The following list is indicative and may not be exhaustive. Requirements vary from country to country.

A passport

Your passport must be valid for the duration of your intended stay in France.

Proof of admission

You must furnish either a positive response to your preliminary application for admission or a letter of admission from a public or private institution of higher education. The document must specify your discipline and level of study. Letters of admission from private institutions must specify the number of course hours and certify that tuition has been paid in full.

Proof of financial support

The required level of financial resources is set by each embassy. The average is approximately 460 Euros per month.

Scholarship students must provide documentation on the letterhead of the granting organization specifying the amount and duration of their grant.

If financial support will be provided by an individual residing in France, the student must furnish a signed statement of responsibility, a photocopy of the identity card of the guarantor, and evidence of adequate means to provide the promised support (such as the guarantor's 3 most recent paystubs and the most recent income tax return).

If financial support will be provided from abroad, the student must furnish evidence of the opening of a bank account into which the necessary funds will be deposited and a written commitment from the guarantor to deposit the funds. The statement of commitment must be translated into French and bear a legalized (certified) signature. If the necessary funds will come from the student's home government, the government must provide a letter to that effect.

Prospective students under 18 years of age must furnish written authorization from their parents or legal guardians.

Vaccinations

The consulate may require proof of vaccination against certain diseases (such as yellow fever and cholera) before granting a visa if health conditions in the student's home country merit such a requirement.

Information sheet "Visas for students" (PDF)