UPON YOUR ARRIVAL IN FRANCE
Once in France, you must take certain steps to make sure that your stay in France is legal throughout your studies. These steps are different for each type of visa:
You have a Long Stay Student Visa valid as residence permit (VLS-TS étudiant)
Even if this visa is in itself a residence permit, you must validate it with the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) within the first 3 months of your arrival in France.
The procedure is entirely digital: you can do everything remotely, at home, on your computer.
In order to do so you must connect to the
ANEF platform and follow the procedure.
You will need to provide the following pieces of information:
- valid email address
- visa details
- entry date in France
- your postal address in France
You will also need a debit/credit card to pay the online tax of 60€ (check the portal for other payment terms).
Beware! If you have not done this within the 3 months following your arrival, you will no longer be able to lawfully remain in France and you will not be able to travel freely within the Schengen area.
You have a Long Stay Student Visa with an exemption of residence permit (VLST: “Visa Long Séjour Temporaire avec dispense de carte de séjour”)
You do not need to validate your residence permit with the Prefecture or follow the OFII procedure. Attention! This type of visa does not allow you to work.
You are an Algerian citizen
You must apply for a residence permit upon your arrival in France. You must not follow the OFII procedure but submit a
titre de séjour application using the
ANEF platform.
You are under 18 and have a visa “mineur scolarisé”
You must submit an online application for a residence permit on the
ANEF platform after your 18th birthday and no longer than 2 to 3 months before your visa expires.
You have a Visa "Concours"
You must make an appointment at the Prefecture of Calvados.
You are a doctorate student with a Long Stay Visa "passeport talent - chercheur"
You must contact your Unicaen mobility manager to enquire about the appropriate steps to take.