Your questions about French paperwork.

Practical answers to the 12 most common questions foreign students ask: VLS-TS validation, residence permit, préfecture, ANEF, CAF, social security. Préfecto walks you the rest of the way — built in Paris for students all over France.

• 01.How do I validate my VLS-TS when I arrive in France?

  You must validate your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) within 3 months of arriving in France, online at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. Validation costs €50 (paid via digital tax stamps) and earns you a récépissé that acts as your residence permit for your first year of study. Without validation, your stay becomes irregular after 3 months.

• 02.How much does it cost to renew a student residence permit?

  Renewing a student residence permit costs €75 in tax stamps (€50 visa fee + €25 chancery fee), payable when you collect the permit. The application itself is free. These amounts change every year — verify the current rate on service-public.fr before paying.

• 03.How do I book an appointment at the préfecture for my residence permit?

  Since 2023, most renewal applications go through the ANEF platform (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) at administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. You submit your file online, then the préfecture invites you by email to collect your permit. A few préfectures still use a manual appointment system — check YOUR préfecture's website for the local procedure.

• 04.What if the préfecture has no appointment slots available?

  If your residence permit is about to expire and the préfecture won't give you a slot, you can: 1) submit your renewal application on ANEF anyway (the filing date proves your diligence), 2) file an emergency motion with the administrative court asking for a forced appointment, 3) write to the Défenseur des droits. Keep written proof of every appointment attempt for your file.

• 05.How long until I get my récépissé?

  The récépissé is generally delivered 1 to 3 months after you submit your file, depending on the préfecture's workload. It is valid for 4 months and can be renewed if your permit isn't ready. During this period, the récépissé acts as your residence permit: you can travel within the Schengen area, work up to the 964 hours per year allowed, and access social benefits.

• 06.How does the ANEF platform work for online procedures?

  ANEF (Administration Numérique des Étrangers en France) is the official platform to validate your visa, renew your residence permit, request a duplicate, or change your address. You create an account with your AGDREF number (printed on your current visa or permit) and your email address. You upload your documents (passport, proof of address, school certificate, proof of resources, e-photo ID) and follow your application status in the interface.

• 07.What documents do I need to renew my student residence permit?

  Standard documents: valid passport, current residence permit, 3 recent e-photo ID pictures, proof of address less than 6 months old, current school certificate, previous year's transcript (proof you're a serious student), proof of at least €615/month in resources (bank account, scholarship, support affidavit, etc.). Some préfectures additionally require an OFII certificate or proof of address in your own name.

• 08.How do I get my French student social security number?

  Register online at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr as soon as you arrive. Registration is free and mandatory for foreign students over 28 (under-28s are automatically affiliated through their school). Upload your passport, residence permit or récépissé, school certificate, and a French IBAN. The social security number is issued within 1 to 6 months; keep every medical receipt during that window so you can be reimbursed retroactively.

• 09.How do I apply for APL or CAF student housing aid?

  Apply online at caf.fr by creating an account. You'll provide your residence permit or récépissé, school certificate, lease (or CROUS housing certificate), French IBAN, and your last 12 months of resources. APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement) can reach ~€200/month for a studio depending on your situation. The first payment lands the month after your application, with a non-retroactive one-month gap — apply as soon as you move in.

• 10.My récépissé expires before my préfecture appointment — what now?

  Go to the préfecture front desk (without an appointment) with your expired récépissé, passport, and proof of address. Most préfectures keep an extension counter that issues a new attestation valid for 1 to 3 months. You can also email the foreign nationals service with a copy of your documents asking for an administrative extension — replies come within a few days. Never remain in irregular status: it can compromise your renewal file.

• 11.What's the difference between a residence permit and a VLS-TS?

  The VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) is a visa issued by the French consulate in your home country before you leave. It acts as your residence permit during your FIRST year in France, provided it's validated online within 3 months of arrival. The residence permit proper is issued by the French préfecture starting in your SECOND year — a plastic card valid for one or several years depending on your level of study. Renewal always happens at the préfecture, never at the consulate.

• 12.How does Préfecto work?

  Préfecto is a free PWA (usable on your phone like a native app, no App Store needed) that walks you step by step through your administrative procedures: VLS-TS validation, residence permit renewal, appointment booking, CAF, student social security. You declare your arrival in France and your studies, and the app builds a personalised file with the documents to prepare, deadlines to meet, official links to use. A community of fellow foreign students lets you exchange in your city and ask concrete questions.