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The long stay visa for studies :
    a requirement

The stay of the foreign students in France is governed by the article 12 of the ordinance of November 2, 1945 and the articles 7 and 8 of the modified decree of June 30, 1946 : the foreigners who come in France to study must be provided there with a visa of long stay with the mention " student ".

Generally speaking a visa said " long stay " is granted to the foreigners who come to become settle in France or live there for long period of time, which is the case of most students. The validity period of the visa, as well as for temporary visa moreover, can not exceed one year : it is generally of three months for the students.

Relation between entrance visa and residence permit

Since the August 1st, 1985 circular, the visa of long stay " student " mention has been compulsory, except for the nationals of some countries which are exempted (to see below). It will be indispensable to produce it to be in order with the legislation when arriving in France and obtain the " student " residence permit.

To obtain a "Student" residence permit Before 1985, a foreign student, in France with a tourist visa, could obtain a student residence permit (provided he could prove he was registered in an educational establishment, and give evidence of his sufficient resources and meet all the conditions to obtain the permit). But today, this is not the case anymore. In the practice it became hardly possible for a foreign student to get his situation sorted out if, once in France, he has visa different from the long stay visa " student " mention.

Cases of exemption : The nationals of the following countries are exempted from the obligation to be provided with a visa of long stay for studies, by virtue of international agreements :
the EU members + Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway ;
Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican, San Marin, Switzerland.
As well as : the holders of diplomatic passports with a letter of introduction from the Foreign Ministry.

Particular cases and other visas:
The " étudiant-concours " visa (student with selective examination)
Since 1999, " the foreigner in France to study, whose visa's duration is inferior or equal to three months with the mention "étudiant-concours", if it can prove he was successful at the competitive exam or its success in the competition or the test of preliminary admission for which this visa was granted " is not obliged to possess a visa of long stay with the " Student " mention (article 7 of the decree of June 30 1946 modified by the decree of May 5 1999).
So, the student whose registration depends on the success in an examination, a competition in a preliminary interview or any other test of admission (language or other) is delivered a visa of short stay (visa C) mention " student - competition " by the Consulate.
He can then ask for a student residence permit without having to come back to his country to obtain a visa of long stay for studies, provided he succeeded in the competition or the exam for which the visa was delivered. The documentary evidence of success is to enclose to the file of first demand of residence permit.
In case of failure, if, once in France, the student succeeds nevertheless in joining another training or another school, it is likely that the prefecture will ask him to come back to his country to obtain a visa of long stay for studies, although it has theoretically the right to sort out his situation in France.

The visa of long stay for studies mention " au pair - aide familiale " (au pair - home help)
If you come to France within the framework of a contract " Au pair ", think of clarifying it to the Consulate. A visa long stay with " student " mention " au pair - aide familiale " will be delivered to you. To know more about this type of stay, read the chapter " Get more money " in the third part of the guide.

The 3 to 6 months visa with the mention " dispense temporaire de carte de séjour " (temporary exemption of residence permit)
This same decree of May 5, 1999 in its article 3 set up a new type of visa of long temporary stay with the mention " temporary exemption of residence permit ". As the title indicates it, it allows a student or a researcher who comes to France to follow a training program or to carry out a research for a period of time between 3 and 6 months, to stay in France without having to ask for a residence permit. This visa is notably delivered to the students who come to follow for example courses of French during 6 months maximum. " The holders of a visa of temporary stay of a maximum duration of six months are exempted to ask for a residence permit as their visa has value of residence permit " (circular N 84 of December 4, 1984).

Be careful, this visa which seems advantageous can turn out a mixed blessing : if you want to stay in France to pursue your studies beyond initially foreseen period, you will not have any other solution than but come back to your country to obtain the inescapable long stay student visa. On the occasion of you request, make no mistake on the duration of your stay and if you want to follow long studies, once again, you need the visa for long stay with the student mention.

Make no mistake on the duration of your stay Before coming to France, make your objective clear and when asking for your visa, define exactly the duration of your stay in France. A student with a visa of short stay can not sort out his situation in France. For stays of less than three months, ask for a visa of short stay or tourist visa. No need of residence permit. For stays superior to three months to make studies : you need a visa of long stay with " student " mention (except particular case : " visa competition ", etc.). You need a residence permit when you arrive in France. Make no confusion between a " right to enter the country " (visa) and " right to stay in the country " (residence permit).