The mobility conditions of international students in France are changing!

A circular by French Prime Minister Jean Castex published on 19 May 2021 details the new conditions of mobility in France for international students. What are these new conditions?

Incoming mobility

Are now authorised:

• Entry exam visas, only for students eligible to oral exams
• Visas for FLE (French as Foreign Language) for a registration in the next university year
• Visas for a registration in the next university year (including FLE, French as Foreign Language)  

Note that authorizations are not valid for category 3 countries*

Are not authorised:

• Short stay visas for summer training courses and summer schools
  Except for category 1 and 2 countries* not subject to compelling reasons obligations.

Exiting mobilities

Are now authorised:

• Participations to university programmes (in the broader sense), including:
  - for internships
  - for category 3 countries*: Note: to be checked with the situation of the destination country and with return to France conditions.

Special cases:

• Lebanon 

The scheme is the same as French and European citizens. There is no need for a compelling reason.

• United Kingdom

As third country, the United Kingdom is now listed in category 2*. Admission rules are subject to change in the very short term because of the local sanitary situation.

Rules are still being negotiated, and especially regarding internships in the UK.

* Countries are listed in four categories depending on the sanitary situation.
Additional information on the Ministry of the Interior website:  https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Attestation-de-deplacement-et-de-voyage