Visa advice
Table of contents
Student visa information for France
Obtaining a French Student Visa (Long-term Residence Permit), also known as Student VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour).
Students who are not citizens of an EEA country (with the exception of Monaco, Andorra, The Vatican and San Marino), must obtain a residence permit for study before they travel to France. The authority responsible for issuing residence permits is the French embassy or consulate.
Once you are officially enrolled on the ONCAMPUS Paris programme and if you require a Student visa, you must apply through a visa service provider (TLS, VFS, CAPAGO or InfoVisa), or through the French Embassy/Consulate in your country of residence, for a Student residence permit (Student VLS-TS).
You can start your visa application three months before the start of the course. Where possible you should make your Student residence permit application online and make sure that you include the correct documentation. Please refer to the ‘Visa Application Journey’ document for further details.
Students can always contact the ONCAMPUS Paris team for assistance during the visa application process.
Student Visa Application Process
Visa checklist:
- Passport/travel documents (valid for at least 3 months longer than the Student visa expiry date)
- ID Photos
- Certificate of Registration issued by ONCAMPUS Paris
- Financial evidence:
- EUR 615 per month (EUR 7,380, i.e. 12 months equivalent recommended)
- Proof of adequate, reliable and regular income of financial sponsor (6 months + financial evidence history recommended)
- Accommodation document
- Proof of residency status (if not a citizen of the country applying from)
- All documents that are not in French/English need to be translated into French or English
Once you have submitted your supporting documents, paid your visa application fee and enrolled your biometrics, you can track your application progress via the online portal depending on the service provider you applied with.
You will be notified when your passport is ready for collection. You can then travel to France with your Student visa. Please note that you will need to validate your Student visa within 3 months of arriving in France to obtain your Residence Permit.
For more information on the visa process click here
Student visa information for the Netherlands
- Non-EU students need to apply for an entry visa and/or residence permit to study in the Netherlands.
- Most non-EU students will also need to apply for an entry visa (known as MVV) before travelling to the Netherlands.
- If you are from Japan, South Korea, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and Monaco, you will only have to apply for a residence permit before arrival (known as VVR). You will not need an entry visa. All other non-EU students will need both documents.
- You can apply online for a visa and/or residence permit via the University Immigration Office.
- Once you have applied, you then have to send in the original documents to UvA/AUAS.
- Once the application is approved, you will receive a visa valid for the length of your study. For example, for the Undergraduate Foundation Programme at University of Amsterdam, you will receive a residence permit/visa for 4 years.
Information for ONCAMPUS Amsterdam - University of Amsterdam (UvA) applicants:
I need an entry visa and residence permit
- Meet all conditions of the programme and receive a Certificate of Enrolment from ONCAMPUS Amsterdam.
- Receive an invitation by email to register on the University of Amsterdam’s online system.
- Upload the required documentation:
- All passport pages (passport must be valid for at least three months)
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of financial means - 925 Euros x 12 months = 11,100 Euros (You or your sponsor(s) will be able to provide a bank statement to show that you have enough funds.
- Proof that you have paid (a part of) the tuition fees. The tuition fees will have to be transferred to ONCAMPUS Amsterdam.
- Payment of 210 Euros (cost of visa)
- The University of Amsterdam applies for an entry visa (MVV) (also called "provisional residence permit") and the student residence permit on your behalf. UvA will send your documents to the Dutch Immigration Department (IND).
- The University will contact you by email to confirm your visa has been approved by the IND. You can now make an appointment with the Embassy/Consulate to collect it.
- Within 1 - 3 weeks the Embassy/Consulate will tell you when your visa will be ready. You can go and collect the visa in your own country/country of residency. Please note that you may need to do an interview with the embassy/consulate and that they have the right not to give out the visa even through it has been approved by the IND earlier.
- You use the MVV to enter the Netherlands. On arrival, the University will let you know when to collect your residence permit.
I need a residence permit only
- Meet all conditions of the programme and receive a Certificate of Enrolment from ONCAMPUS Amsterdam.
- Receive an invitation by email to register on the University of Amsterdam’s online system.
- Upload the required documentation
- Copy of passport - 'identity details + signature' page
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of financial means = 925 Euros x 12 months = 11,100 Euros
- Proof that you have paid the tuition fees. The tuition fees for the entire year will have to be transferred to ONCAMPUS Amsterdam. Alternatively, you can show a bank statement of at least 29,475 Euros (tuition fees plus living expenses).
- Payment of 210 Euros (cost of visa)
- The University of Amsterdam will apply for a student residence permit on your behalf. You do not need the permit to enter the Netherlands, so you can make your travel arrangements.
- On arrival the University of Amsterdam will let you know when to collect your residence permit.
Students from China
If you are Chinese, but not Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan Chinese, you need to obtain a NUFFIC certificate. You can apply for this as soon as you receive your Certificate of Enrolment from ONCAMPUS.
1. Apple for your certificate online at the NUFFIC website
2. Upload the following documentation:
- IELTS or TOEFL
- Transcripts
- Copy of passport/ID card.
3. NUFFIC will send a copy of your certificate to the University of Amsterdam.
The University will upload the required details to your online application.
Visa booklet for non-EU nationals, including students from China
Visa booklet for students from Japan, South Korea, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and Monaco