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Students with passports not exempt from short-stay visasEverything you need to know about a French FLE study visa (≤ 90 days & > 90 days)

Updated: Oct 8

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Who is this for?


For holders of a passport not listed in the Schengen short-stay visa-exemption annex who are coming to France to study FLE (French language courses) or a programme taught mainly in French.

Non-exhaustive examples: China, India, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Colombia, Peru, Ukraine, Georgia, etc.


Three key takeaways


Stay ≤ 90 days

Apply for a Schengen C visa – Studies (short stay).


Generate your personalised list with the Visa Assistant: France-Visas — Visa Wizard.

Stay > 90 days

Apply for a VLS-TS Student (long-stay visa that acts as a residence permit).

EEF depends on
where you live

Whether you must go through Études en France (EEF/Campus France) for a stay of over 90 days depends on your country/region of residence, not on your passport.

Check Campus France’s EEF list.


Choose your route

If you are staying ≤ 90 days

(short stay)


  • Passport not exempt → C visa – Studies is mandatory.

  • The list of exempt countries is set by Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, Annexe II (official list).

  • The C visa covers your studies and your trip. When it expires, you leave France; in general there is no switch directly to a long stay from inside France.

If you are staying > 90 days

(long stay)


  • Apply for a VLS-TS Student.

  • Do you need to go through EEF first?

🔎 Where to check?

•  France-Visas — Visa Wizard (assistant / checklist)


• Campus France — EEF   — countries/regions concerned by Études en France


• Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, Annexe II (short-stay visa-exempt countries)


Procedures & documents, by route


Route 1 : C visa – Studies (≤ 90 days)

Steps

1 Choose your course & obtain school documents (EDAM).

Enrolment → payment → Letter of Enrolment (dates, hours per week & total volume, study mode).

2 Generate your personalised checklist via France-Visas — Visa Wizard

Select “Studies (short stay C)” → generate the checklist.

3 Prepare your documents.

Passport, photo, insurance, funds, accommodation, itinerary, EDAM documents…

4 Book an appointment at the visa centre (TLScontact / VFS…) → submit file + biometrics.

Varies by country/region.

5 Wait for the decision → collect your visa.

Follow the centre’s instructions.

6 Enter France → attend your course → depart.

Leave France at the end of the short stay.

Documents (general principles)

Item
Details / notes

Passport

Valid for the whole stay, ≥ 2 blank pages

Form & photo

+ visa fee

Travel insurance

Medical emergencies & repatriation, covers the entire duration

Funds

Amount/format as per checklist

Accommodation

Tenancy / booking / hosting certificate

Itinerary

Flight/transport reservations

School documents（EDAM)

Enrolment letter (hours/week & total), invoice / proof of payment

Depending on the case: translations/legalisations, study certificates, etc. → always follow your France-Visas checklist.


Route 2 : VLS-TS Student (> 90 days)


First, check the workflow

  • If your country/region of residence is on the EEF list → EEF first, then France-Visas (VLS-TS).

  • If not on the list → go directly to France-Visas (VLS-TS).


Steps (including the EEF case)

1 EEF (if applicable)

Create your account, upload passport, CV, diplomas/transcripts, study plan/motivation, proof of French level if required; answer follow-ups and attend any online interview. Obtain EEF approval/validation.

2 France-Visas

Complete the Visa Assistant, generate the checklist, book TLS/VFS appointment, submit file + biometrics.

3 After the visa is issued

Enter France.

4 Within 3 months of arrival

Validate the VLS-TS online (electronic tax stamp) to activate your right to stay.

Documents (general principles)

Item
Details / notes

Passport & photo

+ fees

EEF file

Forms, diplomas, statement of purpose, proof of language if required

Monthly funds

Amount as per consulate / EEF site

Accommodation

Tenancy / residence / hosting certificate

Insurance

Before affiliation to the state health system

School documents

Enrolment letter (hours/week & total), invoice / proof of payment

Requirements change by country/consulate/EEF and by institution. Always refer to your EEF site (if relevant), France-Visas — Visa Wizard, and the website of the host institution.


After arriving in France (stays > 90 days)


  • Online validation of the VLS-TS (mandatory, within the stated deadline).

  • Health cover (state health insurance / CPAM / PUMA): provide proof of enrolment and address.

  • Bank account (RIB) for payments/any allowances.

  • CAF – housing aid (if eligible).

  • Navigo (Imagine R / student travel pass).

  • Attendance: class presence monitored by EDAM (records and certificates that may be required for admin).


Documents issued by EDAM


  • Letter of Enrolment: dates, hours per week and total volume, study mode (in-person / hybrid).

  • School certificate & Attendance certificate.

  • Course calendar, invoice and proof of payment.

  • Pathway advice (EEF / France-Visas) and planning.


Suggested timeline & common mistakes


Indicative processing times

  • C visa: allow 4–8 weeks (earlier start in peak season).

  • VLS-TS (with EEF): allow 8–12+ weeks (EEF file, appointment, processing, issuance, travel).

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Forgetting to check whether EEF applies (criterion = country/region of residence).

  • Choosing a weekly/total hours volume that doesn’t meet the visa objective (hours/week or total too low).

  • Insurance/funds/accommodation not compliant with the required format/duration.

  • Not validating the VLS-TS after arrival.

  • Buying non-refundable/non-changeable tickets before obtaining the visa.


FAQ

Q1. With a C visa (≤ 90 days), can I switch to a long-stay visa from inside France?

Generally, no. Long-duration studies are usually arranged from your country/region of residence via a VLS-TS Student application (see France-Visas — Visa Wizard).

Q2. For a stay of over 90 days, is a French test (TCF/TEF/DELF/DALF) compulsory?

It depends on the EEF website for your country/region and on the institution’s requirements. For programmes taught in French (including FLE), several EEF sites state that proof of language level is required (typically valid for 2 years). Check your local EEF site and the target school.

Q3. How many class hours per week are needed for a long stay?

As set by your consulate/prefecture. EDAM offers compliant formats, e.g. Extensive 10 h/week, Intensive 16 h/week, Intensive plus 20 h/week,long programmes 6–10 months, etc.

Q4. If my visa is refused, how are refunds handled?

Under EDAM’s Terms & Conditions: a refund is issued after receiving the original documents (consulate refusal letter and proof of enrolment), minus any scheduled application/administrative fees.

Q5. Anything specific for under-18s?

Follow your consulate/visa centre checklist to the letter.

Official references

  • France-Visas — Visa Wizard (assistant / checklist):


Need tailored advice?

Unsure between a C visa and a VLS-TS, or about the weekly hours you should choose? Write to us — we’ll match the right EDAM format to your goals and your timeline.



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