Getting a French student visa from India in 2027? The process has two parts: the Campus France procedure (Études en France), then the long-stay student visa. Here is the full path, the documents to prepare and the timeline, for Indian students admitted to an English-taught programme.
This guide follows an Indian student’s file from the first Études en France login to the day the passport comes back from VFS Global, using what Campus France India and France-Visas publish for applicants in India. It is written for students already admitted to AI2.
Step by step
Get your admission letter from your French institution; at AI2, after a file review and an online interview.
Create your account on Études en France and complete your academic file.
Attend your Campus France India interview; prepare with our Campus France interview questions.
Book your long-stay student visa (VLS-TS) appointment through France-Visas and the visa application centre.
Submit your documents and biometrics, then wait for the decision.
After arrival, validate your visa online on the ANEF portal within three months and register with the French health insurance.
Documents to prepare
- Valid passport.
- Admission letter from your French institution.
- Completed Études en France procedure.
- Proof of resources: at least €877.50 a month (about €10,530 a year), from savings, a sponsor or a scholarship.
- Proof of accommodation for your first months: residence booking, lease or host certificate; see student accommodation in Paris.
- Academic transcripts and English proof.
- Photos and the visa fee.
Always check the official checklist on France-Visas and Campus France India before your appointment: requirements can change.
Avoid a refusal
Most refusals come from unclear funds, an incoherent study plan or a weak interview. Read the 12 most common reasons for a French student visa rejection.
Visa guides by country: India · Nigeria · Pakistan.
The Indian procedure in detail
Stage 1: build your Études en France file
Create your account on the Études en France platform, selecting India. You receive an email to set your password and a Campus France registration number in the format INXX-XXXX; keep it, because every exchange with Campus France India uses it. The file has sections for personal details, academic records, language skills and your CV and statement of purpose. Upload a CV, a photograph, your passport and your mark sheets and certificates. A Campus France manager in the office nearest to you checks the file and flags anomalies, which you must correct before it can be validated.
Stage 2: fee and academic interview
- Fee: since 1 August 2026, the Études en France fee is ₹20,000 (previously ₹18,500). Pay it only through the link sent by the official platform after validation, never through an agency link, then declare the payment on the portal.
- Exemptions: holders of certain scholarships, including Eiffel, Charpak and Erasmus Mundus awards, are exempt from the Campus France fee; Raman-Charpak scholars are exempt from the visa fee only. All applicants still pay the VFS service fee.
- Interview: where an interview applies, it is held in person at your allotted slot. Bring the originals of every document plus one set of photocopies; the copies are checked against the originals.
- No NOC: Campus France India does not issue a no-objection certificate. What you wait for is an automated email confirming that you may move on to VFS.
Stage 3: France-Visas and VFS Global
Complete the long-stay application on France-Visas, then book a VFS Global appointment, but only after the Campus France email has arrived. Submit at least one month before your departure and no more than six months before it. VFS has French visa centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Puducherry and Pune, and France-Visas states that you may use any of them. Chandigarh, Jaipur and Jalandhar open for submissions only two days a week, and Goa showed no submission hours in October 2026. Decisions belong to the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru and the visa section of the Embassy in Delhi.
At the centre and afterwards
Only applicants are admitted, unless a companion has prior authorisation from the VFS help service. Leave electronic devices and large bags behind: the centre cannot store them. Track progress on the VFS website; the passport can be collected by you or a person you authorise, or couriered to you for ₹300.
| Item | Amount | INR (approx., at the October 2026 rate) |
|---|---|---|
| Études en France fee, Campus France India | ₹20,000 (about €190) | ₹20,000 |
| Long-stay visa fee | Set in euros, paid in INR at the chancery rate | See France-Visas before paying |
| VFS Global service fee | Set in euros, paid in INR | Shown when booking |
| Courier return of passport (optional) | ₹300 | ₹300 |
A realistic calendar for a September intake
- December to February: apply to AI2, interview online, receive your admission letter.
- February to April: open your Études en France file; Campus France India asks for submission at least three months before the intake.
- From late February: the six-month window for a late-August departure opens at VFS.
- By late July: the last sensible moment to submit, one month before departure.
Sources checked in October 2026: Campus France India: application and admission procedure · Campus France India: visa procedure · Campus France India: Études en France fee notice · Campus France India: offices · France-Visas: applying in India (VFS Global centres) · European Central Bank: euro reference rate for the Indian rupee
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Campus France fee in India?
₹20,000 since 1 August 2026, up from ₹18,500. Campus France India will not cover the increase for files that were not completed and validated in time.
Can I give my biometrics at any VFS centre in India?
Yes. France-Visas states that applicants are free to use the VFS Global centre of their choice, but check opening days, as some centres accept applications only twice a week.
Do I need a NOC from Campus France before my visa appointment?
No. Campus France India does not issue NOCs; you wait for the automated email that confirms you can proceed to VFS.
What is the earliest and latest I can submit my student visa application?
For long-stay visas, France-Visas says no earlier than six months and no later than one month before your scheduled departure.
Also read: study in France from India · MS in AI in France for Indian students · scholarships for Indian students · visa guidance.
Apply online: the academic team reviews your file and invites you to an online interview.
