The
process
Mineurs scolarisés / Underge students
The “mineur scolarisé/underage student” visa can’t be validated.
- You will turn 18 in France during the validity of your visa: you have 2 months after turning 18 to book an appointment at the Préfecture du Rhône on https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/premiere-demande-titre-sejour-prefecture-rhone and ask for the “Student” residence card.
- You won’t turn 18 in France during the validity of your visa: at the end your visa, you will have to go back to your home country to ask for a new visa.
Algerian students
Your visa « Étudiant – Carte de séjour à solliciter » ou « Étudiant – ES VLS » can’t be validated.
Within 2 months after your arrival, you mandatory have to apply for the algerian residence permit on https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/ > “I would like to apply or renew my residence permit” > “Moi-même (à partir de 16 ans”) > “Et je suis titulaire uniquement d’un visa long séjour”.
The Long Stay Visa as a Residence Permit (VLS-TS) with the mention “student” allows you to:
- work part-time up to 964 hours per year (about 20h/week)
- cross the Schengen area borders
Within 3 months after your arrival in France, you mandatory have to validate your “Student” visa online. Otherwise your visa won’t be valid until the expiration date so you risk to face difficulties in France or when you travel.
The visa validation is also mandatory to enrol in the French health insurance and to apply for the housing allowance from the CAF.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW?
For this procedure, you will need:
- your passport
- your visa
- a credit card to pay the 50€ stay tax (in tax stamp).
It doesn’t need to be a French credit card.
Log onto the website: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/
(available in English)
Click on “Validate your VLS-TS long stay visa” and fill the information about your identity, visa, date of arrival in France and address of residence in France.
The “Référence réglementaire” (regulatory reference) to choose is: CESEDA R311-3 6°.
You will have to buy a 50€ tax stamp.
If you have a credit card, you can make the purchase directly online on the same website. If you do not have one, you can buy it in a tobacconist’s shop.
In both cases, you have to indicated the stamp number on the platform.
Once payment made and information validated, you will receive an email with the validation of your visa, in form of a PDF document named Confirmation de validation.
This document is required by the French health insurance and the CAF (housing allowance).
Note your “Identifiant” number (also known as your “Numéro étranger“), which is made up of 10 digits and begins with 99.
You will need this number for other procedures and for the visa renewal.
CAUTION: If you haven’t done this procedure within 3 months after your arrival, you will considered as illegal in France and in Europe.
You are holding a “Student” long-stay visa and you want to continue your studies at UCLy/in France after its expiration: you have to submit your visa renewal 4 to 2 months before your visa expiration date.
Example:
Visa expiration: 18th August
Renewal to submit between the 18th April and 18th June.
If you didn’t submitted your renewal application at the lastest 2 months before the expiration date and if the Prefecture accepts to renew you visa, you will have to pay a late fee (255€ instead of 75€).
This renewal procedure is entirely online, on the platform: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr.
What happens next?
The Rhône Prefecture gives priority to renewal applications for permits that are due to expire soon.
Your visa expires and your application is still in process:
You will receive an “Attestation de prolongation d’instruction” no later than the day your visa/residence permit expires.
This official document extends your right to stay (including your right to work part-time if you have a “student” visa or residence permit) and allow you to cross the Schengen Area borders. Lasting 3 months and being renewable, this document is only valid with the detaining visa/residence permit, even if this document has expired.
Don’t forget to forward you “Attestation de prolongation” to the CAF from your personal account to maintain your rights to the housing benefit.
If you didn’t receive your extension the day after the expiration date: please book an appointment with the International Student Desk or send an email to isd@univ-catholyon.fr.
If your application was incomplete (transcript of grades/school certificate not available):
The Préfecture will send you a request for additional documents at the semester star. You will have 30 days to provide them. If not, your application will be closed.
In case of agreement:
You will receive an “Attestation de décision favorable”.
This official document indicate that a card will be made (with validity date), allows you to work part-time and to cross the Schengen Area borders. This document is only valid with the detaining visa/residence permit, even if this document has expired.
4 to 6 weeks after receiving the Attestation de décision favorable, you will receive a text message on your French number indicating you that your residence permit is available at the Préfecture du Rhône. You will then need to buy a €75 tax stamp (online on https://timbres.impots.gouv.fr/ or in a tobacconist) and make an appointment to obtain your residence permit. Remember to bring the tax stamp with you on the day of appointment. No payment possible on site.
Don’t forget to forward the scan of your new residence card (front and back) to the CAF and the French Health Insurance from your personal accounts to maintain your rights to the housing benefit and the partial refund of your health costs.
Watch the Campus France tutorials
with English and Spanish subtitles:
Submitting an online application for a residence permit – English subtitles
Presentar une solicitud de permiso de residencia en línea – Subtitulos en Español
Expired visas/residence permits
If your visa/residence permit has expired less than 6 months ago, you can still apply for your renewal online. However, you will have to pay a 180€ tax stamp penalty when you will get your card.
If you visa/residence permit has expired more than 6 months ago, you won’t be allowed to apply online. You will have to request an appointment with the Prefecture on https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/premiere-demande-titre-sejour-prefecture-rhone so the Prefecture consider your demand. You will have to buy a 50€ tax stamp penalty to apply (online or in a tobacconist’s shop). No payment on site.
Students from EU/EEA/Switzerland
Residence permit are not mandatory. However, you may be aks for one for some procedures. You have to request an appointment at the Prefecture on https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/premiere-demande-titre-sejour-prefecture-rhone