLS-TS visa.

Campus France explains how to validate the long stay visa in detail on they website.

Algerian nationals do not require a VLS-TS visa. They must have a Long-Stay Visa (VLS) and must subsequently request a residence permit card. The visa generally bears the full or abbreviated wording: “carte de séjour à solliciter dans les deux mois suivant l’arrivée” (residence permit to be requested within two months of arrival).

Documents required:

The list of documents to submit for your 1-year application for a residence permit is available on the service-public.fr website.

• Select the “1st application” tab
• then choose “You’re a student”
• Note that the signed copy of the “Agreement to respect the principles of the Republic” (contrat d’engagement à respecter les principes de la République) must be attached. Translations of the agreement are available in several languages for comprehension purposes, but you must sign and submit the French version only. You can upload it in the “Proof of address” section.

Steps to follow:

• Submit your request on the online platform of the Digital Administration for Foreigners in France (ANEF). Select “I would like to apply or renew my residence permit“.
• Confirmation of deposit: Once you have submitted your documents, you will receive an email confirming your digital deposit. If your request is incomplete, you can add to it by logging into your ANEF personal space.
• Receiving a favourable decision: Once the Prefecture has processed your application, you will receive an “attestation de décision favorable“. Please note that this is not the same as a residence permit, but it allows you to carry out administrative procedures.
• Collecting your residence permit: You must make an appointment with the Prefecture to collect your residence permit, either 3 weeks after the “attestation de décision favorable” has been issued, or when you receive the text message informing you that your residence permit has arrived at the Prefecture.

The age of legal majority under French law is 18.

School-going minors who will reach the age of majority (18) within 3 months of the visa being issued:

Students holding a “Mineur scolarisé” (school-going minor) visa who will reach the age of majority within 3 months of their visa being issued can validate their visa online.
See the Validate your Long Stay Visa with Residence Permit (VLS-TS) section above.

School-going minors who reach the age of majority (18) more than 3 months after the visa is issued:

Students who are minors and hold a student visa issued more than 3 months before they reach the age of majority do not need to validate their visa online when they arrive in France.

However, once they reach the age of majority, their visa loses its validity and they must, consequently, submit an application for a student residence permit online under “déposer une première demande de titre de séjour“.

The list of required documents can be downloaded in French and is available on the Prefecture website.

Students must submit their application for the residence permit online 2 months before their 18th birthday.

School-going minors under the age of majority (18) when their visa expires:

Students on a School-Going Minor Visa do not need to apply for a residence permit. However, if you have not reached the age of majority when the visa expires, you should contact the Prefecture of your place of residence to find out the procedure that applies to your situation.

You have not yet validated your VLS-TS

For the first 3 months after your arrival, you are free to leave and return to France, even if you have not validated your VLS-TS.

After 3 months, if you have not validated your VLS-TS, you must apply for a “return visa” to return to France.

You are authorised to leave and re-enter French territory if you have one of the following documents:

• Temporary residence permit
• Document certifying the renewal of an application for a residence permit, accompanied by an expired residence permit or an expired long-stay D visa valid for between 4 and 12 months (with the exception of D visas bearing the words “Dispense temporaire de carte de séjour“).
• Certificate of extension of processing of an application for a residence permit, accompanied by the expired residence permit or an expired long-stay D visa valid for between 4 and 12 months (with the exception of D visas bearing the words “Dispense temporaire de carte de séjour“)
• Certificate of a favourable decision on an application for a residence permit
• Certificate of a favourable decision on an application to renew a residence permit
• Other documents authorising return to France (link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1212/oj)

To avoid being denied boarding, we recommend that you save the link to the Official Journal of the European Union. You can download a document in several languages. You can also contact the airline before departure.

Please note that if your residence permit has expired and you have not started the renewal process, you will not be able to return to France.

As a non-European student, you may be authorised to work in France. However, special rules apply depending on your nationality, so it is important to verify the rules that apply to your specific situation:

Students with a VLS-TS or student residence card

If you are a student with a VLS-TS residence permit or student residence card, you can work a maximum of 964 hours per year (60% of the annual legal working time) without a work permit.
If you wish to work more than 964 hours per year, you must apply for a work permit on the ANEF platform.

Special rules for Algerian students

Algerian students who wish to work must apply for a work permit before they start working.

You can declare a change of address in the “I would like to declare a change” section on the ANEF platform.

Please note that it is not possible to complete several procedures at the same time on the ANEF platform. Consequently, you should not declare a change of address within 6 months of the expiry of your visa or residence permit. You can declare your change of address when you apply for a renewal.

An e-photo (or digital signature photo) is compulsory for certain online administrative procedures, such as applying for a residence permit. It is a dematerialized identity photo with a digital signature, i.e. a code which you must enter when you submit your application, which enables the French authorities to download the photograph.

Find an approved photographer or photo booth near you on this website.

If you submit your application from a foreign country, please note that there are mobile apps that can provide a digital identity photo (e-photo).

When submitting your application for a residence permit, you may provide details relevant to your case in the designated “Observation à l’attention de l’administration” field.

This field should not be overlooked, as it allows you to elaborate on specific aspects of your situation to the official reviewing your application.