VISAHJELP

Long-term studies (VLS-TS Étudiant)

Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS Étudiant) for full-degree higher-education studies, exchange programmes, or preparatory courses at an accredited French institution. Valid 4–12 months on entry, must be validated as a residence permit via the ANEF portal within 3 months of arrival in France. For Vietnamese applicants, the Études en France (EEF) procedure via Campus France Vietnam is mandatory BEFORE the visa application.

LAST VERIFIED · 2026-05-11 SOURCE: France-Visas · Independent · not affiliated

From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Decisions are made by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or the Consulate-General in HCMC, informed by Campus France's EEF assessment. Standard long-stay processing time: roughly 3 weeks for Vietnamese applicants; legal max 2 months. The visa fee (€50 reduced rate for EEF countries) is not refunded if refused. After arrival in France, the VLS-TS must be validated on the ANEF portal within 3 months, with a €150 OFII tax (taxe de séjour) payment.”
— French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · French consulates

What you need

  • You must: (1) complete the EEF procedure via Campus France Vietnam — register at vietnam.campusfrance.org, submit applications to French institutions, receive an acceptance proposal, accept by 31 May; (2) hold an acceptance letter from an accredited French higher-education institution; (3) prove financial resources of at least EUR 615/month for the full first year (or a scholarship that meets the threshold); (4) arrange accommodation and health-insurance coverage for arrival; (5) lodge the visa application at TLS Contact Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City after EEF gives you the green light to apply.

Checklist

19
  • Long-stay visa application form (Cerfa 14571-05) — completed online and signed *
  • Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
  • Original passport (validity covering the VLS-TS period + 3 months; 2+ blank visa pages; issued ≤ 10 years ago) *
  • Passport copies — bio-data page + all pages with previous visas, stamps, or residence permits *
  • Vietnamese documents — notarised translation into English or French *
02

Études en France (EEF) — mandatory for Vietnam

  • Études en France (EEF) procedure attestation — completed via Campus France Vietnam *
  • EEF procedure fee receipt — 6,000,000 VND paid to Campus France *
03

Academic credentials

  • Acceptance letter (admission certificate) from a French higher-education institution *
  • Diplomas + academic transcripts (with notarised translation) *
  • CV + motivation letter explaining the study choice and career project *
04

Financial resources

  • Proof of financial resources — at least EUR 615/month (or scholarship attestation meeting the threshold) *
  • Scholarship attestation (if applicable) — French government, French Embassy, university, or other
05

Accommodation

  • Accommodation evidence — CROUS allocation, lease, hostel reservation, or host attestation *
06

Health insurance

  • Health insurance — covering the period from arrival until enrolment in Sécurité sociale étudiante *
07

Identity supplements

  • Birth certificate (with notarised translation) *
  • Parental consent + parents' ID copies (only if applicant is a minor)
08

Fees

  • Visa fee — EUR 50 (reduced rate for EEF-procedure countries; Vietnam qualifies) *
  • TLS Contact service fee — EUR 25 per application (paid to the vendor at appointment) *
  • TLS Contact appointment confirmation *

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