Do I Need a Visa to Study in France for Less Than 90 Days? (Exemptions & Requirements)

Modified on Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 at 11:15 AM

You do not need a visa if you meet one of the following conditions:

1. Exchange Students from Visa-Exempt Countries (Stay < 90 Days)

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days:

Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
East Timor
El Salvador
FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
Grenada
Guatemala
Holy See
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Macau
Malaysia
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Saint Christopher and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Venezuela

2. EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need a visa, regardless of the duration of your stay in France.

EU/EEA Countries:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Other Visa-Exempt Countries:

Andorra
Liechtenstein
Monaco
San Marino

3. Holders of a Schengen Residence Permit or Visa D

If you hold a residence permit or a long-stay visa (Visa D) issued by another Schengen country, you do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days in France.

In All Other Cases

If you do not meet any of the above conditions, you must apply for a visa to study in France, even for stays of less than 90 days.