How To Avoid France Study Visa Rejection: An Informative Guide
France is one of the top study abroad destinations for pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The quality education system with advanced infrastructure and student-friendly policies make France an ideal destination for Indian students who want to study abroad for higher education.
If you want to study in France to pursue your education, you will be required to apply for a France student visa. After receiving your admission letter from a French university or college, you will have to submit your application for a French student visa.
But let me guess; you are afraid of getting your France student visa rejected? You are not alone!
Almost every France student aspirant has this creepy feeling about getting a student visa rejected. Don’t worry; we won’t let that happen to you.
Later in this post, we will be sharing the ultimate tips to avoid France student visa rejection (so keep reading!), but first, let’s talk about France student visas, their types, the application process, and Campus France.
Types Of Student Visa In France
There are different types of student visa categories in France which vary depending on the course duration.
1️⃣ Short Stay Student Visa:
Also known as “Visa de court sejour pour etudes”, a short-stay student visa in France applies to students applying for a course that doesn’t exceed more than three months in duration.
This type of visa is not renewable and doesn’t require a France residence permit to stay. Moreover, students applying for short-stay visas for less than 90 days don’t have to go through a Campus France interview and other processes.
2️⃣ Short Stay Student Visa For Entrance Exam:
France's short stay student visa also known as “Etudient concours”, is for students who want to enter France to either attend an interview or appear for an entrance exam at a French institute of higher education.
Students can apply directly for this visa to French local authorities or administrative offices in France. The visa is granted with a validity of 90 days and can be renewed with a validity of 1 year in case of success in the exam.
3️⃣ Temporary Long Stay Student Visa:
A temporary long-stay visa, AKA Visa de long séjour temporaire pour études, applies to students wanting to study for between three to six months. This non-renewable visa allows you to stay in France without a residence permit.
4️⃣ Long Stay Student Visa:
Also recognized as Visa de long séjour études, this type of visa is for aspirants who applied for a course with a duration of more than six months.
It is basically for international students who want to pursue higher duration courses in a French university or college and also require applying for a residence permit for staying in France.
How To Apply For France Study Visa?
The step-by-step process for applying for a France student study visa.
Step 1: Apply to a French university and get your acceptance letter required for the visa application
Step 2: Identify the right type of visa you require to study in France
Step 3: Register and create an account at Campus France Portal
Step 4: Appear for the Campus France interview and get the No Objection Certificate
Step 5: Provide the French and English language proficiency certificate for studying in France
Step 6: Prepare your visa file with all the necessary documents need to submit for Visa File Submission at the nearest VFS office
To understand these whole steps easily, head to our detailed blog “Step-By-Step Guide On How To Apply For France Study Visa” and get detailed insights.
What Is Campus France And Why It’s Important?
Students planning to study in France have most probably come across the term Campus France. So what is it? And perhaps most importantly, what does Campus France help students with?
Campus France:
Campus France is a government agency operating under the French Ministry of External Affairs and Higher Education and Research. Its network is a part of the cooperation service of the French Embassy in India.
Through personalized counseling sessions and organizing various workshops for Indian students, Campus France aims to help students with relevant and necessary information about the various courses offered by different French universities and colleges.
What Does Campus France Do?
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Helping students schedule language exams
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Helping applicants set up interviews to discuss their educational plan
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Examining completion of applications and checking the authenticity of degrees
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Provide interactive online guidance and assistance through a personal messaging system
What Does Campus France Help Indian Students With?
Campus France offers numerous benefits and assistance to Indian students planning to study in France. Below are some of the most common benefits offered by Campus France:
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Providing various universities/colleges and courses information
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Scholarships and grants assistance
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Managing the applications from foreign applicants
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Providing France student visa applications assistance
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Giving necessary certification for French language proficiency
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Offering accommodation research and assistance
What Are The Most Common Reasons For The France Student Visa Rejection?
Below are several reasons why your French student visa can get rejected.
➱ Lack of sufficient financial funds to support your education in France
➱ Failing to provide adequate proof confirming the return to India
➱ Fake documents submission that includes forged signatures or fake proofs to make the profile stronger
➱ Inadequate communication skills, i.e. lack of expertise in French or English language
➱ Improper and missing documents submission
➱ Lack of interview skills
➱ Insufficient explanation of the purpose of education and travel
How To Avoid France Study Visa Rejection?
Here are the most important things you must focus on and prepare yourself well enough for getting your France student visa approved.
10 Useful Tips to Avoid a France study visa rejection
Tip 1: Prepare Best For Campus France Interview
While applying for a France study visa, you will have to go through a Campus France interview, where you need to be clear and concise about the purpose of your travel. You will need to answer why you have selected this course, what is your future goal, and why you choose this university. So your answer to this question should clearly state the objective of your purpose.
Check the Full Video On How To Crack Campus France Interview:
Tip 2: Have A Strong Financial Backup
Lack of finances is the common reason for student visa rejection; hence, you must show enough proof of funds for the duration of your course. Demonstrate strong financial backup where you have to show 1 year of full living expenses, including 1-year tuition fees, 1-year housing, and other expenses.
You can show your proof of funds in the form of a bank loan, fixed deposit, or balance in savings accounts. Note all this should be in a nationalized bank.
Other than this, you have to also show Income Proof, i.e., Income Tax return, to the visa office. An ITR record is the most accepted document during visa processing as it is a legitimate record of your income proof which shows a detailed picture of your total income.
Tip 3: Confirm Your Accommodation
Your accommodation letter plays a big role in getting your France student visa approved. It is advisable to confirm bookings of 15-30 days from AIRBNB or Booking.com, or any other such platforms.
Tip 4: Proper Travel Itinerary Planning
Invalid travel insurance and improper travel itinerary planning can be also the reason behind the visa rejection. Hence, it's important to properly plan your travel itinerary, which includes providing booking flight tickets and adequate proof of travel insurance.
Note that your flight ticket and travel insurance should have similar dates on them, which means your insurance should start on the same date as your flight ticket.
Tip 5: Sponsor Affidavit And Self Affidavit Submission
Many students make the mistake of not including these two documents in the visa file which results in the rejection of their visa application. Sponsor affidavit and self affidavit are important to authenticate the whole documents you have submitted in your VFS.
Tip 6: Submit Your Visa File At VFS On Time
It's important to timely submit your VFS file at the VFS office after receiving your NOC from Campus France. A gap of 25 to 30 days is advisable between your course date and VFS file submissions.
Some extra tips to avoid France study visa rejections are
Tip 7: Submit complete and correct documents
Tip 8: Ensure there is enough justification for any gaps
Tip 9: Download the latest VFS checklist ( You can find the latest VFS checklist here)
Tip 10: Submit your Campus France at least before 3 months in advance of the intended departure date
Checkout the full video on “How To Avoid Students Visa Rejection In France:
France Visa Refusal Appeal Process
If you have faced visa rejection and certainly losing hope – then don’t! Below are some ways how Indian students can reapply for a France student visa.
1️⃣ Appeal For Re-Evaluation
You can request for re-evaluation of your France study visa application to the French Embassy. This appeal for re-evaluation to the embassy or consulate in India must be filed in French within two months of the visa application rejection date with all necessary documents.
2️⃣ Appeal Before An Commission
The second way is to appeal to the commission charged with a visa refusal. This appeal needs to be filed within two months from the date of visa denial.
3️⃣ Appeal In Court
Lastly, if the commission has also rejected the appeal, you can file litigation in an administrative court within two months from the date of visa rejection.
Let’s Wrap This Up!
These were some of the common reasons behind student visa rejection and important tips to get France's visa approved.
Do check on all the details mentioned above before beginning the process of France student visa application.
Lastly, if you are still unsure about the application process or need a helping hand to get you through the France visa application process with ease, you can contact Edugo Abroad!
Edugo Abroad is the best consultant for France study visas in Ahmedabad, India. With years of profound experience and more than 500 visa successes in France, we can help you fly abroad through a smooth France visa procedure.
Contact us today to get your visa process started.
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