---
title: "France Student permit requirements 2026: 1-year stay"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/student-residence/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-11
---

France · Student

# France Student permit

**First stay:** 1 yr

Student visa and residence permit ("etudiant")

First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Savings needed:** €878 a month ≈ $980 (Savings of at least EUR 877.5 a month (≈ $980) · Minimum monthly resources, shown by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate; waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Tax paid when validating the student long-stay visa (VLS-TS) within 3 months of arrival. A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Student residence card: EUR 100 tax plus EUR 50 stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.)
- **First stay:** 1 yr (Student long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for 4 months to 1 year; the student card that follows lasts 1 year or 2 to 4 years.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement)
- **Work:** Needs permit (Students can work up to 964 hours a year (60 percent of annual legal working time) without a separate work authorisation; apprenticeship contracts have their own rules.)

## Key facts

Student permit is a student route for France. Local work: with a permit. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** €100 ≈ $110 · €150 ≈ $170
- **Processing:** Up to 90 days
- **First stay:** 1 yr

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fees €250 ≈ $280 in total (2 fees); decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: €100 ≈ $110 · €150 ≈ $170**

- EUR 100 (≈ $110) Tax paid when validating the student long-stay visa (VLS-TS) within 3 months of arrival.
- EUR 150 (≈ $170) Student residence card: EUR 100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.

**Shown, not spent: €878+/mo ≈ $980**

- EUR 877.5 a month (≈ $980) Minimum monthly resources, shown by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate; waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement.

**Renewal: Renewable**

The student visa is valid 4 months to 1 year; the student card that follows lasts 1 year or 2 to 4 years and is renewed 2 to 4 months before it expires.

[Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231)

**Permanent residence: Time here doesn't count**

Student status is not among the permits the administration lists as counting toward the 5 years for the EU long-term resident card.

[Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en)

**Citizenship: After 5 years of residence**

Naturalisation needs 5 years of residence in France, or only 2 years if you graduated from a French higher-education institution after 2 years of study.

[Service-Public.gouv.fr](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en)

**Processing: Up to 90 days**

The prefecture must answer within 90 days; silence counts as a refusal.

[Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231)

**Where to apply: From abroad**

Apply for the visa through France-Visas or Etudes en France before departure, then validate it online on arrival.

[Service-Public](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Applications are made from outside France, not after arriving
- Needs a place at a school or university in France
- Working needs a separate permit
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from Algeria

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a non-EU national who will study at a public or private higher-education establishment or vocational training body.
- Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement.

#### What you must show

- Resources must be at least EUR 877.50 (≈ $980) per month, assessed case by case.
- The resources test is waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement.
- The VLS-TS validation tax is EUR 100 (≈ $110) and the student card costs EUR 150 (≈ $170).

#### Documents

- Proof of enrolment or pre-enrolment, and proof of resources by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate.

#### Steps

1. Apply for the visa through France-Visas or the Etudes en France platform before departure.
2. Validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months of arrival, and apply for the student card 2 to 4 months before the document expires.

#### After you arrive

- After 1 year the holder can apply for a 1-year student card or a 2 to 4 year multi-year student card.

## When you become tax resident

How France decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** Tax domicile rules in Art. 4 B CGI.
- **Income tax:** Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026.

[All tax rules for France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Long-stay student visa valid as a residence permit (4 months to 1 year), then a one-year or multi-year (2 to 4 years) student card; applicants show resources of at least EUR 877.50 (≈ $980) per month. (sources 1, 2)

#### What you must show and pay

- Savings of at least EUR 877.5 a month (≈ $980) · Minimum monthly resources, shown by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate; waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement. (source 1)
- A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110) · Tax paid when validating the student long-stay visa (VLS-TS) within 3 months of arrival. (source 1)
- A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170) · Student residence card: EUR 100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps. (source 1)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a non-EU national who will study at a public or private higher-education establishment or vocational training body. (source 1)
- Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement. (source 1)
- Resources must be at least EUR 877.50 (≈ $980) per month, assessed case by case. (source 1)
- The resources test is waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement. (source 1)
- The VLS-TS validation tax is EUR 100 (≈ $110) and the student card costs EUR 150 (≈ $170). (source 1)
- Proof of enrolment or pre-enrolment, and proof of resources by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate. (source 1)
- Apply for the visa through France-Visas or the Etudes en France platform before departure. (source 1)
- Validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months of arrival, and apply for the student card 2 to 4 months before the document expires. (source 1)
- After 1 year the holder can apply for a 1-year student card or a 2 to 4 year multi-year student card. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Student long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for 4 months to 1 year; the student card that follows lasts 1 year or 2 to 4 years.
- First stay: 4 to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

#### Work

Students can work up to 964 hours a year (60 percent of annual legal working time) without a separate work authorisation; apprenticeship contracts have their own rules.

Checked 2026-10-11

## Official sources

1. [Visa or residence permit "etudiant"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231) · Service-Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Can a non-European student work in France?](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2713) · Service Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years)](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [French naturalization by decree](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11

## Student permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Student permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | With a permit |
| [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/student-higher-ed-91/) Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| [Internship permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/internship-residence/) Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| [D3 study visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/d3-study-research/) Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/study-visa/) Italy | Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k | – | Yes |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Student permit?

Savings of at least EUR 877.5 a month (≈ $980). Minimum monthly resources, shown by scholarship, pay slips, third-party support or a bank certificate; waived for those who passed the entrance competition of an institution with a state agreement. A fee of EUR 100 (≈ $110). Tax paid when validating the student long-stay visa (VLS-TS) within 3 months of arrival. A fee of EUR 150 (≈ $170). Student residence card: EUR 100 (≈ $110) tax plus EUR 50 (≈ $56) stamp duty, paid by tax stamps.

### How long can I stay on the Student permit?

Student long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for 4 months to 1 year; the student card that follows lasts 1 year or 2 to 4 years.

### How long does the Student permit take to process?

The prefecture must answer within 90 days; silence counts as a refusal.

### Can I work on the Student permit?

With a permit. Students can work up to 964 hours a year (60 percent of annual legal working time) without a separate work authorisation; apprenticeship contracts have their own rules.

### Who can apply for the Student permit?

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; Algerian nationals follow the bilateral agreement Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

### Does the Student permit lead to permanent residence in France?

Time on the Student permit doesn't count toward permanent residence in France. Time on the Student permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.

### How are Student permit holders taxed in France?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Student permit. The standard rules apply: Progressive scale per family-quotient share: 0% to EUR11,600, (≈ $13,000) 11% to EUR29,579, (≈ $33,000) 30% to EUR84,577, (≈ $94,500) 41% to EUR181,917 (≈ $203,000) and 45% above, set by Finance Act 2026-103 of 19 February 2026.

## More in France

[Talent · Renowned person](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-renown/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/working-holiday/) [Entrepreneur / freelancer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/entrepreneur-liberal/) [Talent · Artist](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-artistic/) [Talent · Business creator](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-business-creator/) [Talent · Innovative project](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-innovative-project/) [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/ict-posted-employee/) [Employee residence card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/employee-residence-card/)

## Study visas elsewhere

[🇩🇪 Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/student-16b/) [🇬🇧 Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/student-visa/) [🇳🇱 Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/student-residence/) [🇦🇱 Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/student/) [🇲🇪 Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/montenegro/student/) [🇲🇹 Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/student/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Visa or residence permit "etudiant"](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2231) · Service-Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Can a non-European student work in France?](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2713) · Service Public (DILA) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Long-term resident card - EU (foreigner in France for 5 years)](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F17359?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [French naturalization by decree](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2213?lang=en) · Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.