There is no official licensing body for study abroad consultants in France. The system revolves around a mandatory government platform for students from many countries.
For Official Study Information & EEF Procedure: Campus France Official Website
For Visa Application: Varies by country, but typically handled by a service provider like VFS Global or TLScontact.
Paris. Campus France is headquartered in Paris, with local offices in many countries worldwide.
4 to 7 months. The timeline is heavily dependent on the Campus France "Études en France" processing time and the subsequent visa appointment availability.
VLS-TS (`Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour`), which translates to a "long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit". This must be validated online after arrival to become the official permit for the first year.
A student consults with an agent, who assesses their academic background, language proficiency (French or English), and financial capacity.
The consultant helps the student select a program from an accredited French university, Grande École, or other specialized school. They advise on the application route (direct to the university or via the EEF platform).
For students from designated countries, the consultant helps create a personal account on the online "Études en France" portal. This platform is used for both university applications (for some programs) and as a mandatory pre-consular step for all.
Documents to Upload to EEF: Academic transcripts, CV, Motivation Letter, language test scores (e.g., DELF/DALF/TCF for French; IELTS/TOEFL for English), and passport copy.
The student receives an official Letter of Admission (`Lettre d'acceptation`) from the French institution. This is then uploaded to their EEF account.
After paying the EEF processing fee, the student must attend a mandatory academic interview at their local Campus France office. This is a crucial step to validate the student's academic project and motivations. It is not a visa interview, but a prerequisite for it.
The consultant will prepare the student for questions about their choice of France, the university, the program, and their future career plans. The goal is to ensure the study plan is coherent and serious.
If the interview is successful, Campus France validates the student's EEF file and provides an official attestation or message confirming that the pre-consular procedure is complete. The student cannot book a visa appointment without this.
With the Campus France approval, the student can now book an appointment and apply for the VLS-TS (Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour), which is the long-stay student visa that also acts as a residence permit for the first year.
Key Visa Documents: Passport, visa application form, Campus France EEF ID number and attestation, official Letter of Admission, and Proof of Financial Resources (currently a minimum of €615 per month, totaling €7,380 for a year, proven via a bank statement, sponsor's letter, or loan sanction letter).
If the application is approved, a VLS-TS visa sticker is placed in the student's passport. The consultant provides a pre-departure briefing on life in France, accommodation, and the crucial post-arrival steps.
The student arrives in France and presents their passport with the VLS-TS visa at the port of entry.
This is the most important post-arrival task. Within 3 months of arriving in France, the student MUST validate their VLS-TS online through an official government portal. This is a simple online process where they provide some information and pay a tax (a digital stamp or `timbre fiscal`).
Once validated, the visa officially becomes their residence permit for the first year. Failure to complete this online validation will render the student's stay illegal. The university's international office will provide guidance on this critical final step.