This page outlines the bureaucratic processes students must complete in preparation for their year in Paris. Getting ready to go offers personal advice for students preparing to leave.
Accepted students planning to study in Paris should first confirm their study abroad plans with Smith by completing the Post-Acceptance Section of your application in SITES, as instructed by their acceptance email.
Next, they should follow the 7 steps outlined on our accepted students page. The 7-steps are as follows.
Students participating in the Smith in Paris program must have a valid passport when they apply to the program, valid six months beyond the planned time abroad. A copy of the passport photo page or proof of application or renewal must be submitted with the program application.
Students studying on the Smith in Paris program will apply for their long-stay student visas independently. Guidance is provided by the Office for International Study, but students are responsible for researching, understanding and following visa application requirements, which vary by French consulate.
Before making any summer plans, students intending to study in Paris must consider the following:
Applicants must appear in person at the consulate to apply for a visa; applications are not accepted by mail.
Visa applications cannot be made more than 90 days in advance of departure for France.
Applying for a French visa requires surrender of the passport to the French consulate for a period of two to four weeks.
The questionnaire can be found here.
While the form requires students to provide first- and second-choices, any student wishing to live in a host family will have the opportunity to do so.
Students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Sarra Braham, the administrative director of the Smith in Paris program.
All Smith College students attending the Smith in Paris program must attend this meeting. The date will be sent to you by email.
The first step to applying for a French student visa is to register with CampusFrance. Please refer to the CampusFrance Guide for step-by-step instructions.
A note about fees: Students should be prepared to pay $270 for the Campus France fee.
Determine where and when you will apply for your French visa. Once you have given some thought as to where and when you will apply for your French visa, please complete the following questionnaire by no later than May 25th: French Visa Plans
Submit your French Visa application online. Read the Visa Application Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the online portion of the French visa application process. A note about fees: Students should be prepared to pay approximately $550 for the French visa. $270 is for the regular 3-week processing time of your Campus France application, though Smith will submit a batch upload of all receipts to reduce this to one week. The TLS center will charge you a total of approximately $250 USD. There may be additional courrier fees.
Prepare all your materials with the correct number of copies and payment in the correct form well in advance of your visa appointment. The items listed below may or may not be required by the VSF Global Centre. Refer to pages 6-15 of the Visa Appointment Guidelines for specific information. Notes about the additional forms and documents:
O.F.I.I./Residence Form: This form must be pristine in presentation both to the consulate and to the authorities in France. No cross-outs or white out are allowed for this document. If you make a mistake, use a new original.
Proof of Registration/Letter of Enrollment: There are two letters: one that is in English and has been signed by Angelo Pisano and one in French that has been signed by Marie-Madeleine Charlier. Plan to bring the original copies of both letters with you to your visa appointment. For the online section of the visa application, you should upload both letters signed by Angelo Pisano and by Marie-Madeleine Charlier as that will be consistent with your Campus France record. An electronic copy of these letters can be found in the Letters for CampusFrance and Visa Application folder.
Proof of Accommodation: This information is in the letter signed by Marie-Madeleine Charlier.
Financial Guarantee: Use the enrollment letters (see above) that have been signed by Angelo Pisano and by Marie-Madeleine Charlier. These letters also state that your tuition, room and board are prepaid, and that you'll get a stipend of at least €200 per month. At most TLS Centers, you must also show proof of additional financial support (i.e., copy of your three most recent bank statement) to equal no less than €615 per month. The three most recent official bank statements from your own checking and/or savings account may show either a sufficient balance of €615/month x # of months you'll be in France or they may show a steady monthly income of over €615 per month. If you provide bank statements showing an existing income that is planned to continue, you need to provide proof of this future continuity, such as a valid employment contract with dates that cover your program period in France, or a letter from your employer.
It is also recommended that you complete the Financial Guarantee for Student form and bring it with you to your appointment.
Return of your passport: If your TLS Center will return your passport via mail, be sure to also bring the proper, prepaid return mail materials.
Please notify the Lewis Global Studies Center when you receive your visa.
This form must be opened in Microsoft Word. Please TYPE all of your answers into the form. Give as much information as possible. On page two, list the people who should be contacted in the event of an emergency. If you want us to contact your parents, list your parents on page two.
Emergency Contact Info (DOC)
Once you have completed the form:
Save it using this naming convention: lastname_firstname_program_EmergencyContactInfo.doc
Send it as an attachment to studyabroad@smith.edu