General presentation on visas

A visa is generally required. It must be requested before departure from the competent French embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

Check if you need a visa on the France Visa website.

The type of visa required to enter France depends on both the duration and the reasons for the intended stay ; except in special cases :

• for stays less than or equal to 90 days (3 months), the visa to be applied for is a short stay visa.
• for stays longer than 90 days (3 months), the visa to be applied for is a long-stay visa adapted to the duration and reasons for the stay.
• for certain travelers transiting through an international zone in anticipation of a final destination outside the Schengen area, the visa to be applied for is an airport transit visa.

Once in France, the visa holder may not obtain a change of visa or a change of status. In addition, the exercise of a paid activity is subject to specific procedures that require obtaining a work permit prior to obtaining the visa (document requested by the employer from the competent prefecture in France).

In the case of French overseas territories, the applicable rules may be different from those applied to metropolitan France. Applicants must specify their destination and the details of their air travel very precisely.

Foreigners residing in Mauritius or in Seychelles must make an appointment at the French Embassy in Mauritius to apply for a visa.

• Make an appointment via our website.

 Find on the France Visa website the steps of a visa application
 Forms to fill out

In case of duly justified emergency and to submit your questions to the visa service, you are invited to contact us by writing an email to : visas.port-louis-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr

The following supporting documents must be presented upon request of the Border Police upon your arrival in France :

 A valid passport, issued less than 10 years ago and valid for at least 3 months after the intended exit date.

 A valid visa, if required.

 Proof of accommodation for the duration of the stay (hotel reservation and/or proof of accommodation with a relative, previously validated by the town hall).

 Sufficient financial resources. The assessment of the means of subsistence is made according to the duration and the purpose of the stay and by reference to the average prices for accommodation and food according to the Member States.

 Your return ticket or proof of sufficient financial means to acquire one on the date of your intended return.

 Any document providing details on the traveler’s profession or capacity as well as the establishments or organizations located on the French territory by which you are expected to travel, if you are on a work trip.

 An insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and death expenses likely to be incurred during your stay in France, including repatriation expenses for medical reasons.

For travelers in transit, you must be able to present proof of the conditions of entry into the final destination country (conditions of stay and accommodation during transit, onward ticket and visa for the destination country).

For more information, consult the France-visas website.

Can I apply for a visa ?

If you are not a national of a Schengen Area country, you must file an application for a long-stay student visa, or VLS-TS student, which will allow you to study in France for a period of four months to one year. When it expires, you must apply for a residence permit to stay in France.

For more information on the VLS-TS student permit, visit the Campus France website.

How do I prepare my visa application ?

Gather the following documents :

 Long stay visa application form to be filled out online then printed

 Valid passport + copy

 A passport photo that meets the OACI standards

 Campus France Mauritius certificate

 Proof of sufficient means of subsistence (at least higher than 615 € per month) :

• bank statements for the last 3 months
• and in the case of a guarantor : copy of an identity document (identity card or passport), certificate of guardianship and bank statements for the last 3 months / last 3 pay slips

 Supporting documents for accommodation :

• Your lease agreement
• Or proof of accommodation by a third party accompanied by the lease contract and a recent invoice

 The payment of the application fee of 50 € to be paid in Mauritian rupees at the chancery rate of the day (by credit card or in cash).

You may be asked to pay additional fees if necessary.

When should I apply for a long stay visa for studies in France ?

Your visa application must be submitted to the visa department of the French Embassy, exclusively by appointment, as soon as your Campus France attestation has been issued.
Before submitting your application to the visa section, make sure that your file is complete.

The visa campaign for 2022/2023 students will open in June 2022 and will continue until October for late applications.

Appointment slots are specifically reserved for students during this time.

How do I apply for a long-stay visa for studies ?

1) You must first present your educational project to Campus France

2) You will then make an appointment via the embassy’s website to submit your visa application.

The conditions of entry and stay in France vary depending on the health situation in your country of origin and your vaccination status.

Since the 12th February 2022, new rules apply to the arrival in France, for more information, please consult the website of the Ministry of Interior.

• For travelers who have been vaccinated according to European regulations, no more tests will be required at departure. Proof of a complete vaccination schedule is sufficient to arrive in France, regardless of the country of origin.

• For non-vaccinated travelers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, but the measures upon arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the "green" list, characterized by a moderate circulation of the virus (this is the case of Mauritius and Seychelles).

You are strongly encouraged to obtain a complete recognized vaccination schedule before your departure to France, in order to facilitate your travel and your stay (for more details on recognized vaccines, read our FAQ dedicated.

Some nationalities are required to have an airport transit visa (ATV) to transit through France. This is a short-term visa that allows you to make a connection in France for up to 24 hours while remaining in the international zone of the airport, without entering French territory.

Not all travelers are subject to this regulation, check if this is your case by using the simulator of France-Visas.