Key facts
- Procedure
- Études en France (India) — mandatory for all degree programmes
- Visa type
- VLS-TS Étudiant (long-stay student visa, valid as residence permit)
- Cost
- Campus France fee ₹19,000 approx. + visa fee €50 (paid in INR at VFS)
- Timeline
- Campus France interview 2–4 weeks, VFS visa decision 10–21 days
- Proof of funds
- €615/month × duration — usually a blocked or savings account showing ~€7,380 for a year
The procedure, step by step
1. Create your Études en France account
Register on the India portal, fill the academic timeline with no gaps, upload 10th, 12th, bachelor transcripts, IELTS/TOEFL/DELF and your SOP. Every unexplained gap year must have a document (work certificate, exam attempt letter).
2. Pay the Campus France fee and book your interview
The fee is non-refundable and paid online. Your interview happens at the regional office (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pondicherry, Ahmedabad) or online. Expect questions on programme choice, funding source, and post-study plans.
3. Accept the admission and apply for the visa
After the school issues the acceptance letter, Campus France validates your file, then you book the VFS Global appointment for the VLS-TS Étudiant. Carry admission letter, accommodation proof, financial proof, flight reservation and insurance.
4. Validate your VLS-TS within 3 months of arrival
Validation is online on the ANEF portal, costs €225 in tax stamps, and must be done before day 90 or your visa lapses. Then apply for CPAM social security, CAF housing aid and open a French bank account.
A realistic timeline for students from India
The Études en France calendar, not the school calendar, is what decides whether you make the September intake.
- October–January — open the Études en France account, complete the academic timeline, pay the Campus France fee.
- January–March — Campus France interview, then school decisions arrive inside the portal.
- April–June — accept an offer, receive the attestation, book the consulate or VFS/TLScontact visa appointment.
- July–August — visa decision, flight, accommodation proof, insurance.
- First 90 days in France — validate the VLS-TS on ANEF, CPAM, CAF, bank account.
What a year in France actually costs a student from India
Non-EU students at public universities may pay the differentiated tuition (≈€2,770 licence / €3,770 master), though many universities and grandes écoles waive or reduce it.
- Rent: €350–€600 in Lille, Rennes, Toulouse or Montpellier; €700–€1,100 for a studio in Paris.
- CAF housing aid: typically €100–€200 off the rent each month once your file is accepted.
- Food and transport: €250–€350 a month, with student restaurant meals at €3.30 and city passes around €30.
- CVEC: a single €105 contribution paid before enrolment, refundable for scholarship holders.
Where files from India usually break
These are the failure points we see most often on this desk — none of them are hard to avoid if you know they exist.
- Gaps in the academic timeline with no supporting document — the single most common blocking point.
- Proof of funds that appears days before the appointment, with no history behind it.
- A statement of purpose that does not connect the transcript to the exact programme.
- Missing the 90-day ANEF validation window after arrival, which makes an otherwise valid stay irregular.
Coming from Asia: what is specific to you
Diplomas from India are usually accepted on a case-by-case reading by each institution. Where a comparison is requested, ENIC-NARIC France issues an attestation de comparabilité — order it early, it takes several weeks. Sworn translations (traducteur assermenté) are required for the consulate file, scans are enough for the online stage.
Consulates and Campus France offices
New Delhi · Mumbai · Bengaluru · Kolkata · Pondicherry
Where Indian students usually go
Paris · Lyon · Toulouse · Grenoble · Nice
Frequently asked questions
How much bank balance is needed for a French student visa from India?
You must show at least €615 per month of stay, so roughly €7,380 (about ₹7 lakh) for one academic year, held in your name or your sponsor's with an affidavit of support.
Is IELTS mandatory for France from India?
Not always. English-taught programmes usually ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80+, but several schools accept a Medium of Instruction letter. French-taught programmes ask for DELF B2.
Can Indian students work while studying in France?
Yes, up to 964 hours per year (about 20 hours a week) on a student residence permit, at the French minimum wage.
How long does the Campus France interview take for Indian students?
The interview itself is 15–25 minutes; the whole Études en France cycle from account creation to visa stamping typically takes 8–12 weeks.
How early should students from India start the process?
Ten to twelve months before the intake. The application, the interview or school decision, and the consulate appointment are three queues stacked back to back.
Do I need to speak French to study in France from India?
Not for the 1,600+ English-taught programmes, which ask for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90. French-taught programmes require DELF B2 or TCF. Either way, A2 French makes the prefecture, the bank and the landlord far easier.
Can I bring my family from India while I study?
A student permit does not open family reunification. A spouse can apply for a visitor visa with independent proof of funds, which is assessed separately.
Can I stay in France after graduating, coming from India?
Yes. A master's degree opens the APS (autorisation provisoire de séjour) for 12 months to look for work or start a business, and it converts into a work permit once you have a matching contract.
Is student housing aid (CAF) open to students from India?
Yes. CAF aid depends on your accommodation and your resources, not your nationality — you need a lease in your name, a RIB and, for non-EU students, a valid residence permit or validated VLS-TS.
Read next
The Campus France interview for students from India
AdmissionsThe Études en France portal for students from India
AdmissionsParcoursup for international students for students from India
AdmissionsThe DAP procedure for students from India
The four guides everyone from India needs
- Campus France & the Études en France procedure, step by step
- Student housing in France: leases, Visale guarantor and CAF aid
- Opening a French bank account and getting a SIM card
- After you land: VLS-TS validation, CPAM and visa renewal
Other desks in Asia
No paywall
Tell us your situation, we answer directly
Nothing here is locked. If the article does not cover your exact case, write it below — a real person reads it and replies. No sales call, no blah blah.