Proof of Funds for a France Student Visa: Bank Balance, Documents and Amounts in Your Currency (2027)

By AI2 October 27, 2026

Study Guides for International Students

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Proof of funds · student visa · 2027

France raised the money you must show for a student visa on 1 August 2026. The minimum is now €877.50 a month, up from €615. Here is how much that means for a year, in euros and in rupees, naira and taka, which documents consulates accept, why France does not require a German-style blocked account, and the funding mistakes that lead to refusals.

€877.50 a monthINR, NGN, PKR, BDTAccepted documentsRefusal causes

Apply to AI2 See amounts by currency

In short: To get a French student visa you must prove resources of at least €877.50 a month, in force since 1 August 2026: €10,530 for a twelve-month year. You can show your own bank balance, a sponsor with proof of income, or a scholarship letter. Tuition comes on top, and France has no general blocked-account requirement.

How much money do you need to show for a French student visa?

Service-Public, the French administration’s official information site, sets the requirement for a student visa or residence permit at resources of at least €877.50 a month. Campus France offices in India, Singapore and the United States announced the change: since 1 August 2026, €877.50 replaces the former threshold of €615 a month. Campus France USA links it to Decree No. 2026-526 of 22 June 2026, and AI2’s visa guidance explains that the amount equals 47% of the gross monthly minimum wage, so it rises each time the minimum wage does.

Calculation from the Service-Public monthly amount (page verified 1 August 2026), read on 27 October 2026.
Period covered	Minimum resources	When it applies
1 month	€877.50	The legal monthly floor
6 months	€5,265	A one-semester stay
10 months	€8,775	A ten-month academic year
12 months	€10,530	The usual reference for a full year of study

How many months do consulates ask for?

The legal rule is monthly; the number of months is set by the consular post and the length of your stay. The offices we read on 27 October 2026 all point to a full stay or a full year:

Campus France Pakistan: the financial statement must prove sufficient funds to cover both tuition fees and living expenses for at least one year in France.
Campus France USA: €877.50 multiplied by the number of months you will be in France, available after all tuition and programme fees are paid.
AI2 visa guidance: a bank certificate showing the amount for the year, in your name.

Plan on twelve months of living resources, plus any tuition still unpaid, unless your Campus France office or the consulate’s checklist says otherwise. Showing exactly the minimum leaves no margin for exchange-rate moves between your bank statement and your appointment.

What is €877.50 a month in your currency?

The table converts the visa minimum, and a first year that adds €10,500 of tuition, at official rates published on or just before 27 October 2026. Rates move every day: recalculate with your bank’s rate when you prepare your statements, and keep a margin.

Our calculation. €10,500 is AI2’s MSc Year 1 tuition after the conditional scholarship, used as an example; use the tuition in your own admission letter.
Currency	Rate used (1 euro)	Per month	Twelve months (€10,530)	Twelve months + €10,500 tuition (€21,030)
Indian rupee	₹106.06, ECB reference rate, 27 Oct 2026	₹93,071	about ₹11.17 lakh	about ₹22.31 lakh
Nigerian naira	₦1,529.79, Central Bank of Nigeria central rate, 26 Oct 2026	₦1,342,392	about ₦16.11 million	about ₦32.17 million
Pakistani rupee	Rs 308.63, derived from the State Bank of Pakistan USD/PKR revaluation rate (276.80) and the ECB EUR/USD rate (1.1150), 27 Oct 2026	Rs 270,827	about Rs 3.25 million	about Rs 6.49 million
Bangladeshi taka	Tk 138.39, midpoint of Bangladesh Bank EUR bid and ask cross rates, 27 Oct 2026	Tk 121,437	about Tk 14.57 lakh	about Tk 29.10 lakh

Practical tip: If the account is in local currency, its euro value depends on the exchange rate on the day it is checked. A balance that only just reaches the euro amount on the day of the statement can fall short by the day of your appointment. A margin of 5 to 10% is a sensible precaution, not a rule.

Which documents prove your funds?

Service-Public lists the accepted proofs for the student residence permit, and Campus France offices publish the visa checklists for each country. The categories are the same everywhere; the details, such as how many months of statements, vary by country.

Sources: Service-Public F2231 (verified 1 August 2026); Campus France Pakistan and Campus France USA, read 27 October 2026.
Source of funds	What Service-Public asks for	Examples of local requirements
Your own savings	A bank certificate showing a sufficient credit balance; each source of funds documented if there are several	Pakistan: personal bank statement of the last 6 months. USA: the three most recent official statements
A sponsor (parent or other person)	The sponsor’s ID, plus bank evidence of scheduled regular transfers, or a sworn statement that they will pay the amount each month	Pakistan: affidavit of the guarantor, their last 6 months of statements and their ID. USA: a notarised financial guarantee form
A scholarship	A certificate from the paying body stating the amount and the duration	French government scholarship holders show proof of that status
A loan or other income	Each resource documented and assessed according to your situation	USA: an official statement of a scholarship or student loan package covering the full amount

Parents are the most common sponsors. AI2’s visa guidance confirms that a sponsor’s attestation of financial support with proof of their income is accepted in most procedures, and asks you to check the list for your country on Études en France or France-Visas. Whatever the source, your Campus France interview answers must match the documents: our Campus France interview guide covers the funding questions in detail.

Do you need a blocked account for France?

As a general rule, no. Service-Public’s list of proofs is a bank balance, a sponsor, a scholarship or other documented resources: it does not include a blocked account. This is a real difference with Germany, where the Federal Foreign Office lists a security paid into a blocked account in Germany among the ways to prove financing, alongside parents’ income, a declaration of commitment or a bank guarantee.

There is one important exception to keep in mind: local rules. Campus France Ghana states that the French embassy in Ghana accepts only the statement of a blocked (escrow) account opened in Ghana in the applicant’s name, with a bank letter confirming the funds are blocked for the stay. Its page still quotes the former monthly amount, so confirm the current figure with that office. The lesson applies to every country: the national rule sets the minimum, and the consular checklist for your country sets the format.

Common reasons funds lead to a visa refusal

Funding problems are among the most frequent causes of refusal. The issues below come up again and again; each one is tied to a rule you can check.

Rules from Service-Public, Campus France USA and Campus France Pakistan, read 27 October 2026.
Problem	Why it fails	How to avoid it
The balance only covers the old €615 a month	The minimum has been €877.50 a month since 1 August 2026	Recalculate with the current amount and the right number of months
Living funds and tuition mixed up	Campus France USA asks for €877.50 a month available after tuition and fees are paid	Show tuition paid, or funds covering both, as your office requires
A large deposit just before the statement	The consulate cannot see where the money comes from	Keep funds in place for months, or document the source: sale, loan, salary, gift
A sponsor with no proof of income or ID	Service-Public asks for the sponsor’s ID and bank evidence of transfers	Add the sponsor’s ID, statements and a signed support letter or affidavit
Statements covering too short a period	Some offices ask for six months, such as Campus France Pakistan	Follow your country’s checklist exactly
A scholarship letter without an amount or duration	Service-Public requires both	Ask the paying body for a letter stating amount and duration
Interview answers that contradict the documents	Coherence of the file is assessed as a whole	Know your numbers: who pays, how much, from which account

For the other causes of refusal, from the study plan to accommodation, read our guide to the 12 common French student visa rejection reasons.

A preparation timeline for your financial documents

1
Six to eight months before the intake
Decide who funds your studies. Move savings into the account that will appear on your statements, so the history builds up.
2
When you receive your admission letter
Note the tuition, the deposit and the payment schedule. Calculate twelve months at €877.50 plus any tuition you will not have paid before the visa.
3
Before the Campus France interview
Prepare the sponsor’s ID, income documents and support letter or affidavit, and the scholarship letter if you have one.
4
Two to four weeks before the visa appointment
Ask the bank for recent statements and a balance certificate in the format your consulate’s checklist requires.
5
At the appointment
Bring originals and copies, and be ready to explain any large movement on the statements.

Campus France India asks students to submit the visa application as soon as they receive an unconditional acceptance letter and at least three months before the intake, so your financial documents need to be ready by then.

Proof of funds is a floor, not your budget

AI2, the Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence, teaches every programme 100% in English on its campus in Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord.

€877.50 a month is what the law asks you to show, not what life costs. AI2 estimates living costs at about €900 to €1,700 a month in the Paris region, rent included, and sharing a flat near the campus brings this down. Our breakdown of the cost of studying AI in France sets out rent, transport and food line by line. Once in France, a student permit also allows paid work of up to 964 hours a year; see working while studying in France, but never count on a job in your proof of funds.

Source: AI2 tuition fees page, read 27 October 2026. The admission letter prevails.
AI2 programme	Tuition	After the conditional AI2 scholarship
Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2	€9,000 a year	AI2 scholarship possible
BSc final year (B3)	€9,900	AI2 scholarship possible
MSc Year 1	€12,500	from €10,500
MSc Year 2 or 18-month direct entry	€13,000	from €11,300 (IoT from €11,800)
Fast-Track MSc Applied AI and Data Science, 11 months, February 2027	€12,500	€11,000 for applications before 15 November 2026

Every international candidate is assessed automatically for the AI2 scholarship, with no separate form; see the scholarships page. For your visa file, AI2 provides the admission letter stating the programme, intake and tuition, the enrolment certificate once the deposit is paid, and answers to the consulate’s questions on your programme. Admission does not guarantee a visa: the decision rests with the French authorities, and deposit and refund conditions in case of refusal are set out in the admission letter. AI2 runs intakes in February, May and September 2027, and the full procedure is on the visa guidance page.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance is required for a France student visa?

At least €877.50 a month since 1 August 2026, which is €10,530 for twelve months. Consular posts usually expect a full year or the full stay, and some ask that tuition be covered as well.

Is €877.50 a month in addition to tuition fees?

Yes. The amount covers living costs. Campus France USA asks for €877.50 a month available after tuition and fees are paid, and Campus France Pakistan asks for funds covering both tuition and living expenses for at least one year.

Do I need a blocked account to study in France?

Not as a general rule: Service-Public accepts a bank balance, a sponsor or a scholarship. Some consulates set local formats, for example the embassy in Ghana, according to Campus France Ghana, so follow your country’s checklist.

Can my parents sponsor my French student visa?

Yes. Provide the sponsor’s ID, bank statements showing their capacity to pay, and a support letter, affidavit or evidence of regular transfers, as your Campus France office or consulate requires.

How many months of bank statements do I need?

It depends on the country. Campus France Pakistan asks for the last six months; Campus France USA asks for the three most recent statements. Check your own office’s checklist.

How much is the French visa proof of funds in Indian rupees?

About ₹93,071 a month, or about ₹11.17 lakh for twelve months, at the ECB reference rate of 106.06 rupees per euro on 27 October 2026. Recalculate at your bank’s rate before your appointment.

Can a scholarship replace proof of funds?

Yes, if it covers the amount. Service-Public asks for a certificate from the paying body stating the amount and the duration of the scholarship.

Does AI2 help with proof of funds?

AI2 provides the admission letter with tuition, the enrolment certificate after the deposit and answers to the consulate’s questions. The funds themselves come from you, a sponsor or a scholarship, and every candidate is assessed for the AI2 scholarship.