Procedure guides

Without a valid student visa issued BEFORE you leave, you will be refused boarding or entry at the border. You must apply for the visa from your home country, not once you have arrived.

Without a permanent address in France, you won’t be able to validate your VLS-TS, receive correspondence from the prefecture, or claim your CAF benefits. This is the first step in all the other procedures.

Without the CVEC certificate, your university will refuse to register you. You must present it when you enrol, even if you are exempt (as a grant holder).

Without a guarantor, most landlords will reject your application. Visale is a free public guarantee scheme run by Action Logement: it covers up to €600 per month in rent (€800 in the Île-de-France region).

Unless you have contacted your institution’s disability officer and the CROUS, you will not be able to access study support measures (extended time, adapted materials) or accessible university accommodation.

Without your enrolment being finalised, you won’t receive a student card — which means no access to the CROUS, no student health insurance, and no proof of enrolment for your VLS-TS or your tenancy agreement.

You have three months from the date of your arrival to validate your VLS-TS on the ANEF website; otherwise, it will become invalid and you will be considered to be in an irregular situation. The validation process is carried out entirely online and involves the payment of a fee.

Without a French bank account, you cannot sign a tenancy agreement (the landlord requires a French IBAN), receive your housing benefit from the CAF, or receive a grant. An account in your home country is not sufficient.

If you are not registered with the student health insurance scheme, you will have to pay the full cost of your medical care (doctor’s visits, medication, A&E). Registration is free and compulsory for all international students.

Home insurance is REQUIRED by law, whether you live in private accommodation or in CROUS halls of residence. Without it, your landlord can terminate your tenancy, and you will be solely liable for any damage (fire, water damage).

The National Health Service covers 70% of your healthcare costs (doctor’s visits, medicines). Without private health insurance, the remaining 30% comes out of your own pocket — and some types of care (dental, optical) are barely covered by the National Health Service.

Renew your residence permit 2 to 4 months BEFORE it expires. If you are late, you will have to pay a €180 penalty (except in cases of force majeure) and you risk becoming an undocumented migrant.