France

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit to study or do a traineeship in France – an ID card or passport is enough. Campus France reminds you of two conditions: you must have health insurance and enough money to support yourself. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Before enrolling at your institution, every student pays the CVEC (student and campus life contribution) on cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr. You show the certificate when you enrol – even if you are exempt from paying.

Students from outside the EU/EEA need a short-stay visa for stays of up to three months and, for longer stays, a long-stay student visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS "étudiant"). You apply at the French embassy or consulate in your country – in the 73 countries covered by Études en France, after completing that procedure. The visa fee is €60, and you must prove at least €615 a month to cover your living costs. Within 3 months of arrival you must validate your VLS-TS online on the official foreigners' portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr). The VLS-TS is valid for up to one year; before it expires you apply at the prefecture to renew it or for a multi-year residence permit.

Note: the €615 a month figure comes from the European Commission's EU Immigration Portal (no year given), while Campus France's VLS-TS page does not state an amount – check the current requirement with the French consulate before you apply.

Health insurance: non-EU students register with French social security on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr as soon as they have enrolled at their institution – registration is free.