VISAHJELP

Schooled minor (VLS « mineur scolarisé »)

Long-stay visa « mineur scolarisé » for foreign minors entering France for more than 3 months to attend a primary or secondary school (public or private), or — for 16-18 year olds only — a language or sport training centre. Per france-visas.gouv.fr/mineur-scolarise: **this visa is ONLY for minors whose parents do NOT reside in France**. Minors joining parents already in France use family-immigration paths, not this subtype. Stays of up to 90 days use a Schengen short-stay visa « études » instead. For Vietnamese applicants: typical profiles are middle-school or high-school students attending a French international/private school, students at a Lycée français abroad transferring to France, language-immersion students aged 16-18, and minors hosted by a French family or boarding school. Distinct from long-term-studies (which is for adult students enrolled in higher education via Campus France / EEF).

LAST VERIFIED · 2026-05-13 SOURCE: France-Visas · Independent · not affiliated

From the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Decisions by the Embassy of France in Hanoi or Consulate-General in HCMC. **Key eligibility filter**: parents must NOT reside in France — verified by the consular post against the parental authorisation and supporting documents. If parents already reside in France with a residence permit, route to family-immigration (regroupement-familial or family-of-French) instead. **Compulsory schooling in France runs to age 16** (F21304) — applicants under 16 must be in a school that complies with French compulsory-education law. Post-arrival: minors do NOT individually require a carte de séjour (per F2687 — foreign minor children are exempt from the carte requirement), but the long-stay visa is the legal basis for the stay. The DCEM (document de circulation pour étranger mineur) may be obtained later to allow re-entry to France from abroad. EES does NOT apply (long-stay regime).”
— French Ministry of Foreign Affairs · French consulates

What you need

  • Per france-visas.gouv.fr/mineur-scolarise: (1) school enrolment certificate from a French primary, secondary, public or private establishment (or, for 16-18 year olds, a language or sport training centre); (2) prior year's report cards (bulletins scolaires); (3) evidence of French-language proficiency at the level required by the school; (4) accommodation evidence in France (host family, boarding school, attestation d'accueil); (5) financial support evidence from parents/guardians or third-party sponsor; (6) health insurance covering the full stay; (7) **parental authorisation** signed by both parents (or the legal guardian) authorising the minor to travel and reside in France for the studies; (8) **French répondant** — contact details of a responsible adult in France who will be the contact point. Cerfa form generated by the france-visas interactive visa assistant. Vietnamese-language documents notarised + sworn-translated.

Checklist

15
  • Long-stay visa application form (Cerfa 14571-05) — completed via france-visas assistant, printed, signed by the parent/legal guardian *
  • Two recent identical biometric photos (35mm × 45mm, ICAO standard) *
  • Original passport of the minor (validity covering the planned stay + 3 months) *
  • Vietnamese documents — notarised + sworn translation *
  • Prior year's report cards (bulletins scolaires) *
  • French-language proficiency proof at the level required by the school *
  • Accommodation evidence — host family, boarding school, or attestation d'accueil *
  • Financial-support evidence — parents/guardians or third-party sponsor *
  • Health insurance covering the full duration of the stay *
02

Eligibility filter

  • Parents-not-in-France attestation — defining eligibility filter *
03

Qualifying instrument

  • School enrolment certificate from a French primary or secondary establishment *
04

Parent/guardian-side

  • Parental authorisation — signed by both parents (or sole guardian with custody proof) *
  • French répondant — contact details of a responsible adult in France *
05

Fees

  • Visa fee — verify current amount on france-visas before each filing *
  • TLS Contact service fee — EUR 25 per application *

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