IMMIGRATION

If you are not a European Union citizen you must obtain a French student visa in your home country / country of residence before you arrive in France. A European citizen is an individual who holds a passport or national identity card from a European-Union member country. If you hold a residence permit from a European-Union member country you may still need to procure a French student visa before you arrive depending on the type of residence permit you have.

You will be contacted several weeks after accepting your offer of admission to Parsons Paris by Academic Programs International (API). API guides pre-enrolled students through immigration in their home countries / countries of residence. 

You should not arrive in France / the Schengen Zone before the validity start date of your visa. Do not confuse the validity start date with the date of issue when reading your visa. 

When you arrive make sure that your passport with your French student visa is stamped by border control. You will need to use this stamp later in your immigration journey and failure to get a stamp can create complications. If, for some reason, your passport is not stamped at border control you need to ask for a stamp before leaving the airport. If you arrive before the start date of your visa you must anticipate leaving the Schengen Zone in order to return either on the start date of your visa or after the start date so that you receive a corresponding stamp.

If you are not an EU citizen and you do not obtain a French student visa, your ability to sign up for the French healthcare system (signing up is free) as well as your ability to intern in France WILL be impacted.

Most students will receive a VLS-TS (Visa Long-Séjour Valant Titre de Séjour) visa type D. This type of visa can be renewed.

Please note that your passport must be valid for longer than 6 months for you to be eligible to receive a visa and to travel to France.

People often use these three terms interchangeably but there are slight differences.

 A VISA is a conditional authorization granted to a foreign student to legally enter, remain and leave / come back into France. A visa is the sticker-like document placed in your passport that indicates the status you hold. Most students are given a VLS-TS 'étudiant' visa. A VLS-TS is visa that is valid for longer than 4 months. If you are not an EU citizen, meaning you do not have either a passport nor a national identity card from a member-state of the European Union, you need a French student visa to both legally stay and to study in France for longer than 3 months. 

A CARTE DE SÉJOUR is a type of residence permit, or temporary identity card, that is the size of a debit/credit card. A carte de séjour also indicates the status you hold. For example, you will hold the status of 'student' because you are in France for longer than 3 months in order to study. Other students and people you meet may have a carte with a different status, such as spouse, working, refugee, etc. Please know that you will not pick up your first carte de séjour until after you renew your student visa for the first time, which takes several months. 

Students from an EU member country who hold a residence permit, rather than a passport or national identity card, may still need to procure a student visa depending on the type of residence permit they were granted. Please make sure to speak with API, Academic Programs International, who help students procure a student visa from their home country or country of residence before they arrive at Parsons Paris for their first semester. More information can be found under 'What must I do before coming to Parsons Paris'.

A TITRE DE SÉJOUR is the umbrella term for all the different types of French immigration documents such as carte de séjours, récépisses, attestation de décision favorable, etc. A visa is NOT a type of titre de séjour. You should not use those two terms interchangeably as they are two different types of authorization. 

Once you arrive you must validate your VLS-TS visa. This is mandated by French law so that you are registered as a legal French resident. Failing to validate your French student visa in the designated amount of time will :

• invalidate your French student visa

• may prevent you from being able to leave and re-enter France freely

• make it impossible to renew your visa

• require you to return to your home country / country of residence and procure a new visa

You must validate your French student visa within 3 months of arriving in France / the Schengen zone. (During the first 3 months after your arrival you are permitted to freely leave and re-enter France.)

Students who arrive with a visa 'mineur scolarisé' do not need to validate their visa.

HOW DO I VALIDATE MY VISA?

You can attend visa validation workshops hosted by Student Life at the beginning of each semester. You will be guided by a member of Student Life through the process. Workshop times and dates are announced via Canvas, so make sure you turn on notifications / enable emails from Canvas in your settings so you don't miss out. We highly recommend you come for a workshop in case you encounter any complications.

You can also use our prepared self-guided manual to go through the process yourself or with a classmate or two. The VISA VALIDATION manual is located at the bottom of this page.

A student who will arrive to study in France before their 18th birthday will be given a minor visa, or 'mineur scolarisé'. It is important for you to understand your immigration journey will be different from an individual with a student visa or 'visa étudiant'.

First, a visa 'mineur scolarisé' CANNOT be validated. You are not required to complete this step.

You have to transition to a student visa within 2 months of turning 18. You need to contact Student Life (studentlifeparis@newschool.edu) as soon as you arrive at Parsons Paris. A mandatory meeting will be organized in order for you to learn about the process of transitioning to a student carte de séjour, or residence permit. 

This process will include gathering required documents and attending an in-person appointment with the Préfecture, or the French immigration office. The paperwork will differ from the original application for your minor visa. All documents will need to be in French / translated into French by a professional translator in France. The documents you need will be explained during a meeting with Student Life that will be organized upon your arrival. 

A minor student is not supposed to leave French soil from the time they turn 18 until the process of transitioning to a student visa is complete. (Travel within the Schengen Zone is technically not permitted, the student is not supposed to leave France.) The process takes on average 4-7 months.

Even if your original minor visa is still valid or you hold a valid Schengan visa, you are not supposed to travel using those immigration documents. You risk not being allowed to re-enter France upon return as well as jeopardizing your application for a student visa and your legal immigration status is France.

This may impact travel plans and you, your family and your friends are encouraged to consider this important information when making travel plans on weekends and during school breaks (winter break, study week, spring break and summer break in particular). 

A minor student is also ineligible to enroll in the French healthcare system until they complete the transition to a student carte de séjour. This means you will not be able to legally intern or work in France before you have collected the residence permit.

A minor student will need to be accompanied by a guardian in order to open a French bank account. Please be aware that not all bank branches will accept to open a French bank account for a foreign minor student. It may be necessary to visit several bank branches (including for the same bank).

Renewing your visa is extremely important and requires planning in advance. You need to submit your renewal application for your visa 4-2 months before your current visa expires. For example, if your visa expires on June 9, 2025, your renewal application window is February 9 - April 9 (4 months - 2 months before). At the end of the renewal procedure you will pick up a carte de séjour (or residence permit) that will generally be valid for 1-3 years depending on the length of your degree program and the French immigration authorities.

You are strongly encouraged to put an alert in your phone for 4 months before your visa expires and 2 months before your visa expires to remind yourself to begin your visa renewal application and to submit it on time.

The procedure for renewing your visa is different -- the process and documentation -- from your original visa application in your home country / country of residence. Please do not submit an application similar to your original application.

How do I renew my visa for the first time ?

You can attend visa renewal workshops hosted by Student Life. You will be guided by a member of Student Life through the process. Workshop times and dates are announced via Canvas, so make sure you turn on notifications / enable emails from Canvas in your settings so you don't miss out. We highly recommend you come for a workshop in case you encounter any complications.

You can also use our prepared self-guided manuals to go through the process yourself or with a classmate or two. The manuals are located at the bottom of this page.

Below is a general overview of the steps in the renewal process. Please understand these steps are only a general overview and you need to read the manuals below fully to avoid any missteps that could cause your application to be closed and / or rejected.

Step 1 : 

Use the WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED - Renewing visa for first time manual at the bottom of this page to see what documents to gather for your renewal application, as well as the required specifications of certain documents. It takes on average 2-4 weeks to gather all the necessary documents so plan accordingly. 

Step 2 : 

Use the SUBMITTING RENEWAL APPLICATION manual at the bottom of this page to see how to submit your visa renewal application. You will submit your renewal application online (not applicable to students with visa 'mineur scolarisé). There will not be an in-person interview or the need to give your passport like was necessary in order to obtain your original visa.

It takes on average 1-3 months for a visa renewal application to be reviewed and processed. It is not possible to pay to expedite the process.

Step 3 : 

Sixty days after you are notified that your renewal application is accepted you should receive a text message to your French cell phone number sharing your carte de séjour (or residence permit) is printed. If you do not receive this message by the 60-day marker you need to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) manual at the bottom of this page and follow the guidance given.

Step 4 : 

Once you know your carte de séjour is printed, you must schedule an in-person appointment at the correct Préfecture to collect your carte. Use the COLLECT CARTE DE SÉJOUR manual at the bottom of the page. You are not able to designate someone else to collect your carte, it must be you. It is mandatory to pick up your carte and you will be blocked from renewing your carte until you pick it up. Once you schedule your appointment, reference the reference the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) manual below to know what documents you need to bring with you to the appointment. This will include a timbre fiscal, or tax stamp. Use the BUYING TIMBRE FISCAL manual below to take you through that process.

Step 5 : 

After you pick up your carte de séjour, send a scanned copy, front-and-back, to Student Life (studentlifeparis@newschool.edu). Count back your 4-2 month renewal window and put an alert in your phone 4 months before your carte de séjour expires and then 2 months before it expires. This will remind you to start the renewal process in time.

When you renew your student carte de séjour, the process and documentation are almost identical to when you renewed for the first time. You need to submit your renewal application online 4-2 months before your carte de séjour expires. 

Below is a general overview of the steps in the renewal process. Please understand these steps are only a general overview and you need to read the manuals below fully to avoid any missteps that could cause your application to be closed and / or rejected.

Step 1 : 

Use the WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED - Renewing visa for first time manual at the bottom of this page to see what documents to gather for your renewal application, as well as the required specifications of certain documents. It takes on average 2-4 weeks to gather all the necessary documents so plan accordingly. 

Step 2 : 

Use the SUBMITTING RENEWAL APPLICATION manual at the bottom of this page to see how to submit your visa renewal application. You will submit your renewal application online (not applicable to students with visa 'mineur scolarisé). There will not be an in-person interview or the need to give your passport like was necessary in order to obtain your original visa.

It takes on average 1-3 months for a visa renewal application to be reviewed and processed. It is not possible to pay to expedite the process.

Step 3 : 

Sixty days after you are notified that your renewal applicaiton is accepted you should receive a text message to your French cell phone number sharing your carte de séjour (or residence permit) is printed. If you do not receive this message by the 60-day marker you need to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) manual at the bottom of this page and follow the guidance given.

Step 4 : 

Once you know your carte de séjour is printed, you must schedule an in-person appointment at the correct Préfecture to collect your carte. Use the COLLECT CARTE DE SÉJOUR manual at the bottom of the page. You are not able to designate someone else to collect your carte, it must be you. It is mandatory to pick up your carte and you will be blocked from renewing your carte until you pick it up. Once you schedule your appointment, reference the reference the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) manual below to know what documents you need to bring with you to the appointment. This will include a timbre fiscal, or tax stamp. Use the BUYING TIMBRE FISCAL manual below to take you through that process.

Step 5 : 

After you pick up your carte de séjour, send a scanned copy, front-and-back, to Student Life (studentlifeparis@newschool.edu). Count back your 4-2 month renewal window and put an alert in your phone 4 months before your carte de séjour expires and then 2 months before it expires. This will remind you to start the renewal process in time.

We understand that navigating the French immigration system as a student can be stressful. That is why we prepared a manual of frequently asked questions, broken down into process questions and document questions. Please reference this manual at the bottom of the page to see if your question(s) has already been answered. If you feel like your question has not been answered please contact Student Life studentlifeparis@newschool.edu.

PROCESS QUESTIONS

1. I need to validate my student visa. How do I do that?

2. I need to renew my student visa / student carte de séjour. When and How do I do that?

3. I received an Attestation de Décision Favorable. What comes next?

4. I need to make an appointment at the Préfecture to pick up my student carte de séjour. How do I do that?

5. I have an appointment to pick up my student carte de séjour. What do I need to bring with me to the appointment?

6. I need to buy a timbre fiscal. How do I do that?

7. I have not received a text message from the Préfecture telling me my student carte de séjour is ready to be picked up. What do I do?

8. My student visa / student carte de séjour expires during the summer. What do I do?

9. I arrived with a visa 'mineur scolarisé'. What does my immigration process look like?

10. I was given a récépissé after an in-person appointment at the Préfecture. What does my immigration process look like?

DOCUMENT QUESTIONS

1. I need to take an e-photo. How do I do that?

2. I need a certificate from my guarantor's bank that shows they are regularly transfering money into my personal account. What does it look like?

3. I need to translate something officially. How do I do that?

4. I do not have the exact document the Préfecture requests, because I am waiting for it to arrive. What do I do?

5. I do not have the exact document the Préfecture requests and I will never have it. What do I do?

Mobility is the program offered during junior year that allows students to study at the NYC campus of The New School for either one or two semesters. If you are a US citizen you do not need to procure a visa to study there. However, if you are not a US citizen, meaning you do not have either a US passport a US residence permit, you must procure a US student visa before arriving in New York. 

• You will work with the International Student and Scholar Services at The New School, once you have been accepted into the mobility program, to obtain a US student visa. The Student Success Office at Parsons Paris is not able to aid students to procure a student visa for the United States. 

Study abroad is when you choose to study at another university that is not Parsons Paris nor The New School during your junior year. It is your responsibility to find out if you need a student visa or not to study in that country. It is also your responsibility to work with the institution where you want to study to learn how to apply for a visa. The Student Success Office at Parsons Paris is not able to aid students to procure student visas for other countries. 

• If you already have a French student visa or titre de séjour, that does not automatically grant you the right to study in another European Union country. 

If your French student visa or titre de séjour will expire during your time away from campus please contact the Student Life Coordinator (olejnicr@newschool.edu) the semester before you leave to learn what to do in this case.

Please visit this page to learn more about the PDPG, including information about immigration while enrolled in the PDPG.

Congratulations on having completed, or soon to have completed, your studies at Parsons Paris! 

We understand that you may want to remain in France after graduation / after the PDPG. If you are a non-EU citizen you will need to procure a French titre de séjour that is connected to your status. We have provided information about other types of titres de séjour that exist (this list in not all inclusive), but bear in mind that it can be more difficult to procure one of these visas compared to a student visa and that Parsons Paris is not able to give guidance on applying for these different types of titres de séjours. 

Having foundational knowledge in the titre de séjour process in France, such as the difference between ANEF and the Préfecture or what is an attestation de prolongation d'instruction, will help if you want to stay in France post graduation. That sort of information is provided above and in the manuals below. It is also explained in the workshops related to immigration. You are highly encouraged to attend.

PROLONG YOUR STUDENT TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

If you decide to continue studying in France by enrolling in a doctorate program or a Master's program you will need to work with that institution to get the documents you will need to either obtain a new student visa in your home country / country of residence or to renew your current student titre de séjour. It will depend on the expiration date of your current student titre de séjour and when you are informed of your acceptance at the other institution as to whether you will be able to renew your student titre de séjour as you have done before, or if too much time will have passed and your current titre de séjour will have expired. Some French universities offer graduate programs in English. Others do not and will require that you prove a B1 or B2 French-language level. 

You can also prolong your student status by enrolling full-time in French language classes. You can enroll through groups like Alliance Française or by enrolling in FETE (français pour étudiants étrangers) programs at French universities. You should inquire with the language program provider before applying to confirm that their program will grant you a student titre de séjour. Please be aware that the titre de séjour you receive for enrolling in French language classes may not grant you the right to work. That decision is made by the French government when your titre de séjour application is reviewed and processed. 

SALARY TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

In order to obtain a work titre de séjour (salarié status) you need to have a company that is both willing to hire you and willing to submit the required paperwork to the French government in order for you to be granted a work authorization. The contract needs to be a full-time French contract (either a CDD or CDI) and the salary needs to be at least the monthly minimum wage (known as SMIC in France). SMIC evolves, sometimes annually, so you should search to see what the current amount is. You will need to work with the employer to change your status from 'student' to 'worker'. Parsons Paris is not able to help you with your change of status from student to worker. 

Companies will not always indicate in their job posting(s) if they are willing to sponsor a work titre de séjour or not. You will need to inquire with the employer about that prior to applying or apply to the position and see if the information comes up during the application process. 

● Here you can read more about this titre de séjour.

TALENT TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is sometimes called the 'Talent Passport'. This titre de séjour is quite broad and there are several avenues you can pursue to qualify including joining a French start-up or other type of innovative business or proving that you can earn between 51-70% of a minimum wage salary (SMIC) through your art, either through an employer or from being self-employed. You can also qualify if you can prove that you are known nationally and / or internationally and will enhance France’s “attractiveness” to the international world. There are several other avenues to qualify for this type of visa and you can search about them using your preferred web browser. 

● Here you can read more about the above qualifications and other types of talent titre de séjours.

RESEARCHER-TALENT TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is also known as 'passeport talent - chercheur / scientifique'. In order to qualify for this type you need to have completed a Master's degree, intend to teach or conduct research at a French university and have a 'hosting agreement' with the university already in place. If you think you could qualify for this type of titre de séjour you should do a wide search for universities in France and contact the appropriate department(s), including their HR, to see if they are willing to sponsor this sort of titre de séjour. If they say yes you should work directly with the university to obtain the proper documents you will need for your application. 

● Here you can read more about this titre de séjour.

● Also, here you can also read more about this titre de séjour. 

SELF-EMPLOYED OR LIBERAL ACTIVITY TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is also known as the 'entrepreneur / profession libérale' or the 'freelance' titre de séjour. In order to qualify for this type of titre de séjour you need to create and prepare a viable business plan and demonstrate that you will be able to earn at least the monthly minimum wage (known as SMIC in France). SMIC evolves, sometimes annually, so you should search to see what the current amount is. It is more difficult to obtain this visa if you do not already have clientele and invoices to submit in your application and are only projecting on how you would earn SMIC each month while residing in France. Some students return to their home countries for several months to build out their clientele and receive invoices that they can submit in their application. 

● Here you can read more about this titre de séjour.

● Also, here you can also read more about this titre de séjour.

● Here you can find a presentation from an alumni who obtained this visa.

SPOUSAL AND / OR FAMILY TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is also known as 'vie privée et familiale' or VPF. In order to qualify for this type of titre de séjour you need to be married to either a French citizen, a French resident or a European resident who resides in France. You can also be PACSed (a type of civil union) with a French citizen or a French resident. In order to PACS you need to prove cohabitation with your partner for a minimum of one year. Finally, you can be related to a French citizen or a French resident to qualify for this type of titre de séjour. 

● Here you can read about this titre de séjour.

JOB SEEKER / NEW BUSINESS CREATOR TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is also known as 'recherche d'emploi / création d'entreprise'. It is possible you will have heard about this titre de séjour from other international students who do not attend Parsons Paris. This titre de séjour is intended for Master’s students who upon graduation are granted a year-long titre de séjour to seek employment, but it only applies to students who have graduated from a French institution. Parsons Paris is not classified as a French institution, but rather as an American institution operating within France as classes are taught in English, the US grading system is used and the university does not adhere to a French curriculum. Therefore, Parsons Paris students are ineligible for this type of visa.

APS TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is also known as 'autorisation provisoire de séjour'. Technically the APS titre de séjour is a type of job seeker titre de séjour. It is specifically reserved for students who graduate from specific types of French programs and hail from the countries listed below. This type of titre de séjour originates from bilateral accords between the French government and the governments of these countries. Parsons Paris is unable to dictate what nationalities qualify for this visa. Parsons Paris is not classified as a French institution, but rather as an American institution operating within France. Therefore, Parsons Paris students are ineligible for this type of visa.

● Gabon, Benin, Tunisia, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, India

WORKING HOLIDAY TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

This type of titre de séjour is reserved for young people hailing from the specific countries listed below. You must be of a certain age to qualify for this type of titre. It will be valid for 12 months, not able to be renewed (except for specific exceptions) and allow you to work under certain conditions. This type of titre de séjour originates from bilateral accords between the French government and the governments of these countries. Parsons Paris is unable to dictate what nationalities qualify for this titre. You should speak with the French embassy or French consulate in your home country / country of residence to see if you are eligible to apply for this titre de séjour from France or if you need to return to your home country / country of residence, as well as what work conditions apply to your country.

● Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Russia, Taiwan, Uruguay

● The France-Canada Youth Mobility program falls in this category of titre, and compared to the other countries, Canadians can renew this type of titre once.

● Here you can read more about this titre de séjour.

● Also, here you can also read more about this titre de séjour.

UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE ASSISTANT TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

The university language position is known as 'lecture / lectrice' in French. You will be granted a 'salarié / travailleur temporaire' type of titre de séjour if you are hired for this type of position. You will be an English-language assistant in a French university. Some universities require you to enrolled in a Master's or doctoral program to qualify and others do not. Also some universities require you to have a Master's degree and others do not. You will need to inquire with the university where you apply if they do not specify in the job posting these requirements. You should expect to create and prepare your own English-language lessons plans, including graded assignments, and to teach 15-20 hours per week. You will earn the monthly minimum wage in France, known as SMIC. SMIC evolves, sometimes annually, so you should search to see what the current amount is. This type of titre de séjour for this position can only be renewed twice, three times with exceptions. 

● Please use your preferred search engine to locate what universities around France are hiring for this type of position. 

TAPIF TITRE DE SÉJOUR:

The TAPIF program is reserved for anglophone citizens who can demonstrate a B1 or higher level in French. You will be an English-language assistant in either a French elementary school, middle school or high school. Generally you work with another professor in the school. You will receive a monthly salary of around 800 euros and work on average 15-20 hours per week. This titre de séjour is not guaranteed to permit you to be employed somewhere else besides the school where you teach. That decision is made by the French government when your titre de séjour application is reviewed and processed. You will provide the top locations where you want to be located in France in your application, however you are not guaranteed your top choice. Some locations have subsidized housing options for the language assistants and others do not. You will be granted a 'travailleur temporaire', or ‘temporary worker’ titre de séjour. This type of titre de séjour, when granted through the TAPIF program, can generally only be renewed twice.

● Here you can read about this program for US citizens.

● Here you can read about this program for UK citizens.

● Here you can read about this program for Canadian citizens.

● Here you can read about this program for Australian citizens.

● Here you can read about this program for New Zealand citizens.

AU PAIR TITRE DE SÉJOUR

This type of titre de séjour permits you to au pair, or nanny, for a family in France. There are several au pair websites (none endorsed by Parsons Paris) that allow you to explore, communicate and match with a family seeking a non-French au pair. You can search for those sites using your preferred web browser. This type of titre de séjour can generally only be renewed twice. 

● Here you can read more about this titre de séjour.