Before arriving in Lille

Non-European students must obtain a "Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour" from the French Consulate or * CampusFrance. A tourist visa is not sufficient and you may be expelled from France after 3 months. Any diplomas or credit obtained will not be recognised. 

* In 30 countries, the process of applying for and receiving a student visa is now web-based.

Students from these 31 countries are required to use the online process :
Algeria - Argentina - Benin - Brazil - Burkina-Faso - Cameroun -  Chile - China - Colombia - Congo (Brazzaville) - Korea - United-States - Gabon - Guinea - India - Ivory Coast - Japan - Lebanon - Madagascar - Mali - Mauritius - Morocco - Mexico - Peru - Russia - Senegal - Syria - Taiwan - Tunisia - Turkey - Vietnam.

To obtain a "Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour" you must provide the French Consulate or CampusFrance with:

a pre-registration certificate from your host school or faculty,
a proof of financial support,
a proof of accommodation,
a valid passport,
a recent passport-size photograph.

You will be given by the agent consular a form "Demande d'attestation OFFI" (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration). You will have to fill in the first part of the form with the agent consular and to bring it with you in France to validate your visa.

For further information, please consult :

- CampusFrance website : http://www.campusfrance.org/en/a-etudier/etudes05-1.htm

- the list of France's embassies and consulates abroad :
http://www.mfe.org/index.php/Annuaires/Ambassades-et-consulats-francais-a-l-etranger

- OFII website : http://www.ofii.fr/

Students from the European Union and associated countries:

Students from EU Countries and associated countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland do not need a visa to come and study in France.
EU students only need a valid passport or a national ID Card.

Non-European Union Students:

Please have your passport stamped with the date of your arrival by the Police in charge of the border. If you come in France through a Schengen country, the stamp should be put on your passport by the authorities of the country you arrive in first.

Within the first 3 months in France :
You must submit to your host International Relations Service :
- the document "Demande d'attestation OFII" which has been given you by the French Consulate with your visa
- a copy of your passport
These 2 documents will be sent for you to OFII * by your host International Relations Service.

Then, you will be summonded by official mail by OFII to validate your visa and have a medical exam at OFII. You will have to submit :
-  your passport
- 1 recent photograph with head bare
- proof of housing
- a fiscal stamp of 55 Euros **

* OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration)

** this fiscal stamp is avalaible at Préfecture du Nord situated 12/14 rue Jean Sans Peur or you can buy it on the website : www.timbresofii.fr/

Students from the European Union and associated countries:

Bring your European health insurance card or the health insurance certificate provided by the authorities in your home country.

Non-European Union Students:

- Under 28 years old and staying in France for longer than 3 months :
Even if you come to France with your own health insurance, you must take out the French Health Insurance (Sécurité Sociale). The annual premium is to be paid for the entire academic year. The cost for 2011/2012 is 203 Euros no matter when the students come to France (Fall Semester or Spring Semester). It is valid from October 1 to September 30. It reimburses about 70 % of medical cost.

You may get a complementary student cover to obtain better reimbursements. This cover is distinct from the affiliation to the “Sécurité Sociale”.

>Complementary student cover (Mutuelle étudiante)
This is optional, but highly recommended to all students. Subscription costs vary depending on the insurance company and the option chosen. (Cost: from 75 € per year)

Note: Students from Quebec are exempt from taking out the French Health Insurance (Sécurité Sociale)

For further information:

- Sécurité sociale : www.ameli.fr/assures/index.php
- LMDE La Mutuelle des Etudiants - http://www.lmde.com/index.php?id=1031 
- SMENO Mutuelle des Etudiants du Nord et du Nord-Ouest - www.smeno.com

- Over 28 years old:
If you are over 28 yeras old, you will have to purchase personal health insurance in your country or in France.

For example, in France:

- SMENO Mutuelle des Etudiants du Nord et du Nord-Ouest - www.smeno.com
- Prévoyance Etudiants Etrangers - www.peefrance.com
- Assistance Etudiants - www.assistance-etudiants.com