🇺🇸 United States → France
A complete, search-friendly guide for applicants from United States: admission route, documents, visa, funding and arrival steps.
At a glance
Americas
At a glance
Direct application
At a glance
English-taught options common
What to do for this route
These sections are generated from the same editorial framework, so each country page stays consistent while still being specific to your route.
US Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Transcripts must be official. GPA to French grade conversion is performed by the host institution. The 'Études en France' (EEF) procedure is mandatory for all students (citizens or residents) applying for a VLS-TS for more than 90 days. For direct applications (outside the EEF portal), you must still complete the 'Pre-consular' EEF procedure after admission. The fee is typically $250.
- For Licence 1 (first undergraduate year) at public universities, apply on Parcoursup (Jan-Mar).
- For Master 1 in a public university, apply on Mon Master (Feb-Apr).
- For 'Grandes écoles' and private schools, apply directly on the school's own portal, following their specific deadlines.
- English-taught programs are the most popular; IELTS/TOEFL may be waived for native speakers. For French programs, DELF/TCF B2 is required.
United States is connected to the Études en France (EEF) procedure: you build the online file, pay the Campus France fee, attend the interview, then receive the attestation your consulate requires. Campus France USA — Washington D.C. (online processing)
- Campus France USA — Washington D.C. (online processing)
- The consulate will not process the visa file without the Campus France attestation.
- Keep the same email address across Campus France, Parcoursup, Mon Master and the school portals.
Schedule your appointment at a VFS Global center after the Campus France USA processing is complete. The 'Campus France payment confirmation' is a required visa document. The VLS-TS (long-stay student visa) is required for any stay over 90 days for study purposes.
- Use the France-Visas wizard to generate your exact document list before booking.
- Your VLS-TS étudiant must be validated online via the ANEF platform within 3 months of your arrival in France.
- Renewals are filed on ANEF, ideally 2–4 months before expiry.
Official academic transcripts, copy of valid US passport, and the admission letter from the French institution. No legalization/apostille is generally required for US academic documents.
- Use one consistent spelling of your name across every document.
- Check whether your country requires apostille (Hague) or full consular legalisation.
- Keep certified digital scans — you will re-upload them for housing, CAF and the bank.
Proof of €10,530 annual resources. Strong evidence includes FAFSA/Financial Aid award letters, official loan letters (Sallie Mae/private), or parent sponsorship with notarized support letters.
- The reference figure is about €877.50 monthly for the visa file.
- A guarantor file is usually needed for private housing, even when the visa file is complete.
- Scholarship award letters strengthen both the admission and the visa file.
Funding routes commonly used by students from United States. Deadlines usually fall months before admission results, so track them in parallel with your application.
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship — Outstanding international master's and PhD candidates — nominated by the French institution, not by the student
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — France — US citizens for research or graduate study
- Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship — Pell Grant recipients for study abroad
Direct flights from multiple hubs to CDG/ORY. Ensure your 'Visale' (housing guarantee) is set up before arrival. US citizens do not need a residence permit (carte de séjour) but must validate the VLS-TS on ANEF.
- Week 1: SIM card, transport pass, proof of address (attestation d'hébergement or lease).
- Week 1–2: open a French bank account and request your RIB.
- Week 2: validate the VLS-TS on ANEF.
University enrolment, social security registration, CAF housing aid and student insurance — done in this order, the first month stays manageable.
- Complete administrative enrolment and pay the CVEC before your student card is issued.
- Register for social security (assurance maladie) online using your enrolment certificate and birth certificate.
- File the CAF housing-aid application in the month you move in — it is not retroactive.
The recurring blockers reported by students from United States.
- Assuming US citizens are exempt from the Campus France process
- Confusing the 90-day visa-free tourist rule with the student visa requirement
- Missing the ANEF validation which is mandatory for staying beyond 3 months
- Incomplete FAFSA documentation for financial proof
Every step above points back to a government or national-platform source. Check the date on each official page before acting on it.
What we already know about this country
Campus France USA — Washington D.C. (online processing)
The 'Études en France' (EEF) procedure is mandatory for all students (citizens or residents) applying for a VLS-TS for more than 90 days. For direct applications (outside the EEF portal), you must still complete the 'Pre-consular' EEF procedure after admission. The fee is typically $250.
Official academic transcripts, copy of valid US passport, and the admission letter from the French institution. No legalization/apostille is generally required for US academic documents.
Proof of €{{visa.proof_of_resources_annual}} annual resources. Strong evidence includes FAFSA/Financial Aid award letters, official loan letters (Sallie Mae/private), or parent sponsorship with notarized support letters. Schedule your appointment at a VFS Global center after the Campus France USA processing is complete. The 'Campus France payment confirmation' is a required visa document.
Estimate housing aid and plan ahead
CAF is one of the biggest money questions after arrival, so we’re surfacing it directly on the country page.
Eligible for CAF
Usually needs a French lease and residency status.
€176
Estimated monthly CAF support
What you may still pay
€344
This is a directional estimate. CAF uses income, household size, lease details and property rules. Check the official simulator before making a financial decision.