France Long-Stay Student Visa (VLS-TS) Application Guide
Applicable to: Students planning to study in France for more than 90 days (e.g., exchange, dual-degree, full-time programs)
Official visa application guideline:
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-application-guidelines?utm_source=chatgpt.com
I. Preparation Stage
Register on Campus France – Études en France (EEF)
- Website: https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/
- Create an account and upload required documents:
- Passport
- Academic transcripts
- Offer letter / Proof of admission
- Language proficiency (if applicable)
- High school diploma and transcript
- McGill will typically send a checklist of documents to prepare in advance. While the 2025 version mentions notarized birth certificates, I didn’t end up submitting mine.
- Non-Canadian citizens must also submit a valid Canadian study permit.
- Processing time is usually within one or two weeks.
II. Visa Application Documents (VFS Global Submission)
Once Campus France approval is granted, you can book an appointment at VFS Global.
Helpful links:
Documents required for 2025:
- Valid passport (original + copy, valid for entire stay in France)
- EEF pre-registration letter (from Campus France)
- Visa application form (completed online via France-Visas) and receipt
- Two recent passport photos (35x45mm, white background)
- Proof of admission from your host university in France (e.g., Université de Bordeaux)
- Proof of accommodation in France
- Proof of financial resources:
- Most recent 3-month bank statements, or
- Scholarship certificate or signed sponsorship letter
- Mcgill will provide a general funding statement, but personal proof is recommended
- Student ID or enrollment certificate from your current institution (optional, but I included mine)
- Undergraduate degree certificate and transcript (copies; originals should be brought as backup)
- Copy of valid Canadian study permit (original recommended as well, for international students)
III. Booking and Attending Your VFS Appointment
How to Book
- Visit: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/can/en/fra
- Important tip: Do not repeatedly request verification codes or attempt to log in multiple times if you face delays. This may result in your account being blocked. This is a known issue with VFS and difficult to resolve. Be patient.
- Create an account, select the VFS center nearest to you (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc.)
- Choose “Long-Stay Visa – Student (VLS-TS)” and schedule your appointment
On the Day of Appointment
- Bring all original documents and photocopies
- Submit biometric information (fingerprints and photo)
- Pay the visa application and VFS service fees
- Do not bring your personal laptop unless necessary – locker use costs $10 CAD
IV. Visa Processing and Passport Return
- Visa processing may take 30+ business days
- In my case, I wrote an explanatory letter and the staff placed a reminder sticker on my application indicating I urgently needed the passport. As a result, I received my visa in 3 business days, but this is not guaranteed for all cases.
- You can track your application status via the tracking number provided by VFS
- You’ll also receive email updates
- Passport will be returned by FedEx only – make sure someone is home to receive and sign for it
Good luck!
法国学生签证 VLS-TS（长期签证）申请全流程攻略
适用于：赴法学习超过90天的交换或正式学位项目 加拿大读书且在加拿大申请法签的中国籍学生
签证申请指南官网版：https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-application-guidelines?utm_source=chatgpt.com
一、前期准备
注册 Campus France 系统（Études en France）
- 官网：https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etudesenfrance/
- 创建账户，填写学习项目、上传材料（护照、成绩单、录取信、语言证明、高中毕业证成绩单等）
- Mcgill会发邮件列出需要提前准备的材料清单，一般按照那个准备即可，不过25年材料清单有要求出生公证等，我并没有用到。
- 非加拿大籍记得交study permit
- 一般EEF会在1 or 2周内回复通过
二、准备签证材料（VFS Global 递交）
EEF通过后即可预约VFS Global
Checklist for long stay visa – Studies: https://www.uae.campusfrance.org/system/files/medias/documents/2021-07/Checklist for student visa application.pdf, https://lc.ambafrance.org/IMG/pdf/vls_etude_-_list_of_requirements-eng.pdf?3346/9d26dcc1d66dc873812aa9707ded282a1839ce00
可以用这个输入自己的个人情况来准备材料： https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/web/france-visas/visa-wizard
所需材料清单（以2025年为准）：
- 护照原件及复印件（有效期需覆盖整个在法期间
- EEF preregistration letter
- VFS签证申请表（在VFS网站填写并打印签字）和Receipt France-Visas
- 两张近期证件照（35x45mm，白底）
- 法国波尔多大学的录取证明
- 居住证明
- 财力证明
- 提供近三个月银行对账单，或奖学金证明、担保人资助信等
- 学校会提供，也可以补充自己近三个月银行对账单等
- 学生身份文件（McGill学生证、在读证明）非必需 但我交了
- 本科毕业证明和成绩单 复印版 原版最好也带上
- study permit 复印版 原版最好也带上 仅针对国际学生
三、预约并提交签证材料
如何预约
- 进入 VFS Global 法国签证网站：https://visa.vfsglobal.com/can/en/fra
- Tips: 如果你迟迟收不到验证码，等就好了会发的，不要一直尝试登陆，它们会直接block你的账户，非常麻烦，我翻了reddit等很多方法，VFS 始终存在这个问题，没有解决，所以方法就是不要发生这个情况，很难解决。
- 创建账户，选择离你最近的签证中心（多伦多、蒙特利尔、温哥华等）
- 选择申请长期学生签证（VLS-TS）并预约提交材料时间
提交当天
- 带齐所有纸质材料（原件+复印件）
- 提交生物识别信息（指纹、照片）
- 支付签证费用
四、等待签证结果与快递收件
- 签证处理时间一般会在30个及以上工作日
- 我个人写了解释信和工作人员帮我贴了贴纸 提醒我马上需要护照，所以在3个工作日内我就拿到了护照，但我不确定正常会这样快。
- 可使用VFS提供的tracking number查看处理状态
- 去VFS 不要带个人电脑 会被收10刀locker费用
- 签证状态也会及时更新到你的邮箱，只能由Fedex寄送记得在家签收 Good luck! 祝你好运🍀 也不知道有无中国留子看见👀