I M M I G R A T I O N
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About TSA

TSA FIIC is based in Paris (10th arrondissement). We support people from all over Asia with visas, residence permits, family reunification, French nationality and asylum, in their own language.

Paris head office
Address

10 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul, 75010 Paris - France.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00

Future offices (in project)
Asia

India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Dubai

Europe

Russia

Contact Info

helloweb[at]tsafr.com

+33 9 70 70 04 64

10 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul, 75010 Paris - France.

Renewal of Student Visa

Renewal of Student Visa

RENEW YOUR STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMIT

Renew your student visa or residence permit on time, with a complete file. We check your documents and help you answer the prefecture, in your language.

Updated October 2026

Your first student visa or residence permit is valid for 1 year. To continue your studies in France, you must renew it on time, online, with a complete file. Here are the rules in force in 2026, explained simply.

In short

  • Apply online, at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before your visa or permit ends.
  • The prefecture checks that your studies are real and serious, and that you have at least €877.50 per month.
  • After 1 year in France, you can get a multi-year card for the remaining years of your studies.
  • If you apply late, you pay an extra €180 fee.

Your student permit ends soon? Take the free eligibility test

When and where to apply

  • When: at the earliest 4 months and at the latest 2 months before your visa (VLS-TS) or residence permit ends.
  • Where: online only, on ANEF, the official website for foreigners in France.
  • Receipt: you receive an electronic filing receipt right away. Keep it.
  • Fingerprints: the prefecture may call you to take your fingerprints, if this was not done before.
4 to 2 monthsbefore your permit ends: the period to apply online
€877.50per month of resources, assessed according to your situation
€180extra fee if you apply late, except in case of force majeure

What the prefecture checks

The prefecture looks at your whole study path since your arrival in France:

  • Real and serious studies: attendance, exam results and diplomas obtained
  • Change of course: it must be explained and coherent with your project
  • Repeated year: one repeated year per cycle does not, on its own, prevent renewal
  • Resources: at least €877.50 per month, assessed according to your situation
  • Enrolment: an enrolment or pre-enrolment for the next year

The documents usually requested

  • Your passport and your current visa or residence permit
  • A recent ID photo
  • Proof of address in France
  • Your enrolment or pre-enrolment certificate for the next year
  • Your exam results and diplomas, and attendance certificates if requested
  • Proof of resources: bank statements, scholarship, or a sponsor's commitment

The prefecture may ask you for more documents online. Answer quickly: your file is not complete until you do.

Your multi-year student card

After 1 year in France as a student, you can get a multi-year student residence permit. It is valid for the remaining years of your studies: for example, after the first year of a 3-year bachelor's degree, you can get a 2-year card. Students are exempt from the new civic exam required since 2026 for most multi-year cards.

While you wait for the decision

  • Your permit ends before the decision? If you applied on time with a complete file, ANEF gives you an attestation de prolongation d'instruction. It is valid for 3 months and can be renewed. It proves that your stay is legal and keeps your right to work.
  • Travel: avoid travelling outside France while you wait. Ask the prefecture before you leave: without a valid card, you may have problems coming back.
  • Your card is ready: the prefecture asks you to come and collect it.

Be careful: a refusal can come with an order to leave France (OQTF), with very short deadlines to appeal. Contact us as soon as you receive a refusal.

After your studies

Your studies are ending? You may be able to stay in France to look for a job or create a company, or change to a work permit. See our APS and change of status services.

How TSA helps you

  • We check your file before you submit it: dates, study path and resources
  • We help you explain a repeated year or a change of course
  • We help you answer the prefecture's requests online, in your language
  • If your attestation expires or your file is blocked, we help you contact the prefecture
  • In case of refusal or OQTF, our partner lawyers take over before the court

HelloBonjourவணக்கம்नमस्तेආයුබෝවන්

Talk to us in your language

Our Paris team supports people from all over Asia, from the first visa to French nationality. We speak English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Sinhala and other Asian languages.

FreeTake the eligibility testAnswer a few questions about your situationTSA AcademyLearn French with our expertsA1A2B1B2From beginner to the levels required for residence permits and nationalityCall us+33 9 70 70 04 64WhatsAppSend us a messageContact formWe call you back

Paris office: 10 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul, 75010 Paris · helloweb[at]tsafr.com

Official sources: Service-public.fr, student residence permit (checked 1 August 2026) and ANEF, official website for foreigners in France

Apply link:

ANEF: renew your student residence permit

Service-public.fr: student residence permit rules

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions & Answers

What happens if I apply late?
You must pay an extra €180 fee (droit de visa de régularisation), unless you prove force majeure or you still hold a valid visa. If your permit has already ended, your stay may no longer be legal: contact us quickly.
Can I travel abroad while waiting for my new card?
It is risky. The attestation you receive while you wait is not a residence card, and you may have problems coming back to France. If you must travel, ask the prefecture before you leave: some prefectures issue a return visa (visa de retour).
I failed my exams. Can I still renew my student permit?
Yes, it is possible. The prefecture looks at your whole study path since your arrival. One repeated year per cycle does not, on its own, block the renewal. Several failures or poor attendance can lead to a refusal, so explain your situation and show your progress.
Can I change my course or my school?
Yes, but the change must be explained and coherent with your project, for example a new course in the same field or at a higher level. Keep your new enrolment certificate and a short letter that explains your choice.
Can I work while my renewal is in progress?
Yes, if you applied on time with a complete file: the attestation de prolongation d'instruction keeps your right to work, within the limit of 964 hours a year.
How long is the multi-year student card valid?
For the remaining years of your studies: for example, 2 years after the first year of a 3-year bachelor's degree. Your studies must stay real and serious during the whole period.
What happens if my renewal is refused?
The refusal is sent in writing and often comes with an order to leave France (OQTF). The deadlines to appeal are very short, sometimes only a few days. Contact us as soon as you receive it: our partner lawyers take over before the court.
Can my renewal be refused if my school is not recognised by the State?
The law does not require a State-recognised diploma for every renewal, and private schools can be accepted. But the prefecture checks that your studies are real and serious. If your school gives no real classes, has no proper exams or sells attendance certificates, your renewal can be refused. Before you enrol, check that the school is declared to the education authority (rectorat) and, if possible, that the diploma is recognised by the State (national diploma or RNCP). In 2022, the French consumer authority found irregularities in more than half of the 80 private schools it inspected.
What if I give a fake attendance certificate for my renewal?
Never do it. A false attendance, enrolment or exam certificate is a crime in France: up to 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine, and more for false official documents. The prefecture can refuse your renewal and order you to leave France (OQTF), with a ban on returning to the whole Schengen area for up to 5 years. Fraud can also be discovered years later, for example when you apply for a 10-year card or French nationality. If you have missed classes or failed, it is better to explain your situation honestly: we can help you prepare your file.