All countries
Dossier

France

Etudiant - mobilite (VLS-TS)
Verified 2026-02-19 · Primary source (france-visas.gouv.fr)
Book your appointment
15 working days (typical)
Open portal
Financial resources requirement rises to EUR 877.50/month for VLS-TS applications lodged on or after 1 August 2026 (was EUR 615). Front-load your appointment if you can — the old minimum still applies to files submitted before that date.
Visa fee
EUR 50
≈ ₹5,495
Proof of funds
EUR 615/mo (until 31 Jul 2026) · EUR 877.50/mo (from 1 Aug 2026)
≈ ₹67,589/mo
Processing
15 working days (typical)
Apply before
90 days
Live rate (ECB via frankfurter.app), as of 5 Aug 2026: €1 = ₹109.90
Consular jurisdiction · India

Which center covers your home state?

For a long-stay / national visa, you must apply through the center covering your home state — Schengen short-stay visas are more flexible, this rule applies specifically to the long-stay visa exchange students need.
New Delhi (Embassy)
Embassy of France · New Delhi (submissions via VFS Global France)
Covers
DelhiHaryanaHimachal PradeshJammu & KashmirLadakhPunjabRajasthanUttar PradeshUttarakhandChandigarh
North India + national UTs.
Book at this center
Mumbai (Consulate General)
Consulate General of France · Mumbai (submissions via VFS Global France)
Covers
GujaratMadhya PradeshMaharashtraDadra & Nagar HaveliDaman & Diu
West + central India.
Book at this center
Bengaluru (Consulate General)
Consulate General of France · Bengaluru (submissions via VFS Global France)
Covers
KarnatakaTelanganaAndhra Pradesh
Karnataka + the two Telugu-speaking states.
Book at this center
Kolkata (Consulate General)
Consulate General of France · Kolkata (submissions via VFS Global France)
Covers
West BengalBiharOdishaJharkhandSikkimAssamArunachal PradeshManipurMeghalayaMizoramNagalandTripura
East + entire Northeast India.
Book at this center
Puducherry (Consulate General)
Consulate General of France · Puducherry (submissions via VFS Global France)
Covers
Tamil NaduAndaman & Nicobar IslandsPuducherry
Tamil Nadu + Andaman & Nicobar + Puducherry itself.
Book at this center
Kerala + Goa — confirm directly
Kerala and Goa jurisdiction is inconsistent across France-Visas sources — could route through Bengaluru or Puducherry depending on the current allocation.
Covers
KeralaGoa
Do NOT assume — confirm directly with france-visas.gouv.fr or the France Embassy's India site before booking.
Book at this center
Official checklist

What you need for France

  • Long-stay 'VLS-TS' visa application form
  • Passport valid 3 months beyond intended stay + copies
  • Two recent French-spec biometric photos
  • Etudes en France attestation (Campus France)
  • Admission letter from French host institution
  • Proof of funds. Bank statement or notarised sponsor letter, ≥EUR 615-877.50/month
  • Proof of accommodation (bookings / host confirmation)
  • Return flight reservation
  • Travel + medical insurance for the visa duration
  • VFS service fee & consular fee EUR 50
Nikshala partner services

Services in scope for France

Vetted partners for the practical parts of your move. Referral partners help fund Ministry of Exchange. Nikshala products are shipped in-house.

Partner links: Ministry of Exchange may earn a commission if you sign up through this partner. Official actions above are never re-ranked by fees.
Nikshala products: Provided by Nikshala.
Legal & identity

Validate VLS-TS via ANEF · Within 3 months of arrival in France

Without ANEF validation, your VLS-TS does not become a valid residence permit — everything downstream (housing benefits, bank services, CAF, prefecture appointments) stalls until it is completed.

ANEF — Administration Etrangers en France
One national portal for the entire country. Log in with the credentials from your visa sticker, pay the OFII fee (~EUR 50), upload passport + French address proof, and download your validation attestation. No city visit required for the validation itself.
administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
Home & essentials

SIM, groceries, marketplace.

Supermarkets
CarrefourMonoprixLeclercFranprixCasinoAuchan
SIM / Mobile
OrangeSFRFree MobileBouygues Telecom
Marketplace
LeboncoinIKEA France
Food delivery
Uber EatsDeliveroo
Money & digital

Bank, statutory health cover, doctor booking.

Banks
BNP ParibasSociete GeneraleCredit AgricoleLa Banque PostaleLCLBoursorama
Doctor booking
Doctolib
Blocked account, forex and insurance partners → see Nikshala partner services above.
Mobility

Trains, rideshare, rentals, cross-Europe rail.

Trains & tickets
SNCF ConnectTrainline
Rideshare
UberBoltFreeNow
Car rental
EuropcarSixtHertzAvisEnterprise
Cross-Europe rail
Notable universities
EDHEC (Lille & Nice)IESEG (Lille & Paris)SKEMA (Lille)HEC ParisESSECESCPSciences Poemlyon business schoolKEDGE (Bordeaux)Neoma (Reims)Grenoble EMTBS ToulouseAudencia (Nantes)EM Normandie (Caen)
Major cities · train app
Paris (21 partners · tied #1)Lille (21 · tied #1)Lyon (12)Bordeaux (10)Reims (9)Grenoble (7)Caen (6)Toulouse (6)Rennes (5)Cergy (5)Montpellier (5)Strasbourg (5)Nantes (5)La Rochelle (5)
SNCF Connect (national) · Trainline (cross-border)
Ministry of Exchange · Visa & relocation for exchange semesters and internships abroad.
© 2026 Nikshala AI. Ministry of Exchange is a sister product under the Nikshala AI family.
No visa outcome is ever guaranteed. Every rule sourced from official government sites.