France raises student visa funding floor to €877.50 a month
France has sharply increased the minimum funds required for its long-stay student visa. Non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss applicants must now document €877.50 a month, up from €615 — a 43% increase that took effect for applications lodged from August 1, 2026.
Over a full year, that means showing roughly €10,530 in living-cost funding, compared with €7,380 under the old rule. For anyone entering France through a degree or language program, the change adds about €262.50 a month, or €3,150 a year, to the amount that must be proven.
What changed
The higher threshold applies to applications filed on or after August 1. Filings submitted by July 31 could still be assessed against the previous €615 figure. The rule covers the long-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant), including renewals of long-stay student status.
Importantly, the new €877.50 floor is now pegged at 47% of France's gross minimum wage (SMIC). That means future minimum-wage increases can push the visa funding requirement higher automatically, without a separate regulatory change.
The increase does not apply to short-stay Schengen tourist visas, which have their own subsistence rules. Tuition, housing deposits and the €105 student life contribution also sit outside this living-cost threshold — so applicants need to budget for those separately.
What it means for nomads
The study route is a common path for remote workers who want longer-term legal residence in an EU country while enrolled in a degree or language course. This change raises the financial bar noticeably, so anyone planning to use it should budget against the new figure.
The good news is that funding can be documented from multiple sources. According to the source, accepted evidence includes:
- Personal savings: bank statements or certificates showing sufficient funds
- Regular income: employment records and recent payslips
- Scholarships: letters stating the award's value and duration
- Third-party support: a guarantor's ID, bank evidence and proof or a sworn statement of regular transfers
Consular officers assess overall financing, so the full €10,530 does not need to sit in a single bank account. French government scholarship holders funded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs generally clear the bar, since those awards provide at least €900 a month.
The update reportedly comes alongside reinforced border controls and tighter immigration scrutiny for foreign residents. For nomads eyeing France, the practical takeaway is straightforward: verify the current threshold before applying, and prepare documentation that clearly covers the higher amount across the full 12 months.
Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.