Are you a student preparing to move to France in 2026? This guide is for you! It will help you:
- Budget your study abroad project in France.
- Choose the right French language school or university for you.
- Find and book accommodation in France.
- Understand the visa requirements and essential steps to move to France in 2026.
How much do I need to live and study in France in 2026?
If you want to move to France in 2026 and start your new student life there, you first need to prepare your budget.
Students are required to show they have enough financial resources to support themselves during their stay in France. This means you should have enough funds to cover your rent and utilities, transportation, food, and all other living expenses.
To receive a student visa, students must provide a recent bank statement showing at least 615€ per month for the duration of their studies. If you plan to stay in France for 1 year, you should show a bank statement of at least 7,380 €. Read more about the financial requirements to live and study in France.
615€ per month is the minimum amount required by French Embassies or Consulates to qualify for a student visa, but given inflation, we recommend budgeting more. On average, students now spend between €700 and €800 per month on essential expenses such as housing, food, and transportation. However, costs can vary significantly based on your location and lifestyle. For example, living in Paris is usually more expensive than in other towns, and it isn’t easy to find an apartment in Paris under 800~900€ per month.
To know how much money you need to prepare, use our Cost of Living Calculator.
How to choose the right school for my learning goals?
If you are planning to learn French in France, you usually have two options: language schools or universities.
See our language schools
See our universities
Choosing the right school depends on your unique goals, budget, desired location, and preferred learning style. Because our team is made up of former language students and we’ve been through the same process you’re about to start, we can help you decide based on what matters most to you, whether it’s program intensity, facilities, or environment.
If you are hesitating between a language school and a university, we recommend you read this guide, which compares the two options to help you understand their key similarities and differences and choose the one that best fits your goals.
Just so you know, at Go! Go! France, all our partner schools are accredited by Campus France and hold the FLE Quality Label, so they meet all the requirements for students applying for a student visa. Each school is carefully selected by our team based on teaching quality, course variety, and student experience. We personally visit and evaluate each partner school, observe classes, and meet staff and teachers to ensure it meets our high standards.
How to find and book accommodation in France?
We recommend that you start looking for accommodation as soon as you receive your acceptance letter from your school in France.
You can choose from dorms, private apartments, shared housing, and homestays.
- Dorm: Student residences are often the most affordable option.
- Private apartments: Studios and apartments are the best option when it comes to privacy and having your own space.
- Shared options: Share houses offer a good balance between quality and price and give you a chance to make more friends.
- Homestay: Staying with a local family is the most immersive experience and the best solution to improve your French skills quickly.
At Go! Go! France, we make finding and booking student housing easy, even if you don’t yet speak French, by connecting you with verified accommodation providers. Our partners simplify the process, so there’s no income proof, no complicated paperwork, no guarantors, and no in-person viewings required. You’ll receive a visa-compatible accommodation certificate from our partners after booking.
Access our accommodation finder to check the currently available options.
The accommodation listings on our website are provided through our trusted partner, Uniplaces. They offer a wide range of student housing options across cities in France. We also recommend HousingAnywhere and Studapart as reliable student housing platforms.
Can I get a student visa to study French in France?
Yes, you can get a student visa if you enroll in an eligible French course, such as those offered by our partner schools.
With a student visa, you can live, study, and work in France for 1 year or more, with the option to extend your stay. You can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week), travel freely within the Schengen Area, access French health insurance, and receive housing allowance. It is the best visa option for those planning to live and study in France long-term.
We recommend applying 5 to 6 months in advance. This gives you enough time to collect your supporting documents, complete school paperwork, and meet visa requirements based on your nationality and the length of your course.
Watch our video to get an overview of the application process:
Get Started
Whether you want to study in France for just a semester or for 1 year and possibly more, we can help with everything from school selection, getting a visa, renting accommodation, to post-arrival paperwork and settling into your life in France.
To help you get started, we have put together our Go! Go! France student guide. It has all the essential information you need to know to get started. Download our student guide for free.
Our team is here to guide you through every step of the process. Whether you’re just starting to explore or already have a destination in mind, contact us and let us know any questions or concerns you have.
