Students applying for a French long-stay visa must now show **at least €877.50 per month** in financial resources, according to an update prominently displayed on the official France-Visas portal and re-checked on 12 October. The higher threshold applies to all dossiers lodged from **1 August 2026** onwards and reflects the latest indexation of the minimum student maintenance benchmark. The figure—up roughly 5 % on last year—aligns with the 2026 student social-security index and is intended to ensure newcomers can cover housing, food and transport in France’s major university cities. Consulates have begun rejecting files that fall even a few euros short, pushing applicants to top-up bank statements, produce additional guarantor letters or show scholarship confirmations. For universities and Grandes Écoles courting international talent under English-language programmes, the timing is delicate: admissions for the 2027 academic year open this month. Schools are therefore updating offer letters and pre-arrival guides to reflect the new amount. Education agents in India, China and North Africa—key feeder markets—warn that the higher bar may price out lower-income candidates unless scholarship budgets rise in parallel. Corporate mobility teams should also take note. The same €877.50 benchmark often serves as a reference when prefectures assess accompanying spouse permits or internship visas. HR departments sponsoring sandwich-course interns or VIE assignees should check stipend levels against the new floor to avoid consular refusals. Applicants are urged to upload **all** financial proofs when completing the France-Visas online form to speed up appointments and reduce follow-up requests. The portal also reminds users to beware of fraudulent intermediaries offering “guaranteed” bank documents for a fee—consulates routinely verify funds directly with issuing banks.
Source: France-Visas
