France student visa guide

Students from Nigeria apply through the Etudes en France procedure run by Campus France before applying for the long-stay student visa. The visa works as a residence permit once you validate it online after arrival in France. You show admission, funds and accommodation, and you attend a Campus France interview before the visa appointment.

Use the guide below as a planning reference, then check the official source before you pay anything or submit an application.

Tips from experience

• Start the Campus France account early, because the file and interview must be done before the visa.
• Prepare a clear and honest explanation of why you chose the course and why France.
• Keep funds in a traceable account and be ready to explain the source of funds.
• Book accommodation proof early, especially in cities like Paris where housing is tight.
• Check the CVEC contribution and the online validation step so your arrival goes smoothly.
• Treat the fees and funds figures as indicative and confirm them on France-Visas and Campus France.

Documents most applicants need are marked required. Others depend on your case or on what the office asks for. Build a printable checklist.

• Valid passport Required

• France-Visas application form Required

• Passport photographs Required

  Follow the France-Visas photo rules.

• Campus France validation Required

  Confirmation that your Etudes en France file and interview are complete.

• Admission or pre-admission letter Required

• Proof of funds Required

  Bank statements, scholarship letter or sponsor documents showing the current monthly amount.

• Proof of accommodation Required

  A booking, lease, or confirmation from a student residence.

• Academic certificates and transcripts Required

  With translations as the consulate asks.

• Proof of visa fee payment Required

• Biometrics Required

  Fingerprints and photo at the visa appointment.

• Language certificate If asked

  Needed where the institution asks for it.

• Travel or health insurance If asked

  Ask the visa centre whether it is required for your case.

• Police certificate If asked

  Ask the visa centre whether it is required for your case.

• Parental consent If asked

  Needed if you are under 18.

Indicative government fees only. School fees, translations, tests, courier and service charges are extra.

Living funds

€615 a month for 12 months (€7,380)

Basis

France expects students to show at least a set monthly amount, linked to the French student grant, for the whole stay, with the visa file usually judged on the first year.

Tuition included

No, add your first year tuition

Indicative. The figure may be lower for stays shorter than a year and can change with policy. Campus France and the French embassy in Nigeria give the current amount and the accepted proof. The Campus France service fee is separate, so check the current figure on the Campus France Nigeria page.

Typical decision time

You complete the Campus France file and interview first, then attend a visa appointment. The consular decision then usually takes a few weeks.

How early you can apply

Start the Etudes en France account and file as early as the Campus France calendar allows, usually many months before the course start.

Latest sensible time to apply

Aim to submit the visa application at least two to three months before your course begins, because the Campus France steps must be complete first.

1. 1

   Create your Etudes en France account

   Register on the Campus France platform for Nigeria and complete your academic profile. Upload the documents the platform asks for.

2. 2

   Apply to institutions

   Apply to French institutions through the platform or directly, as each institution requires. Obtain an admission or pre-admission letter.

3. 3

   Pay the Campus France fee

   Pay the Campus France service fee when the platform asks, then book your interview at the Lagos or Abuja office.

4. 4

   Attend the Campus France interview

   Explain your study plan, your course choice and your funds. Bring your originals and any language certificates.

5. 5

   Prepare your visa file

   Gather your passport, admission letter, funds proof, accommodation proof and insurance. Check the France-Visas checklist for your case.

6. 6

   Book and attend your visa appointment

   Complete the France-Visas form and book an appointment at the French visa application centre in Lagos or Abuja. Pay the visa fee and give biometrics.

7. 7

   Receive your visa

   Collect your passport and check the dates and conditions on the visa. Book travel to arrive before your enrolment date.

8. 8

   Validate your visa in France

   Validate the visa online soon after arrival and pay the tax. Then complete your registration and the CVEC student contribution requirement.

Work and post study rules change often. Confirm them on the official source before you plan around them.

• Funds were below the required level or the source of funds was unclear.
• The study plan did not match the applicant background or the chosen course.
• Documents were missing, incomplete or not in the required form.
• Accommodation proof was missing or did not cover the early stay.
• The Campus France file or interview was not complete before the visa application.
• The consulate was not satisfied about the genuineness of the documents.

Refused before? Read what to do after a visa refusal.