Long-stay visa for school-going minor (visa de long séjour pour mineur scolarisé)
If you are a minor when applying for a visa for higher studies in France, the French consular authorities of your home country will issue you a long-stay visa for school-going minor (visa de long séjour pour mineur scolarisé).
Since you are under 18 years old, this visa does not require any procedure once you arrive in France and allows you to legally stay in France until it expires. This visa is multiple entry and allows you to re-enter France. It allows you to travel within the Schengen area.
What to do when you turn 18?
If you reach the age of 18 (the legal age of majority under French law) during your stay in France, you must apply for a resident permit (called ''titre de séjour'') from the local prefecture within the two months following your birthday. This step is mandatory.
The prefecture will issue a student resident permit.
Please note that if you leave France for good within this two-month period, you will not need to apply for such a resident permit.
Attention!
When applying for your first student resident permit (called ''titre de séjour étudiant''), the prefecture will first issue a receipt of first application for a resident permit (called ''récépissé de première demande de carte de séjour''). This document allows you to legally stay in France until you receive your resident permit (''titre de séjour'').
This receipt of first application for a resident permit (''récépissé de première demande de carte de séjour'') does not allow you to leave French territory. If you leave France with this first receipt (''récépissé'') and before having received your first resident permit (''titre de séjour''), you will not be allowed to re-enter France.
