FAQ : Back to school 2021 and Covid-19

What are the procedures to follow to enter France?

The procedures to follow to come to France may vary depending on your country of residence and you vaccinal status.

Countries have been classified based on various health indicators.

• “Green” countries: countries without active circulation of the virus and variants of concern

• “Orange” countries: countries where the virus is actively circulating but in controlled proportions, without the spread of variants of concern.

• “Red” countries: countries with active circulation of the virus, and variants of concern

For more information, please download our flyer : « France welcomes you ! »

How to know if my country is in a "green", an "orange" or a "red" area?

The lists of countries are available in French and English on the French Ministry of the Interior’s website. They are updated each week.

How to get the required certifications to travel to France?

The required certifications (sworn declaration, international travel certificate etc.) are available in English on the French Ministry of the Interior’s website.

What is a compelling reason?

Non vaccinated students and researchers coming from "orange" and "red" countries must prove a compelling reason to come to France.

List of compelling reasons 

• Student enrolled in French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses prior to enrollment in higher education

• Student admitted to oral examinations to enter French higher education institutions

• Student enrolled in a higher education institution (including FLE) for the 2021–2022 academic year

• Researcher or teacher (including a language assistant) moving to France, at the invitation of a research laboratory or higher education institution, for research or teaching activities requiring a physical presence, along with their partner (married, civil partner, or cohabitating partner with proof of partnership) and their children.

What vaccines are approved in France?

Approved vaccines for entering France are those recognized by the European Medicines Agency (Comirnaty/Pfizer, Moderna, Vaxveria/AstraZeneca, and Janssen) and foreign vaccines similar to those authorized in Europe (Covishield etc.)

The complete list of approved vaccines is avaible on the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products’ website.

I am vaccinated with another vaccine. What shall I do to come to France?

If you are vaccinated with a vaccine that is not approved in France, then You must follow the procedures that apply to non vaccinated students, depending on your country of origin.

For more information, please download our flyer : « France welcomes you ! »

How to benefit from healthcare system in France?

To access the French healthcare system, sign up for Social Security. Membership in the French social security system is free and compulsory. You will benefit from reimbursment of you medical expenses and you will be given a vaccination appointment if needed.

In order to benefit from a total reimbursment of your health expenses, take out complementary health insurance (« mutuelle »).

For more information watch our tutorials :

• Everything you need to know about the Assurance Maladie

• How does the Assurance Maladie (health insurance) work in france?

How to register for Social security?

To register for Social security, please visit this dedicated website once you arrive in France : https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr/

Enter the required information and upload the requested supporting documents, as determined by your circumstances and country of origin.

Watch our tutorial to find help : Registration for Social Security

Exception

Students coming from a "red" country can start the registration for Social Security before coming to France.

Check out the Assurance Maladie’s tutorial : How to registrer for social security from my home country.

If you are a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerlandand and you hold a European health insurance card, you do not need to register for Social security online.

Do I have to isolate upon arrival in France?

Unvaccinated students and researchers coming from « orange » and « red » countries have to isolate upon arrival in France. Students and researchers coming from « orange » countries have to self-isolate for 7 days. For students and researchers coming from « red » countries, a 10-day quarantine is required. This quarantine is mandatory and controlled by authorities.

How to isolate ?

If you are required to isolate after arriving:

• Stay home as much as possible

• Avoid contact with others

• Wear a mask if you are living with others.

• Monitor your temperature.

• Report any symptoms to a doctor immediately.

• Notify your host in advance so that they can take appropriate measures (disinfecting, etc.).

What is the "health pass"?

A health pass  is the presentation of one the three following proofs:

• Proof of complete vaccination

• A negative PCR or antigen test less than 72hrs

• Proof  of recovery from COVID-19, attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result, at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old.

The health pass can be presented in digital format or on paper.

Your health pass in digital format with TousAntiCovid application

TousAntiCovid is an application developed by the French governement. TousAntiCovid offers you the following services : information on the epidemiological situation in France, customised advices, health pass in digital format.

Who needs to present a health pass ?

Since August 9, 2021, any person over 18 years old must present a health to access the places where it is required.

It will be also required from 30 August for young people aged 12 to 17.

Where do I need to present a health pass ?

You must present a health pass to access :

• leisure and cultural venues (theaters, amusement parks, concert halls, festivals, sports halls, cinemas, etc.);

• cafés and restaurants

• long distance travels (domestic flights, TGV, inter-regional trains and buses)

• health, social and medical services and establishments

• shopping centers of more than 20,000 square metres

The health pass is not required to acces higher education institutions, University restaurants (Restos’U)  and university librairies.

I have a proof of vaccination obtained abroad, how can I have the French health pass ?

If you have obtained a health proof in a member state of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you will be able to obtain a digital Covid certificate from the European Union.

You will then be able to import the certificate into the TousAntiCovid application to use it as a “health pass” in France.

If you have a proof of vaccination obtained outside of the European area, you can apply online for a French COVID Certificate. Please visit : https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/passe-sanitaire-etudiants

I had my visa late, can I still join my host institution in France?

Due to the exceptional circumstances related to the health crisis, higher education institutions can welcome international students even late. Please contact your host institution to find out the deadline by which you can arrive.

What is the CVEC?

The CVEC is the Student and Campus Life Contribution (Contribution vie étudiante et de campus). The annual amount of this contribution is €92, which you may have to pay or you may be exempt, depending on your case.

For more information: 10 things you need to know about the CVEC

Watch our tutorial : The student and campus life contribution

How to finalise my enrolment in a higher education institution?

After being admitted in a higher education institution, you have to proceed to the administrative registration and pay the tuition fees. Then, you will receive your student card. Some higher education institutions offer online matriculation process, even for the payment of the tuition fees. Please contact the international relations office of your host institution to get information on the matriculation process.

How are the courses organized ?

Higher education institutions will maintain classes as much as possible onsite. They will also have the opportunity to plan their teachings online, depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.

What are the health measures in higher education institutions ?

French higher education institutions do everything they can to plan the start of the academic year for students in the strict compliance with health protection rules :

• Respect of the protection gestures

• Wearing a mask is mandatory

• Strenghtening hygiene

• Higher education institutions also take actions to facilitate access to vaccination

How can I validate my visa ?

If you came to France with a long stay visa serving as a residence permit (VLS-TS), you must validate it within three monts after your arrival. Please visit the Ministry of interior’s dedicated website to validate your visa online : https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/

For more information : How to validate your VLS-TS ?

How to apply for or renew your residence permit ?

You hold one of these visas or residence permit :

• “VLS-TS étudiant” or “VLS-TS "étudiants en mobilité"”

• “VLS "étudiant"” (for Algerian nationals)

• “VLS "étudiant mobilité"”

• “VLS-T mineur scolarisé”

• Residence permit for a reason other than “student’

• “Student” residence permit

You have to apply for or renew your residence permit online on the Ministry of interior’s dedicated website. Please visit : https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/

What reception services are offered to international students?

In France, you’ll find welcome desks in most of university cities. They provide reception services for international students and guidance in administrative procedures. Some higher education institutions also offer online welcome desks.

For more information, check out our interactive map : reception services in your city

How to get information on reception and student life in student cities?

Campus France provides students with info sheets about international student reception and life in major university cities in France. These factsheets help find useful information to discover their new living and studying environment.

For more information, download the Explore your student city factsheet.

How to get information on reception services in higher education institutions?

Campus France provides info sheets about reception services in higher education institutions. These factsheets gives main informations and contacts. Some of these institutions benefit from the Label « Bienvenue en France » that certifies quality of welcome services for international students.

For more information, download the reception services in higher education institutions factsheets

Download the flyer : "The Bienvenue en France flyer "

How will I be able to integrate in my host institution in France ?

In France, higher eduction institutions organize welcome events to facilitate the integration of their international students at the start of the academic year.

Please visit the website of your university/school to get information on welcome events.

How can I meet other students when I arrive in France?

It is easy to find a sponsor, a student who volunteers to help you when you arrive in France.

The Erasmus Student Network - ESN (Réseau d’Associations Etudiantes in French) can put you in touch with a sponsor to help you settle in via the Buddy System platform.

There are several sponsorship networks in student cities in France.

For more information : Why have a student sponsor ?

What to do if I feel the need for psychological support?

In France, higher education institutions, the CROUS network and associations assist international students facing psychological challenges. The service Santé’psy offers you access to a psychologist or free.

For more information : Psychological assistance for international students.

How to find a guarantor?

In France, nearly everyone seeking to rent an apartment, whether French or foreign, is asked to name a guarantor. If you don’t have one, other solutions are possible, thanks to the VISALE system, which provides rental guarantees if you are renting an apartment or room in a university residence.

For more information: Everything you need to know about VISALE

Watch our tutorial to fin help : The Visale rental deposit

How to open a bank account?

A foreign student can open a bank account in any bank in France. Compare what the different banks offer. The costs of the bank card, international transfers and cash withdrawals abroad may vary noticeably from one bank to another. Some foreign banks have partners in France which can facilitate the steps.

For more information : Getting a bank account

Watch our tutorial to find help : Opening a bank account

Can I work while studying in France?

French law allows foreign students to work up to 964 hours per year, or the equivalent of 60% of the maximum working hours permitted. The income received from such work is a bonus.

For more information : Working while studying in France

How to enrich my experience in France?

To enrich your experience in France, meet other international students, access job offers and participate in professional or cultural events, join the France Alumni Network.

For more information : Join France Alumni