France Student Visa Fees for Indians (2026, in Rupees)

All amounts are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15: France-Visas, Campus France India and VFS Global India. Our France visa guide for Indians covers tourist and business visas too.

What are all the fees for a French student visa from India?

France-Visas calls the 50-euro figure indicative, because some special cases give rise to different rates.

Why is the Campus France fee the only one in rupees?

Because France sets its visa fees in euros. France-Visas says fees are converted into rupees at the rate set by the French chancery, and VFS India also sets its 22-euro service fee in euros. The rupee amount you pay can therefore move with the exchange rate.

The Campus France fee is different. Campus France India publishes it directly in rupees. It rose from INR 18,500 to INR 20,000 effective 1 August 2026, so older blog posts quoting INR 18,500 are out of date.

Do Indian students pay 50 or 99 euros?

Most pay 50. The standard long-stay visa fee is 99 euros, with a reduced rate of 50 euros for students whose application was considered by a Center for studies in France. India is an Etudes en France procedure country, so a student who goes through Campus France falls into the reduced rate.

Spouses of French nationals pay no long-stay visa fee. A student coming for a short course of up to 90 days uses a Schengen short-stay visa instead, at the full rate of 90 euros.

Which VFS extras can you skip?

All of them. VFS India lists these optional services, with rates inclusive of GST:

None of these affects the visa decision, which is taken only by the Embassy of France in New Delhi or the French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Bring two ICAO-format photos and copies of your documents, and you avoid the photo and printing charges.

How much money must your bank statement show?

This is the largest number in the file, though it is not a fee. From 1 August 2026, Campus France India sets the minimum proof of financial resources for a French student visa at EUR 877.50 per month, up from EUR 615.

Watch for outdated figures. France-Visas still states EUR 615 a month for student trainees on internships, while Campus France India gives EUR 877.50 for the student visa. Use the higher figure for a degree programme.

In what order do you pay?

1. Receive unconditional acceptance from a French higher-education institution. Campus France India says to apply as soon as you get it and at least three months before your intake.
2. Complete your EEF file on pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr, get it validated and pay the INR 20,000 fee. Attend the academic interview if one applies.
3. Wait for the automated Campus France email before booking anything at VFS.
4. Fill in the visa application on France-Visas, book your VFS appointment and pay the 22 EUR service fee.
5. At the VFS centre, pay the visa fee in rupees by debit card, credit card, UPI or cash, and give biometrics.
6. Wait for the decision. France-Visas says it usually takes 15 days and can be extended up to 45 days in special cases.

VFS asks long-stay applicants to apply at least 1 month before departure and no more than 3 months before arrival.

Are there costs after you land?

One step, at least. Your VLS-TS student visa must be validated online within three months of arrival, and it then serves as your residence permit for the first year. Our dataset lists a validation tax only for salaried employees (300 euros), so check the amount for students when you validate.

After graduation, Campus France India notes that a bilateral agreement signed in 2015 lets Indian students extend their stay in France for 24 months: a 12-month visa renewable once for 12 months.

Mistakes that cost Indian students money

• Booking VFS before the automated Campus France email arrives, against Campus France India's instructions.
• Showing EUR 615 a month in funds after the August 2026 increase.
• Buying VFS extras you do not need.
• Budgeting from an old INR 18,500 Campus France figure.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, handy if your parents later visit you in France. Packages range from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay the French visa fee by UPI at VFS?

Yes. VFS India accepts the visa fee in local currency at the centre by debit card, credit card, UPI or cash.

Which French consulate decides a student visa from Kerala or Tamil Nadu?

The Consulate General of France in Puducherry, which has a Bureau de France in Chennai, covers Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Is the Etudes en France fee paid before or after the visa?

Before. You pay the INR 20,000 Campus France fee once your EEF file is validated, and you book the VFS appointment only after the automated Campus France email.

How many VFS centres accept French visa applications in India?

VFS lists 14 regular centres, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune and Puducherry, plus temporary service points in Coimbatore, Guwahati, Mangalore and Vishakhapatnam.