France has three visa categories for students who wish to study in the country.
Potential students from Nigeria who wish to study in France need to determine if their study program is a short course, three to six months or for up to two years.
The long-stay visa for France is valid for more than six months, allowing one to stay throughout your entire degree program. However, applicants may need to renew their visa annually.
Those who wish to remain in France after completing their degree will need to apply for a different visa or renew their existing visa through the immigration office.
Here are the visa categories in more details:
This visa allows you to come to France and study for up to three months without needing a separate residence visa. It is suitable for those enrolling in a language course or short-term programs.
This visa permits you to study in France for three to six months without requiring a residence permit. However, it is non-renewable.
If you plan to study for over six months, you must apply for this visa. It lasts for the duration of your course in France—three years for a bachelor’s, two years for a master’s, and four years for a PhD. Long-stay visas act as residence permits and are referred to as VLT-TS.
To be eligible to study in France applicants must take note of the following:
Applicants will need to make an appointment at the VFS Global Centre in Abuja or Lagos and attend with all the required documents.
After applying for a French visa one of the most important things to prove is enough money to support oneself during the study programme.
