Document checklist
France student visa documents
12 documents an Indian student needs for a France student visa, 11 of them required of every applicant. Each one says what it is, how to actually get it (where to book, the fee, the lead time), and links to the official page behind it. Where the authority states the requirement in its own words we quote that sentence, so you can confirm it yourself rather than taking our word or an agent’s.
Identity
Valid Original Indian Passport
RequiredOriginal passport issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen area, with at least two blank visa pages for the visa sticker.
How to get it
Apply or renew via Passport Seva Kendra (MEA India) well before applying if validity is insufficient; carry the original plus a photocopy of the bio-data page for the EEF file and VFS appointment.
“A valid passport issued less than 10 years before and valid for at least 3 months after the envisaged departure date”
Read the official page
Academic
Mark Sheets, Degree Certificates & Diplomas
RequiredMark sheets or passing certificates and degree/diploma certificates (or bonafide letters) covering every stage from Class 10+2 up to the last qualification obtained, uploaded to the Campus France academic record.
How to get it
Certified copies of every mark sheet and degree certificate, ordered from your Indian university at its own charge and typically taking a few weeks, then uploaded to the Etudes en France platform. Universities are the slow link and EEF deadlines do not move for you, so request the set the moment you decide on France.
“Degree or Diploma Certificates or bonafide letter for “10+2” onwards till last degree obtained”
Read the official pageInstitution Enrolment / Acceptance Certificate
RequiredCertificate of enrolment or unconditional acceptance from the French higher education institution that has admitted the student; this is a mandatory supporting document for the visa file.
How to get it
Issued by the French institution inside Etudes en France once it accepts you, with no consular fee for the document itself. It must be in the EEF file before the pre-consular interview, and that interview must happen before the visa appointment, so a late acceptance pushes both back by weeks.
“You must especially include the certificate of enrolment in the higher education institution that has accepted you.”
Read the official pageCampus France Academic Interview
RequiredIn-person or online interview with a Campus France Manager to explain the study project and choice of institution; a mandatory step in the Etudes en France procedure before the visa stage.
How to get it
Scheduled by the Campus France India office after the EEF file is validated; bring all mandatory original documents plus one photocopy set and the Campus France fee receipt.
“the academic interview with the Campus France Manager, during which you will be required to explain your reasons for choosing France”
Read the official page
Language
French or English Language Proficiency
If it appliesProof of language proficiency matching the medium of instruction: a DELF, TCF or DALF score for French-taught programs, or evidence of English competence for English-taught programs (institution-dependent).
How to get it
Sit the test in India at the provider's own fee: DELF or TCF for French, IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught programmes. Which one and what level depends entirely on the programme, so read the institution's requirement before booking, and allow several weeks between sitting and the EEF deadline because results are not immediate.
“If the course is in French then a standard test like the DELF, TCF or DALF may be asked.”
Read the official page
Financial
Proof of Financial Resources (Monthly Minimum)
RequiredBank statements, sponsor guarantee, education-loan sanction letter or scholarship certificate demonstrating the revised minimum monthly funds of €877.50 required for student visa applications from 1 August 2026.
How to get it
From 1 August 2026 the floor is EUR 877.50 a month, up from EUR 615, so anything you read quoting the old figure is out of date. Collect 3 to 6 months of bank statements or an education-loan sanction letter from an Indian bank; the sponsor route needs a signed financial guarantee plus the sponsor's own statements. Show more than the floor where you can: it is a minimum, not a target.
“Effective 1 August 2026, the minimum proof of financial resources required for a French student visa will be revised to €877.50/month”
Read the official page
Visa
Etudes en France (EEF) Dossier Registration
RequiredOnline registration and document upload on the dematerialised Etudes en France platform, which manages the admission dossier and feeds directly into the student visa request.
How to get it
Create an account on the Etudes en France portal, pay the Campus France processing fee, and complete the personal, academic and language-skills sections before submitting to universities.
“platform is completely dematerialised and manages all of the enrolment procedures for an institute of higher education up until the visa request”
Read the official pageVLS-TS Long-Stay Student Visa Application
RequiredApplication for the long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS), issued for stays of up to one year and lodged on the France-Visas online portal after the academic interview.
How to get it
Complete the application at france-visas.gouv.fr, then book a biometric appointment at VFS Global; decisions typically take about 15 days, longer in special cases.
“The long-stay visa, valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS), for a stay of less than or equivalent to one year.”
Read the official pageStudent Visa Application Fee
RequiredConsular visa fee of €50 for applicants from EEF-procedure countries, including India, paid at the VFS Global appointment; the standard rate for other countries is €99.
How to get it
EUR 50 for applicants from countries in the Etudes en France procedure, which includes India, against EUR 99 elsewhere. Paid when you lodge at the visa centre. Campus France charges its own EEF fee separately, and the visa centre adds a service charge, so three payments in total.
“Visa pricing for countries or territories with EEF procedure: 50 €*”
Read the official pageProof of Accommodation in France
RequiredEvidence of a temporary address covering at least the first three months of stay, or a permanent address if housing has already been secured, submitted with the visa application.
How to get it
You must give an address covering at least your first three months, or a permanent address if you already have one. A university residence letter costs nothing; a signed lease or a hotel or hostel booking costs whatever the landlord or hotel charges. Conditions vary by country, so check the France-Visas wizard for your own case, and arrange it before the visa appointment rather than after arrival.
“For your visa application, you must provide a temporary address for the first three months of your stay”
Read the official page
Health
Student Social Security Registration
RequiredRegistration for the French student social security scheme, which is free of charge for all non-European students under 28 and reimburses on average 60% of medical costs.
How to get it
Register online on the health insurance website at the same time as academic enrolment; no premium is due for students under 28.
“Registering for social security is free of charge and mandatory for all non-European students under the age of 28.”
Read the official pageOFII Online Validation of VLS-TS
RequiredMandatory online validation of the VLS-TS visa within 3 months of arrival in France, confirming legal student status with the French immigration office (OFII); missing the deadline forfeits the right to stay.
How to get it
Complete the validation online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr using your visa details, arrival date, French address and a bank card to pay the stay tax (~€50).
“As soon as you arrive in France, you must validate your visa.”
Read the official page
1 of these are conditional: needed only if the situation described applies to you. Read each one rather than assuming, since the conditions are where applications get delayed.
This list is the same for everyone
Your marks, your budget and your subject are not. Run a free eligibility check to see where you actually qualify across 13 countries and the real programs open to you in each, then track your own progress through this checklist.
Bramica takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This is information, not immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm anything you are about to act on at the official source linked against it.