Student mobility card (carte de séjour étudiant « programme de mobilité »)
As a foreign student, you can study in the European Union through a mobility programme, subject to conditions that depend on where you study. For studies in France, you apply for the card online only. If you study in another EU country, your French host institution must notify the immigration minister of your mobility plans.
Steps
You study in France
- Apply online for your student residence permit (titre de séjour).
- Check your application's progress online, respond to any requests for additional information and read the decisions.
- You may need to visit the préfecture for fingerprints if they have not already been taken.
- Pay 150 € using the timbre fiscal tax stamp.
- If accepted, attend your appointment to collect your residence permit (titre de séjour) from the préfecture or sous-préfecture where you live.
You study in another EU country
- Your French host institution must notify the immigration minister of your mobility plans using the mobility form.
- Your host institution sends the form and supporting documents electronically to the email address on the form.
- If there is no explicit refusal within 30 days, your mobility is accepted: you can stay with your residence permit (titre de séjour) from the 1st member country without applying for a French residence card.
Documents to bring
You study in France
Ticked boxes stay in this browser only.
You study in another EU country
Ticked boxes stay in this browser only.
Key facts
- If your mobility programme or agreement lasts less than 2 years, you receive a renewable temporary residence card (carte de séjour temporaire) valid for 1 year.
- If your mobility programme or agreement lasts more than 2 years, you receive a multi-year residence card (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) covering its duration, with a minimum validity of 2 years.
- With this student mobility card, or if your mobility request from another EU country is accepted, you may work up to 60 % of annual working time (964 hours), without your employer requesting work authorisation (autorisation de travail).
- If you study in another EU country, your mobility in France is limited to 360 days.
- For your card application in France, no reply from the préfecture within 90 days means an implicit refusal.
When to renew
- Apply online between 4 and 2 months before your current stay document expires.
Renewal planner · the end date of your permit gives the filing window