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-de-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
You mandatory have to validate your “Student” visa online within three months after your arrival in France.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW?
For this procedure, you will need:
- your passport
- your visa
- a 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 your visa, your date of arrival in France and your address of residence in France.
The “Référence réglementaire” (regulatory reference) to choose is: CESEDA R311-3 6° (for students).
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.
Once your information has been validated, you will receive an email with the validation of your visa (Confirmation de validation).
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 when you will renew your visa.
CAUTION: If you have not done this procedure within three months after your arrival, you will no longer be legally in France and if you are traveling outside of France, you will have to apply for a new visa to return.
If your VLS-TS as a “Student” is about to expire and you wish to continue your studies at UCLy/in France, you have the possibility to renew it by completing the procedure 3 to 2 months before it expires. This renewal procedure is entirely online.
From September 2023, if you have not submitted your renewal application within 3 to 2 months before your visa expires, you will have to pay a late fee.
Gather your documents and get your e-photo.
Caution: you have sometimes to wait 24h to 48h to use your e-photo code.
Go to: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/
Connect with the login* (10 figures) and password you used when you validated your visa.
* Your “Identifiant” indicated on the “Confirmation of validation of long-stay visa valid as residence permit”, which you received when you validated your visa. It consists of 10 digits and starts with 99.
Click on “I would like to apply or renew my residence permit” > “I renew a residence permit for” > “Myself (aged 16 and over)” > “And I hold a residence permit / VLS-TS” > “You hold a VLS-TS as a “Student”. This permit is marked “ETUDIANT-ELEVE” > “I am applying to renew this permit”.
Step 1: Check your personal details
If necessary, edit your family situation, address and cellphone number.
Step 2: Reason for your stay
Fill in the information for the current academic year and the coming academic year.
ILCF student + MSc ESDES: in the “Level of degree” and “Level of study at end of the academic year” sections, select “Other” for both academic years + “pending results” for the current year.
If you haven’t your final transcript of records yet: select “En attente des résultats” in the “Année” section :
ILCF student: if you will attend French classes the coming academical year, in the section “I am entering the reason for repeating my year”, indicate the evolution of your French level per semester.
Example:
MSc ESDES: Indicate the number of blocks validated this year and to be validated next year. For example:
2023-2024: 4 blocks validés sur 5
2024-2025: 1 block à valider
You can also add the date of your graduation jury.
If you are going on a mobility programme in another European Union country:
Click on “Yes” under “I am a student and my studies include a mobility in the European Union”. You will have to provide a mobility certificate from your faculty/school/institute at the UCLy.
Step 3: Financial resources
Remember: the total amount of your resources must be greater than or equal to €615 per month.
You can choose several sources of income by clicking on “+add an income” (“Employed” and “Supported”, for example).
Step 4: Supporting documents
Upload the supporting documents.
Step 5: Summary
Read carefully the provided information.
In the “Comments for the administration” section, you can add details about your application. For example, “awaiting admission to Master’s programme / awaiting 2nd semester grades”.
Caution: Once you click on “Validate and submit my application”, you will no longer be able to add documents and/or modify your application.
Step 6: Confirmation
You will automatically receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application by e-mail, along with a PDF “Confirmation of submission”.
This document is proof that your application has been submitted. It is not a récépissé or a residence permit.
What happens next?
The Rhône Prefecture gives priority to renewal applications for permits that are due to expire soon.
If there is a delay in processing the renewals at the Préfecture:
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.
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 at the time of submission (transcript/certificate of attendance not available):
The Préfecture will send you a request for additional documents. You will have 30 days to provide the document requested. If you do not provide it within 30 days, 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.
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-de-sejourprefecture-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 in situ.
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-de-sejourprefecture-rhone