The residence permit

The residence permit

Updated on

Applications for visa validation and residence permits for students are made directly online on the ANEF platform – Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France.

For all applications submitted on or after August 1st 2026, the minimum income requirement for a foreign national wishing to be admitted to France for study purposes will change. The minimum monthly amount required will be 47 per cent of the gross monthly minimum wage (SMIC), i.e. €877.50 (Decree No. 2026-526 of 22 June 2026).

Foreign nationals applying for a residence permit in France must sign a pledge to uphold the principles of the Republic; failure to do so may result in their residence permit being withdrawn or not renewed – and they may be issued with an OQTF (Obligation to Leave French Territory).

When you arrive in France

Once you have arrived in France, you must take certain steps to ensure that your stay in France is legal for the duration of your studies. These steps vary according to the type of visa you hold.

Even if this visa is a residence permit, you must validate your visa online within 3 months of your arrival in France.

After completing your administrative registration, create an account on the Étrangers en France platform (ANEF) to validate your visa online: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/

To validate your visa online you will need to provide the following information:

  • valid email address,
  • information listed on your visa,
  • date of entry in France with this visa,
  • residence address in France

The “student” long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (E1 VLS-TS) corresponds to CESEDA R431-16 13.

You will also need a bank card to pay the €100 online tax (see other payment methods on the portal).

If you have not done this within 3 months, you will no longer be a legal resident on French territory and, consequently, you will not be able to cross the borders of the Schengen area again and lose all the rights attached to your temporary resident status.

Once you have paid your fee, you will receive a certificate of validation of your visa in .pdf format. 
Keep this document, it will be useful when you apply for a residence permit. We also advise you to print it and put a copy in your passport.

Your ID and password will be mandatory for your visa renewal. Make sure you note them down during your visa validation.

You do not have to validate your visa online but must apply for a residence permit on the Étrangers en France platform (identical to the renewal applications) as soon as you arrive in France.

Access the Étrangers en France platform (ANEF)

Please note that the processing time for applications can be very long, so we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible after your arrival in France.

You do not have to validate your visa but connect to the Démarches Simplifiées platform to apply for a residence permit at the Préfecture, between the 3rd and 2nd month following your 18th birthday.

If your visa expires before your 18th birthday, you will have to return to your country to request a new visa from the French Consulate.

Access the Démarche simplifiées platform

Students living in the Manche and Orne area should contact their local Préfecture :
Manche : pref-etrangers@manche.gouv.fr
Orne : pref-etrangers@orne.gouv.fr

If you pass the entrance exam(s) for which your visa was granted, you can apply for a residence permit on the Démarches simplifiées platform.

Students living in the Manche and Orne area should contact their local prefecture :
Manche : pref-etrangers@manche.gouv.fr
Orne : pref-etrangers@orne.gouv.fr

If you have failed your entrance exam(s) but wish to pursue other studies, you must apply for a study visa at the French Consulate in your country of origin.

If you wish to do so, you can apply for a student residence permit on the Démarches Simplifiées platform

Students living in the Manche and Orne area should contact their local prefecture :
Manche : pref-etrangers@manche.gouv.fr
Orne : pref-etrangers@orne.gouv.fr

Renewals and specific procedures

Applications for student residence permits must be submitted online on the Étrangers en France platform.

Étrangers en France platform (ANEF)

  • Renewal: students with an expiring student residence permit (VLS-TS visa or residence permit card) ⇒ request to be made maximum 120 days / minimum 60 days before the end of the visa/card.
  • First application : Algerian nationals with a student visa.

Late fees

The Préfecture applies late penalties of €180 to any student who submits their file on the ANEF platform less than 60 days before the expiration of their previous title.

Create an account on the ANEF website

This is the same site as the one you used to validate your initial VLS-TS. If you have validated your visa on this site, you already have an account. For the others, you will have to create one by following the instructions.

The récépissé has been replaced by an Attestation de décision favorable. This document, which has the same value as the former récépissé, will be sent to you electronically once your file has been processed and while you wait for your appointement to the Préfecture to receive your residence card.

If your visa or card has expired more than 6 months ago, you will not be able to access the Étrangers en France website.

Late fees

The Préfecture applies late penalties of €180 to any student who submits their file on the ANEF platform less than 60 days before the expiration of their previous title.

Residence permit applications and renewals are the responsibility of the Ministère de l’intérieur represented by the Étrangers en France platform and the préfectures: only these state bodies can be held responsible for the review of your file and the issue of your permit.

The University of Caen is an institution of higher education that can, within the limits of the information made available by the prefecture, help students when they do not understand the procedures to follow or the documents to provide, but in no case is it competent to file, process or issue a residence permit.

Do you have any questions regarding the constitution of your file? Contact us: intl.welcome@unicaen.fr

Are you having problems with the ANEF platform? Send a request for assistance via the “Contact us” section or call the hotline at 0806 001 620

For any other request : pref-etrangers@calvados.gouv.fr

For more information on renewing your student residence permit, please consult our guide.

More informations

If you have any questions regarding the required documets of your file or the procedure, contact us: intl.welcome@unicaen.fr

You must indicate your SURNAME and Name in your emails and use your UNICAEN email system (Zimbra) for any communication with the administrative and teaching staff of the university.

For other requests: pref-etrangers@calvados.gouv.fr ; pref-etrangers@manche.gouv.fr or pref-etrangers@calvados.gouv.fr

What should I do if I have a complaint?
In the event of a complaint with the Préfecture/ANEF, we recommend that you seek legal aid from the Point d’accès au droit du Tribunal judiciaire de Caen (11 rue Dumont d’Urville, 14000 Caen), which is accessible without appointment from Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Legal specialists will be able to inform you about your rights and refer you to a specialist lawyer if necessary.
Find a Point-justice near you