Upon your arrival, you must validate your VLS-TS visa online to regularize your stay and activate all your rights in France (health insurance, housing subsidies (CAF), employment, housing, etc.).
VALIDATING YOUR “STUDENT” VISA
If you arrive in France with a long-stay visa marked “student”, you must validate it online within 3 months of your arrival for it to be considered as a residence permit.
This step is mandatory (except for Algerian students, who are not required to follow this procedure—please refer to the "First Residence Permit Application" page).
👉 The procedure is completed on the ANEF website.
You will need to:
- enter your personal information (visa number, passport, address in France...),
- pay a tax of €50 in the form of an electronic tax stamp,
- download and keep your "attestation de validation" (validation certificate) (PDF).
⚠️ This validation certificate is essential: it contains your foreigner ID number (numéro étranger) and is indispensable for your administrative procedures (health insurance, work, housing, residence permit renewal, travel within the Schengen Area).
💡 Good to know:
- If you wish to stay in France after your visa expires, you must apply for a renewal online on the ANEF website between 4 and 2 months before your visa's expiry date.
- A delay incurs a penalty of €180.
- In case of technical issues on the ANEF website, try another browser or contact their support via the online form.
VALIDATING YOUR “TALENT-RESEARCHER” VISA
If you come to France with a long-stay visa marked “talent-chercheur” and “CESEDA R311-3 9°”, “431-16 10°” or “PT4 VLS TS valider en ligne”, you must validate it online within 3 months of your arrival for it to be considered as a residence permit (except for Algerian nationals, who follow another procedure).
This procedure is mandatory.
👉 Validation is done on the ANEF website.
You will need to:
- provide your personal information (visa number, passport, address in France...),
- pay a tax of €200 in the form of an electronic tax stamp,
- download and keep your validation certificate (PDF).
⚠️ This validation certificate is very important: it contains your foreign national number and will be required for all your procedures (visa renewal, health insurance, housing, work, mobility in Europe...).
💡 Good to know:
- If you wish to stay in France after your visa expires, you must apply for a renewal online on the ANEF website, between 4 and 2 months before the visa expires.
- Any delay results a penalty of €180.
- In case of technical issues, try another browser or contact support via the online form.
