How to get a student visa for France

Studying in France is a wonderful experience for anyone, since it is a country with internationally renowned educational centres that have excellent academic track records.

However, for a foreigner, the process to be able to study in France is extensive and requires a lot of organisation. As well as being accepted by a centre, each future student must also request a visa suitable for the type of course they will be studying.

European Union citizens do not need a visa to travel and stay in France. They only need an up-to-date passport or some type of ID. If they are staying for more than three months, they must go to the town hall and request residence.

Those students who are not citizens of the European Union will need a visa to enter France, although certain nations are exempt from requesting a visa if their stay is less than ninety days. To find out whether or not you live in one of these countries, you should ask in the French Consulate where you need to go to sort out your paperwork.

If your case is none of the above, this article will tell you the steps to follow to make this process as easy as possible.

When you have been accepted by the centre where you wish to study, you need to start the process to request and obtain your visa. Bear in mind that you will only obtain a student visa if:

• You are accepted in an exchange programme or a dual-degree programme.

• You have been accepted on a French course with a duration of between three months and a year.

• You have been approved to study higher education through a platform other than “Études en France”.

In order to obtain a student visa, you need to present various documents with your visa application

• Your passport should be valid for at least the duration of your stay in the country.

• A document that proves that you have been accepted in a study programme accredited by a French institute.

• Proof that you have funds to support you during your stay, such as a bank statement, a guarantor’s letter or a financial support document.

• You must have proof of medical insurance to cover your stay.

• You must also prove that you have somewhere to stay on arrival. This can be done by means of a document issued by the owner of your accommodation in France or a certificate stating that you will live in students’ halls of residence.

• You need to show that you have knowledge of the French language if you are going to the country to study French.

• A return ticket to your country or a letter declaring your intention to return.

Depending on the course you are going to study, you can choose one of the following types of visa:

• For courses with a duration of less than three months, you will be granted a short-stay visa or a Uniform Schengen Visa. This visa is issued by countries belonging to the Schengen space for transit purposes or for a stay in one of the Schengen countries. This visa has a duration of 90 days within any 180-day period. When this type of visa is granted, it states which countries can be entered and is valid for multiple entries.

• If your course requires you to stay in France between three and six months, you will need a long-stay visa that does not require any further formalities when you arrive in France.

• If your studies are going to exceed six months, you will be given a long-stay visa, equivalent to a residence permit, which will be subject to further formalities on your arrival in France. In this case, all the formalities must be undertaken within two months of your arrival in France, in the prefecture of the town you are staying in during your time in France.

You need to be aware that all of these procedures have a cost and you will not be refunded this money, even if your visa is refused.

If you have already made up your mind and have been accepted by a study centre, I recommend that before starting the visa procedures, you do some research and make sure that you are clear on the whole process. You should also take into account that these procedures often take some time, so make sure that you leave enough time.

It is essential that you perform the whole process in a calm and organised manner. Take care with every detail so that you get the result you want and don’t have any unpleasant surprises. Although the process can be very tedious, like most of this type of procedure, the result is worth all the effort.

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6 typical Portuguese dishes

Portugal is a country full of traditions that surprise many people when they get to know them first-hand. It has a history of conquests and colonisations that, over the years, has resulted in a rich culture with intonations of the heritage gained from all the people that have lived together in the country.

An important part of Portugal’s culture is its gastronomy. Portugal’s cuisine is like an explosion of flavours where the sea is always at the forefront, although meat and desserts also play an important part.

Below I will tell you about 6 typical dishes that you will end up wanting to try.

• Bacalhau à Brás:

One of the main ingredients in Portuguese cooking is fish, especially cod. Portuguese recipe books include endless ways of cooking this delicious food and one of the most popular throughout the country is ¨bacalhau à brás¨.

This dish is quite simple to prepare and can also be found under the names bacalhau dourado or bacalhau à Braz (with a z), depending on the region of Portugal where you are.

It consists of salted cod (desalinated one day before the dish is prepared), scrambled eggs and chips. On serving, it can be accompanied with other ingredients like black olives and parsley.

• Caldo Verde:

Another popular traditional dish in Portugal is Caldo Verde. Many consider this to be Portugal’s national dish, even above cod. One reason for this is that it is its close relationship with the country’s religious traditions. For example, all Portuguese families prepare this dish on Saints’ Days.

Se hace a base de una sopa que contiene como ingrediente principal puré de papas. También se le agrega aceite de oliva, cebolla, ajo, pimienta, col verde rizada y chorizo ahumado. Todos los ingredientes se van incorporando poco a poco luego de una elaboración previa hasta conformar el caldo. Otra costumbre vinculada a esta receta y que resulta de gran curiosidad para muchos, es que en las celebraciones de fin de año en casi todas las casas se consume después de la media noche.

• Francesinhas:

Sin duda alguna este plato característico de la cocina portuguesa también se encuentra entre los más deliciosos. Es una receta bastante moderna creada por un chef portugués que vivió muchos años en Francia e hizo una versión lusa del plato Croque Monsieur.

Se trata de un sándwich contundente preparado a base de dos tipos de salchicha portuguesa, jamón y bistecs de carne. Todo esto aderezado con queso derretido y una salsa picante donde los ingredientes principales son el tomate y la cerveza. Suele servirse acompañado de papas fritas que podrás untar con la salsa y explotar al máximo su inigualable sabor.

Aunque la región donde más se consume es Oporto, podrás encontrarlo fácilmente en muchos centros gastronómicos del país.

• Feijoada:

La Feijoada es otra de las recetas tradicionales en la cocina de los portugueses e incluso en países que fueron colonia de Portugal como Brasil y Angola.

Se prepara a base de frijoles, pueden ser blancos, negros o rojos en dependencia de la región donde sea servida. Al plato se le agrega carne de cerdo o de res y también dependiendo de la zona donde se consuma, se le agrega al guiso tomate, zanahoria y col.

En muchas ocasiones viene acompañado de arroz y naranja, y si te resulta una combinación un poco extraña debes saber que esta le aporta al plato un sabor exquisito e inigualable.

• Caldeirada de peixe:

Es un cocido que hacían frecuentemente los pescadores con los peces que se rompían en las redes o que no tenían el tamaño adecuado para una venta óptima en el mercado. Con el paso del tiempo esta receta fue perfeccionándose hasta convertirse en una de las preferidas de los portugueses.

Actualmente se prepara con rodaballo, congrio, merluza y raya, aunque puede usarse todo tipo de pescado. Además se le agrega papa, cebolla, laurel, pimienta negra y vinagre. Al servirse es muy común que se ponga también a la mesa rodajas de pan y se acompañe con vino verde.

• Pasteles de Belém:

Por supuesto que esta lista de platos típicos de la gastronomía portuguesa no estaría completa si no se incluyen los postres. Son muchos los que identifican la tradición culinaria de Portugal y en especial los pasteles de Belém.

Similares a los pasteles de nata, estas son pequeñas tortas con masa de hojaldre rellenos de crema. Al servirlos usualmente se le agrega por encima azúcar y canela en polvo y se pueden degustar tanto fríos como calientes. Son vendidos en la mayoría de las pastelerías de la ciudad, sin embargo según el testimonio de muchas personas las mejores son las que se comercializan en su lugar de origen.

Aunque la receta original de estos dulces tan gustados en el mundo entero aún es un misterio que mantienen en secreto desde el siglo XVIII, existen muchas personas que a través de sus conocimientos culinarios y los sabores apreciados a partir de los pasteles han logrado reproducirla.

Si vas de visita a Portugal te recomiendo que no pierdas la oportunidad de probar cada uno de los platos mencionados anteriormente. Te garantizo que tu experiencia no estará completa si no haces una parada a degustar su maravillosa gastronomía.

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Places to visit in Paris and the Eiffel Tower isn’t one of them!

Every year, millions of people visit Paris, also known as the City of Light or the City of Love, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world.

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of the French capital is the Eiffel Tower. However, Paris has many other places to visit that are just as representative of France as this impressive building.

Without further ado, I invite you to read this article and discover the other magnificent places you can visit during your next trip to France.

The Latin Quarter:

This emblematic district dates back to the Middle Ages and is located around the Sorbonne University. An interesting fact is that its name came about because, in that period, its streets were full of students and professors talking to each other in Latin.

Nowadays, its streets are normally overflowing with university students, since there are various higher education centres and “grandes écoles” in the area.

I can guarantee that you will enjoy yourself if you decide to visit, since there are many tourist attractions in the area. For example, the Luxembourg Gardens are an excellent option since, apart from being one of the city’s most beautiful parks, there are activities for visitors of all ages. Other places worth a visit when you are in the Latin Quarter include the National Museum of the Middle Ages, the Odéon Theatre and the Panthéon.

Walking through the streets you will find many bars and restaurants where you can try the exquisite French cuisine at excellent prices.

Montmartre:

This historic site is one of Paris’ most iconic and is a compulsory stop for anyone visiting the French capital.

Montmartre is also known as the Artists’ Quarter since it was the home of renowned artists like Vincent van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse and Picasso.

Nowadays, Montmartre is a bohemian district, where every step reveals another story reflecting the uniqueness of the area.

If you do pay a visit, you should go to see places such as the Espace Dalí Museum, dedicated to exhibiting works of the Spanish artist or the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret, which has presented countless shows, attracting hundreds of tourists every night. If you would like to get a great view of the city’s landscape, you should go to the crest of the hill where you will find the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur.

While walking in the area, you will come across captivating terraces where you can have an aperitif, while admiring the work of the street artists working nearby.

Sainte-Chapelle:

Sainte-Chapelle or the Holy Chapel, is one of France’s best kept treasures. It is located on the Île de la Cité and was built to house King Louis of France’s collection of Passion relics.

It is said that the architect was Pierre de Montreuil and that the construction of the Chapel took six years (1242-1248). Sainte-Chapelle has huge stained-glass windows with delicate colours that allow the natural light to fill its great rooms that are decorated with images representing the life and Passion of Jesus Christ. Its majestic architecture was intended to be like a huge shrine due to the purpose for which it was built.

Over the years, the Chapel has been threatened by fires and wars in the area where it is located. However, nowadays, thanks to the laborious restoration work, we can enjoy it as a beautiful masterpiece of gothic architecture. 

Place des Vosges:

If you want to relax, far from the mobs of tourists that are so characteristic in Paris, I recommend a visit to the Place des Vosges. Considered to be the oldest in the French capital, this square was inaugurated in 1612, to celebrate the wedding of Louis XIII and Ana of Habsburg.

This square is located in the Marais neighbourhood, not far from Bastille and the Notre-Dame Cathedral, surrounded by perfectly symmetrical buildings housing bars, restaurants, shops and even art galleries. As you wander around the area, you can visit the former home of the famous author, Victor Hugo, which has been converted into a museum for those who would like to learn more about his life.

Known as Place Royale until 1800, Place des Vosges is an oasis of magnificent gardens adorned with beautiful fountains and ancient trees offering visitors tranquillity within this great metropolitan area.

As you can see, there are fascinating places to visit in every corner of Paris. It is a city that has many stories to tell and that is overflowing with so much culture it is not surprising so many people from all around the world want to visit.

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