How Much Bank Balance for a France Student Visa? Indian Applicants

Many older blogs and agents still quote EUR 615, so check the date on anything you read. This guide covers the current monthly figure, what counts as proof, what the official pages leave open, and the other costs you should budget for. All facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full France visa process, see our France visa guide for Indian applicants.

What is the minimum monthly amount for a French student visa in 2026?

The figure changed on 1 August 2026. Campus France India published the new amount in an announcement on student financial resources.

The last row is a known conflict. France-Visas' student-trainee page still states EUR 615 a month, while Campus France India says the student-visa minimum is EUR 877.50 a month from 1 August 2026. If you are an intern, ask Campus France India which figure applies to your file before you finalise your bank documents. For a placement longer than 2 months, an allowance paid by the host company counts towards the trainee resources.

How many months of funds should your account show?

The official pages we rely on state the monthly minimum but do not say how many months of that amount must be visible in your account on the day you apply. We will not guess a number for you. Two places answer this for your specific case:

• The checklist that France-Visas generates with your application form, which is the list VFS will check your documents against.
• Campus France India's announcement on student financial resources, which introduced the EUR 877.50 figure.

What you can control is the quality of the proof. The European Commission's Visa Code Handbook notes that consulates may check the reliability and stability of amounts credited to a bank statement, so a balance that appears suddenly just before the appointment is weaker evidence than a steady history.

Which documents can prove your funds?

France-Visas' FAQ on means of subsistence lists the standard evidence:

• Personal bank statements for the last 3 months.
• Your last 3 pay slips, if you are working.
• Credit or debit card statements.
• Traveller's cheques.

The Visa Code Handbook adds recent statements showing movements over at least the last three months, a certificate of employment, and proof of sponsorship where someone else supports you. If your parents are funding your studies, present their documents in the order and format your France-Visas checklist asks for. Documents in languages other than English or French may need to be translated into French.

Arrange everything in the same order as the France-Visas checklist. VFS asks for that order, and a tidy file is quicker to verify.

What else do you pay before the visa is issued?

The bank balance is proof, not a fee. These are the actual charges an Indian student pays on the way to a French student visa:

The 50-euro rate is the reduced long-stay rate for students whose application was considered by a Center for studies in France; the standard long-stay fee is 99 euros. France-Visas calls the student fee indicative, as some special cases may give rise to different rates.

When should your money and documents be ready?

The sequence is fixed, and your financial proof must be ready before the VFS stage:

1. Get unconditional acceptance from a French higher-education institution and apply as soon as you receive it, at least three months before the intake.
2. Complete the EEF file online, have it validated, pay the INR 20,000 fee and attend the academic interview if applicable.
3. Fill the visa application on France-Visas and book VFS only after the automated Campus France email.
4. Submit at VFS with your proof of resources and give biometrics.

France-Visas says decisions usually take 15 days, extendable up to 45 days in special cases. VFS advises applying for a long-stay visa at least 1 month before departure and no more than 3 months before arrival. After arrival, you validate the VLS-TS online within three months; it serves as your residence permit for the first year.

Mistakes Indian students make with the bank balance

• Using the old figure. EUR 615 a month was replaced by EUR 877.50 a month for student visas from 1 August 2026.
• Last-minute deposits. Consulates may check how stable the credited amounts are.
• Booking VFS too early. Wait for the automated Campus France email; booking before it is not the correct sequence.
• Ignoring the generated checklist. Exact documents per category come only from France-Visas, not from a generic list.
• Untranslated documents. Papers in languages other than English or French may need a French translation.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram helps students with the travel side of a visa file: flight reservations, hotel bookings for the first nights, itineraries and cover letters. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work in France after my studies to support myself?

Master's-level graduates of French institutions can get a job search or business creation permit for 1 year. During it, you may work without a work authorisation if the job is linked to your studies and pays more than EUR 2,800.53 gross a month. Campus France India adds that Indian students can extend their stay for 24 months after their studies under a 2015 agreement.

What if my French student visa is refused?

You can appeal within 30 days of the refusal, in French and signed, by post to the Commission for Appeals against Visa Refusal Decisions (CRRV), BP 83609, 44036 Nantes Cedex 1. This prior appeal is mandatory before going to the administrative court.

Do I need Schengen travel insurance for a French long-stay student visa?

The EUR 30,000 travel medical insurance rule on the VFS checklist is stated for short-stay visas. For a long-stay student visa, follow the insurance item on the checklist France-Visas generates for your application.

Is the Campus France fee refundable if my visa is refused?

The official pages describe when the INR 20,000 EEF fee is paid, after your file is validated, but do not state a refund rule. Ask Campus France India before paying if a refund matters to your plans.