France Student Visa from Bangladesh: Campus France, VLS-TS, and OFII Validation

France is home to some of the world's best grandes ecoles and research universities, and hundreds of programmes are taught in English. For students from Bangladesh, the route to a French student visa goes through Campus France, the official French agency for international students, before it goes through the French Consulate. Both steps have firm deadlines. Here is the complete process.

Step one: Campus France registration

Bangladesh is in the DAP procedure zone, which means you must register on the Campus France Bangladesh portal and attend an interview at the Campus France office in Dhaka before you approach the French Consulate. Campus France assesses your academic project and verifies your admission. Without a Campus France clearance number, the consulate cannot process your visa application. Register as early as possible: the Campus France office releases appointment slots and they go quickly around the September and January intake seasons.

Step two: the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS)

Once Campus France has issued your clearance, you apply for a VLS-TS, Visa de Long Sejour valant Titre de Sejour, at the French Consulate in Dhaka. This is a long-stay visa that also functions as a temporary residence permit for the first year, which means you do not need to apply for a separate carte de sejour immediately after you arrive. The VLS-TS stamp covers your stay for up to twelve months.

Documents for the consulate

• Your Campus France clearance number
• A valid passport with validity at least three months beyond your visa end date
• Your admission letter from a French institution recognised by Campus France
• Proof of financial means for tuition and living
• Bank statements or proof of a CAF-eligible scholarship
• Accommodation proof for at least your first month in France
• Medical insurance valid for your first three months in France
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Two recent passport photographs
• A completed application form and paid visa fee

Financial requirement

You must show enough money to support yourself in France for the duration of your studies. A commonly referenced figure is around six hundred to seven hundred euros per month for living costs, though the consulate may assess this against your specific city and situation. Scholarship holders submit their scholarship award letter as financial proof. Confirm the current required amount with the French Consulate in Dhaka before you prepare your evidence.

Step three: OFII validation after you arrive

Within three months of arriving in France you must validate your VLS-TS with the OFII, the French Immigration and Integration Office. This is mandatory: if you miss it, your right to stay in France becomes irregular. The OFII sends you to a medical appointment and confirms your integration into France. After the validation your VLS-TS is fully active as a residence permit for its remaining validity.

CAF housing benefit

Once you have a stable address and your OFII validation, you can apply to the CAF, Caisse d'Allocations Familiales, for APL, a means-tested housing benefit. Bangladeshi students in private accommodation or university CROUS residences may qualify. The benefit can partially offset your rent and is worth applying for in your first semester, as processing takes a few weeks.

Working while you study

Non-EU students in France may work up to sixty percent of the legal annual working hours, which is roughly nine hundred and sixty four hours per year. You do not need a separate work permit: your VLS-TS or carte de sejour covers it. After you graduate, the APS, Autorisation Provisoire de Sejour, gives you up to twelve months to look for work in France.

Common mistakes from Bangladesh

• Missing the Campus France registration window for the intake you are targeting
• Not preparing for the Campus France interview, which assesses your study motivation
• Forgetting to validate the VLS-TS with OFII within three months of arriving
• Showing funds that are unclear in origin or recently deposited without explanation
• Choosing accommodation without keeping a document trail for the consulate
• Applying for universities not listed in the Campus France system

Start your Campus France registration four to six months before your intended course start. Use the VisaMapBD document checklist and see the France country page for the full cost breakdown in BDT and the list of scholarships available for Bangladeshi students.