Documents required for your student visa application

Last updated: March 30, 2026

If you plan to study in France for 6 months or more, you will need a student visa. It is the best visa option for those planning to live and study in France long-term.

You’ll need to provide several important documents for your visa application. The exact list can change depending on your personal situation.

If you have special circumstances or are unsure about any document, our team is ready to help you through the process and answer your questions.

List of documents typically required for all students:

• Études en France (EEF) certificate
• Visa application form and visa receipt
• Passport ID page and ALL PAGES containing visas, entry and exit stamps
• Recent ID photograph
• Enrollment certificate from your school in France
• Accommodation certificate or other proof of accommodation in France
• Recent bank statement

Études en France (EEF) certificate

Most students applying for a student visa must first submit their application to Campus France via the Études en France website.

Once you finish your application on the Études en France (EEF) website and pass your interview at your local Campus France office, you’ll get a certificate of pre-registration. This document includes your EEF number, which you’ll need to enter in your online visa application form.

Visa application form and visa receipt

You need to submit your visa application on the France-Visas website. Once you fill out all the forms, you can download your visa application form and receipt. Print and keep both documents for your visa appointment.

After you submit your application online, you’ll be asked to schedule an interview at the French embassy or visa center. At your appointment, bring your printed application form, receipt, and all other supporting documents.

Passport

Your passport must be less than 10 years old and have at least two blank pages. It should be valid for at least 3 months after your visa expires.

You’ll need to provide a clear scan of your passport ID page, plus copies of all pages that show visas, entry and exit stamps, or any other markings.

ID photograph

You’ll need to provide two recent passport-sized photos that meet the ISO/IEC format.

• Printed on photo-quality paper
• Photo taken within the last 6 months
• Face covers 70–80% of the photo
• Size: 35–40 mm width
• Facing the camera directly, head straight; neutral expression (no smile)
• Plain, light-colored, no shadows
• No glare, no red-eye, no head coverings

School enrollment certificate (or acceptance letter)

Your enrollment certificate or acceptance letter is an important part of your student visa application. It confirms that you have been officially admitted.

It should be printed on your school’s official letterhead, dated, and signed by an authorized school representative, such as the director.

This document includes the key details needed to show you qualify for a student visa, such as:

• The name of your course or program
• The start and end dates of the course
• The intensity of your course (full-time, part-time, number of hours per week, etc.)
• If tuition fees have been paid partially or fully

Usually, you’ll need to provide the original document. Your school in France will send it directly to the Campus France office handling your application, and you’ll also get a copy.

Accommodation certificate

You’ll need to show proof of where you’ll be living in France. This could be:

• A hotel reservation
• A signed rental agreement
• A letter from your host
• An explanatory letter detailing your accommodation plans

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with trusted online booking platforms to give you many accommodation options. If you book through our partners, you won’t need a guarantor, proof of income, extra paperwork, or in-person visits. After you book, our partners will give you an accommodation certificate that works for your visa application. This document confirms your housing in France.

You can find and book accommodation here.

Bank statement

A proof of income is required for all international students applying for a student visa. The French government asks for this to make sure you have enough money to cover your tuition, housing, food, transportation, and daily expenses while you’re in France.

Not having enough financial resources is one of the main reasons student visas get refused. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements and provide complete, accurate documents to avoid delays or rejections.

For a student visa, you need to show you have at least 615 € per month in income.

• If you’re paying for your studies yourself, you can provide a copy of your own bank statement.
• If someone else, like a parent, is supporting you financially, you can provide a financial liability letter from them, along with their bank statement and ID.

Your bank statement should:

• Clearly show the account holder name
• Show the available account balance
• Be dated within the last 3 months
• Be printed on official bank letterhead
• Be signed/stamped by your bank

Screenshots or printouts from a bank website or app are not accepted as official documents. Also, bank accounts with money that isn’t immediately available, like investments, or cryptocurrencies, may not be accepted. The funds should be ready to use.

Certified translations

All your documents must be in French or English. If they’re in another language, you’ll need to include a certified translation.

Don’t translate the documents yourself. Only translations done by accredited professionals are accepted. To find one, check the list of certified translators from your local French embassy or consulate. Many embassies have updated lists on their websites or can give you one if you ask.

Additional documents

Depending on your situation, you might need to provide extra documents, such as:

• Residence card: If you are not a citizen of the country you are applying from, you’ll need a proof of your legal status in that country to apply, such as your Green card if you are in the US, your Zairyu card if you are in Japan or your Alien card if you are in South Korea.
• Previous visas: If you’ve previously been granted a visa to stay in France for more than 3 months, such as a working holiday visa or a student visa, you’ll need to provide supporting documents for all your stays.
• Last completed degree: This document is typically required when applying to an undergraduate or graduate program at a French university. Students who have completed the Études en France procedure and obtained their EEF certificate are not required to submit this document.
• Language certificate: For some programs, a language certificate showing your French proficiency level may be required. If you’ve already passed a language certificate, for example, the DELF, DALF or TCF, you are likely to be asked for a copy of your diploma and scores.
• Scholarship certificate: If you are granted a scholarship to study in France, you will need to provide a scholarship certificate that details the terms of the agreement: who is paying, how much you’ve been granted, how the funds are transferred, etc.
• ID of relatives living in France: If you have family members already living in France, whether or not they’d be hosting you, whether they are French nationals or foreign residents, you will likely be asked for a copy of their ID and proof of address in France.
• Resume and motivation letter: You may not need to submit a formal resume or motivation letter, but you will need to explain your reasons and plans for studying in France when you complete your application (usually 2500 characters). You’ll also have an interview with a Campus France agent to discuss your background and plans.

Frequently asked questions

If you have special circumstances or are unsure about any document, our team is here to help you through the process and answer your questions. Contact us now.