France has three visa categories for students who want to study there.
Nigerian students who want to study in France need to decide if their program is short, medium, or long-term.
The long-stay visa for France is valid for more than six months and covers your entire degree program. But you might need to renew it every year.
If you wish to stay in France after finishing your studies, you’ll need to apply for a different visa or renew the current one at the immigration office.
Here are the visa types explained:
- Schengen short-stay student visa (Visa de court séjour pour études)
This visa lets you study in France for up to three months. It’s perfect for language courses or short programs.
- Temporary long-stay visa (Visa de long séjour temporaire pour études)
This visa allows you to study in France for three to six months without needing a residence permit. But, you can’t renew it.
- Long-stay visa (Visa de long séjour études)
If you plan to study for more than six months, you need this visa. It lasts as long as your course in France—three years for a bachelor’s, two years for a master’s, and four years for a PhD. It also acts as a residence permit and is called VLT-TS.
Eligibility criteria
To study in France, you must follow these rules:
- Be over 18 years old.
- Choose your course of study. For more details, visit Campus France.
- Get accepted by a higher education institution. Check Etudes en France to see if your country is in the online enrollment scheme. If not, visit Campus France for other conditions.
How to apply
You need to book an appointment at the VFS Global Centre in Abuja or Lagos and bring all necessary documents.
- Bring a copy of each document, including your passport and ID pages.
- The consulate will review your application, collect the fee, take your photo and fingerprints, and send it along with your passport and documents to the consulate.
- Nigerian applicants need to give fingerprints and photos as extra ID for safety.
- No visa interview is required.
Other notes
After applying for a French visa, you must show you have enough money for your studies.
- Nigerians need to pay a 50 EUR application fee.
- Show proof of 615 EUR per month for living expenses.
- Nigerian students don’t need to prove they speak English well to study in France.
- No medical tests are needed before arriving in France.
- If you’re applying for a long-stay visa, leave one month between applying and your planned departure date.