Visas and residence permits

Your visa validation and the application to renew your residence permit are performed online on the ANEF platform (Administration Numérique des Etrangers en France). You may access it from a smartphone, tablet or computer. 
 

• Students holding a VLS-TS student or VLS-TS student mobility permit
• Algerian nationals with a “student” VLS
• Students holding a VLS student mobility
• Holders of a residence permit for a reason other than being a “student”
• Holders of a student residence permit (excluding VLS-TS students) 

The first step to take when you arrive in France is to validate your VLS-TS long stay visa, directly online on the ANEF website. We strongly advise you to do this as soon as you arrive in France so that you do not forget and find yourself in a risky situation afterwards. 

Your visa must be validated no later than 3 months after your arrival in France. 

This procedure allows you to: 

• Remain legally in France for the duration of your visa’s validity.
• Leave France, beyond the 3 months following your arrival, without needing a visa to return. 

During the first 3 months after your arrival, you can freely leave and return to France, even without having validated your VLS-TS. 

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

It does not need to be validated online. This visa, which authorises several entries, also allows you to return to France and authorises free movement in the Schengen area (during the visa period). However, if you reach the age of 18 during the period of your visa, you must apply for a residence permit within 2 months of reaching legal age, at the latest, by contacting your local prefecture.

First-time applications and renewals of residence permits can be made online trough ANEF. 

Campus France has created a tutorial to help you apply or renew your residence permit on­line.

Applications for student residence permits renewals must be made no earlier than 4 months before the expiry date of your current permit and no later than 2 months before the expiry date of your current permit. 

We encourage you to strictly respect this deadline in order not to pay a surcharge and cause a delay in the processing of your application.

The prefectures are the only competent authorities to grant or refuse a residence permit. Therefore, Campus France is not responsible for the time it takes to process these files, which also includes the physical issuance of residence permits. 

You will always have to go to the competent authority (Prefecture of your place of residence) to collect your residence permit, after receiving the SMS stating that your permit is available. If you have not received an SMS indicating that your permit is ready within 3 months of receiving the certificate of approval, contact the prefecture in your place of residence. 

If you experience difficulties, you can contact the user support service, provided by the Centre de Contact Citoyen (CCC) directly from your ANEF space through the contact form or by phone at 0806 001 620.

You can also contact us at the following address if your difficulties persist: cartedesejour@campusfrance.org 

When writing to this address, you must attach the following to your email:

• your Campus France scholarship file number
• a scan of your visa/residence permit
• any documents that may help in understanding your request
• a phone number where we can reach you

Special cases

Those holding the following documents should contact the Prefecture of their place of residence to complete their application: 

• Students holding a short-stay visa
• Young adults who do not hold a visa or who hold an RLD-EU CARD
• Young adults holding a VLS-T school­going minor visa
• The Talent Passport: multi-annual residence permit for a foreigner in France 

If you are a foreigner and wish to work in France for more than 3 months, you can benefit from a multi-annual residence permit, the Talent Passport. This card is issued to you in several situations, in particular if you are highly qualified, if you are a researcher, investor or even an artist... It is valid for a maximum of 4 years and is renewable. For more information on the Talent Passport visit 

For more information on the Talent Passport 

• The Talent
• The Researcher-talent Passport

You will have to pay a fee, which varies according to your status as a “student” or “scientist”. This amount will be communicated to you on the invitation that will be sent to you. 

Guide to your rights and reference texts

• Website of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs                                                       
• Website on the right of employment for foreigners

Reference texts 

Code on the entry and residence of foreigners and the right to asylum, Decree No. 46-1574 dated 30 June 1946 as amended (Offcial Gazette dated 7 May 1999), www.legifrance.gouv.fr