Welcoming international students

Visa

Depending on the student’s nationality, situation and length of stay, a visa may be required to study or do research at Université de Paris.  

European students are exempt from visa requirements. Non-European international students should check the Campus France website or the websites of the French Consulate of their country for information.

Residence permit

Foreign students (non-EU citizens) must obtain a student residence permit, which is not the same as a visa, within 3 months of their arrival in France. This card is valid for a maximum of one year and can be renewed.

How to apply for a residence permit

• This request must be made directly at the Police Prefecture.
• The holders of a VLS-TS, or Long-Stay Visa valid as a Residence Permit (1st application), must contact the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) as soon as possible in order to finalise their residence permit.
• The holders of a type D Visa (long stay visa) bearing the mention: “residence permit to be requested within 2 months of entering France” (Algerian students) or in the case of a renewal application, will be given a certificate of application with a validity of at least 90 days, pending the issue of their final residence permit.

Access to medical care

During their studies at Université de Paris, international students can benefit from basic free health coverage under French Health Insurance. To obtain reimbursement of their health expenses, students should go to the dedicated website etudiant-tranger.ameli.fr and follow the instructions there.

To increase receive increased health care cover, students can also subscribe to a complementary health insurance or ‘mutuelle’. > For more information

Insurance

• It is mandatory for all foreign students to take out third-person liability insurance.
• It is mandatory for all foreign students to take out repatriation insurance.
• A complementary health insurance scheme (‘Mutuelle’) is strongly recommended for all foreign students.

Housing

Finding accommodation is an important step towards successfully integrating into Parisian life. It is a step that should be planned before your arrival in France. Finding housing in Paris, as with all capital cities, can be a challenge. It is crucial to start your search in December prior to the year of your arrival in Paris. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the conditions and requirements for admission to student dormitories.

To find out options for accommodation, go to the Accommodation page.

Budget for your accommodation

In a résidence universitaire (University dormitory):  

A minimum of 450 to 500 Euros a month (price varies depending on the type of accommodation)

As a private tenant:

From 550 to 800 Euros a month

If you are planning to rent an apartment, remember that you will need to provide a deposit equivalent to two month’s rent.

N.B.: You may possibly be entitled to financial assistance for your accommodation expenses.

Note: The CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales), a family allowance fund, can allocate personal accommodation assistance (APL) in some cases.

Food

You should allow between €200 and €250 per month.

University restaurants offer very affordable meals for students: €3.30 per meal
For more information, go to the Where to eat page

Restaurants: the cheapest ones range from €12 to €15 per meal (in France, service is always included in the price)

A coffee (espresso): €2 minimum

A soda: about €4

A loaf of bread (baguette): about €1.

Public transport

The transport card to get around Paris (all areas included) costs €75.20/month.

With the ‘Imagine’R’ Student card, students under 26 can benefit from a discount of about 50%.

For more information, go to: www.ratp.fr

Opening a bank account

If your main residence is located in a non-European country and if your stay in France is going to last more than three months, it is in your best interest to open a resident bank account. However, students should ask their bank in their country of residence whether it is associated with a French banking network.

To open a resident bank account in Euros, three documents are required:

• A passport
• A residence permit
• Proof of residence (telephone or electricity bill, rent receipt, certificate of accommodation,…)  

Opening an account entitles you to a cheque book and/or to a credit card. Cheque books are usually free. However, an amount of €15 to €40/year can be charged for a credit card, depending on the bank and the type of card.