Residence permits, visas & procedures

If you are a citizen of the European Union (EU), European economic area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra:

You do not need a residence permit.
► Find out about mandatory healthcare-related procedures
 

If you are not a citizen of the European Union (EU), European economic area (EEA), Switzerland, Monaco or Andorra, nor an Algerian student:

You must validate your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) with the General Directorate of foreign nationals in France (Direction générale des étrangers en France – DGEF), which deals with all matters concerning foreign nationals.

Upon arriving in France, you must validate your visa. The procedure is completely electronic: you can do everything remotely, from home, with your computer. You must validate your Visa no later than 3 months after arriving in France. You should register on the following website:
https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr


What do you need to validate your VLS-TS?
You will need:

• A valid e-mail address,
• The information on your visa,
• Your date of arrival in France,
• Your place of residence in France,
• A debit or credit card* to pay the visitor’s tax online.

*You do not have a credit or debit card? Don’t worry! You can buy an electronic stamp in a tobacco store, at a dedicated kiosk, and pay it in cash.

1. Login to the website: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr ;
2. Fill out the information found on your visa: visa number, validity start and end dates, date of issue, reason for your stay;
3. Enter additional information: marital status, phone number, e-mail address;
4. Specify your arrival date in France and your residential address in France;
5. Pay the 60 Euro visitor’s tax:
   • Option 1: you can buy an electronic stamp online. This option is available on the screen.
   • Option 2: enter the number of the electronic stamp which you previously purchased from a tobacco store.
6. Download the confirmation of your VLS-TS validation. We suggest that you print the confirmation and keep it in your Passport, to ensure that you have it with you at all times. You can also download it at a later date by logging in to your account or by downloading the confirmation e-mail that will be sent to you.

And that’s it, your visa is validated! Remember to register with the social security system on the dedicated website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr!
► Find out more

You will receive two e-mails:

• The first e-mail will contain your login details; you will need these to connect to your account. The confirmation of your VLS-TS validation will be available on your account. We suggest that you print the confirmation and keep it in your Passport, to ensure that you have it with you at all times.
• The second e-mail confirms the information you have filled in online. You can download this VLS-TS validation confirmation e-mail.

Remember to register with the social security system on the dedicated website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr !
► Find out more

Are you a foreign student who has been living in France for a year (or more) and would like to extend your stay?

Since the beginning of the 2020 academic year, most student residence permit renewal applications are now submitted and processed online. You can see where and how to do this below, depending on your situation.

Have you recently arrived in France with a long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for students (VLS-TS “étudiant”)?
It is absolutely essential that you validate your VLS-TS (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour) within three months of arriving in France. Applications are submitted and processed online. You can visit the VLS-TS validation website:
► https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
Don’t forget to register with the social security system once your VLS-TS has been validated! To do this, simply visit the social security registration website: https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr !

To renew your student residence permit, you will have to submit your application online on the ANEF national platform. This online registration only applies to you if you hold:

• A long-stay visa (D-visa or VLS)
• A valid long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS), or one that expired after January 2020
• A valid residence permit or one that expired after January 2020

As soon as the online procedure opens, you should submit your application for a “student” residence permit to the ANEF by visiting ► https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr at least two months in advance if possible.
You will not be able to physically submit your application to the Université de Lyon or the Rhône Prefecture.
If you are having difficulty submitting your online application, please call the SWD.

Get in touch with the Students Welcome Desk team to help you with your online application!
For more information, please call: +33 (0)4 37 28 07 07. The Students Welcome Desk is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 6:30 p.m, between September 15 and November 27.

Do you hold a professional licence or a Master’s degree and would like to apply for a residence permit or provisional residence permit to seek employment or set up an entrepreneurial project?
You must submit your application online before your residence permit expires (student, student mobility program, researcher or researcher mobility program):
► www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/pref-rhone-demande-titre-sejour-recherche-emploi

You will not be able to apply online if you do not hold one of the above-mentioned visas and/or residence permits. You will need to make an appointment to submit your application
► http://www.rhone.gouv.fr/Prendre-un-rendez-vous/Accueil-des-etrangers/Vous-etes-ressortissant-non-europeen-ou-europeen-hors-beneficiaire-d-une-protection-internationale

For doctoral students in possession of a “Talent Passport - researcher” visa or residence permit, Espace ULYS will help you with the various steps you need to take, particularly for renewing your residence permit: To contact us, or to make an appointment, please send an e-mail to: information@espace-ulys.fr