French authorities have confirmed that, from 1 August 2026, international students applying for long-stay ‘Étudiant’ visas or residence permits will need to demonstrate monthly resources of at least €877.50 – a 43 % jump from the current €615 benchmark. The change, announced in Decree 2026-526 of 22 June 2026 and reiterated in government information updates circulated on 20 July, aligns the threshold with 47 % of the gross monthly minimum wage (SMIC). Campus France offices and French consulates have begun emailing applicants whose appointments fall after the effective date, urging them to adjust bank-statements, sponsor affidavits or scholarship letters. Failure to meet the new level will trigger refusals or requests for supplementary evidence, potentially delaying autumn-semester enrolments. For universities and grandes écoles, the higher bar could affect conversion rates of foreign admits, especially from low-income source markets. Institutions such as Nantes Université and Montpellier’s SAIEC have published FAQs advising incoming cohorts on acceptable proof – for example, an irrevocable transfer of €7 890 to cover the first nine months of study – and on topping up existing funding with part-time work (permitted up to 60 % of annual hours). Employers that sponsor sandwich-course or apprenticeship students will also need to budget for higher maintenance allowances when drafting work-study contracts. Immigration advisers recommend auditing all offer letters and guarantee documents now, as visa-section backlogs traditionally spike in late July.
