Student
Trainee Visa

Be sure to check you have all the documents and information you’ll need to apply as this can make things easier throughout the process.

You can check online to know which authorities can receive your application. Additional helpful online resources include: 

• The visa wizard which offers support with visa requirements, fees, and what documents you’ll need to supply.
• The visa calculator which helps you work out how long you are able to stay in the Schengen Area if you’ve been there within the past 6 months.

You can complete your visa application form online if this is possible in your home country. You’ll be helped throughout by on-screen instructions. If your home country is not eligible, don’t worry, you can check what you need to do here. 

When you complete the online application form, you’ll need a few supporting documents. These may need translating into French if they’re not already in English or French. Be sure to have:

• A travel document or passport (along with a copy). It has to:
  • be in good condition
  • be issued within the last 10 years
  • have at least 2 blank pages
  • be valid for at least 3 months after you plan on leaving the Schengen Area. Or for a long stay, check it’ll be valid for at least 3 months on the date the requested visa expires. If there’s a proven emergency, this last point may be waived.
• 2 recent ID photographs in ISO/IEC format.
• Supporting documents you’ve been asked for based on your own situation (originals and copies).
  
  

FAQs about the student visa application process

• When do I need to pay the student visa application fee?
  
  You can pay the application fee when submitting your form. This will happen at the application centre as part of your visa appointment.
  
  
• Do I have to fill out the form in one go?
  
  No, you can enter your email address and then create a personal account. This will then allow you to save your form and return to it later if necessary. Once your application is complete, you can then validate it and get it printed out.
  
  
• What are the next stages?
  
  Following this, you’ll get a list of the supporting documents needed and at this stage, you will be able to book your appointment.

When it comes to booking an appointment at your nearest visa application centre, make sure you leave plenty of time for this - you won’t be able to submit your application without it. You’ll need to submit your application for a short-stay visa as early as 6 months before you leave, or 3 months before if it’s for a long-stay visa. For both, you will need to submit your visa application at least 2 weeks before you travel to France.

Please note, external service providers can be used for handling your visa applications and documents, but it’s the consular services that will be responsible for any decision-making and for processing applications.

When you go to your appointment, this is when you will submit your application forms. This process will take around 20 minutes, and you will need to remember to bring all of your supporting documents with you. Don’t worry if the application centre asks to keep hold of your passport and copies of your documents, this is normal. 

What can I expect from my appointment? 

• for your visa application to be reviewed
• to pay the visa fee
• to have your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned if you’re aged over 12 (this is also known as your biometric information). If you hold a biometric Schengen visa that was issued in the last 59 months, your previous biometric data can be re-used. 

What are the application fees you’ll need to pay?

The fee will factor in the administrative costs for processing your visa application. This will mean that the fee won’t be refunded, even in the event of your application being unsuccessful. You can find more information and advice about this in the table of application fees by visa type.

If your fee is received by an external service provider, they will be responsible for collecting all of the money due. This service fee can often differ between countries, but it won’t be more than € 40 for each visa application. The external service providers can also offer extra services at an additional cost.

After the application has been submitted, the visa centre will then monitor its progress. You can track this on your application page. The processing time is usually within 15 days, but this may be extended for up to 45 days.

The visa application centre will let you know when your passport is ready for you to collect. In some cases, it may be possible for it to be posted back to you.