France Student Visa – Quick Guide

1.  Visa Process

2.  Visa Checklist

3.  Flight Booking Hacks

4.  Best Airlines for Students

5.  Document Checklist

Must-Carry Documents

• Passport
• Visa
• Admission Letter
• Campus France documents
• Vaccination certificates
• Insurance papers -Travel + Health
• University fee receipts
• Accommodation proof Financial proof (Bank statements, Loan letters, Forex card)
• Photocopies & Digital copies (Google Drive/USB backup)
• Emergency Cash: €200–€300
• Forex Card
• International Debit/Credit Card

Useful Apps for Students in France

Local & Transport Apps

Shopping & Food

Banking & Finance

French Language & Daily Life

Must-Carry from India Clothing

Shoes

Medicines

Electronics

Kitchen Essentials

Personal Care

Miscellaneous & Extras

• Backpack (daily use)
• Cabin Bag (for weekend trips)
• Strong Suitcase with Lock & Name Tags
• Travel Pillow, Eye Mask, Ear Plugs
• Stationery: Pens, Notebooks, Files
• Sewing Kit (needles, thread, buttons)
• Portable Umbrella (wind-resistant)
• Small Gifts / Souvenirs from India (for French/International friends)

Packing & Travel Tips

• Always check airline baggage allowance before packing.
• Use vacuum bags for clothes to save space.
• Carry essential medicines in your cabin luggage.
• Mark all luggage with name tags & contact details.
• Keep digital copies of documents in Google Drive/USB.
• Carry a set of clothes & essentials in your cabin bag in case your main luggage gets delayed.
• Buy heavy items like blankets, quilts, pans from IKEA/Decathlon in France instead of carrying from India.

Must-Carry from India – Kitchen Items – Consolidated

(Lightweight, multipurpose, saves money)

• Pressure cooker (3–5 L) – #1 essential, very costly/difficult to find in France.
• Idli stand / Dhokla stand (if you use them often) – fits inside cooker.
• Chapati roller & small board (chakla belan) – if you make rotis.
• Spice box (masala dabba) – with your basic spices.
• Small kadai / fry pan – if you cook Indian often.
• Tava / dosa pan (flat, medium-sized).
• Paneer maker / muslin cloth – easier to carry just muslin cloth/cheesecloth, paneer mould is optional (can use normal strainer in France).
• Stainless steel plates, tumblers, small bowls – at least 1–2 sets (Indian-style).
• Reusable lunch box + water bottle – handy for university days.

Spices & Ingredients (carry small packs)

• Chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, sambar/rasam powder, cumin, mustard seeds, hing (hard to find).
• Ready mixes (MTR upma, poha, dosa, pulao, etc.)
• Pickles, dry chutney powders.
• Tea powder/coffee

(In Rouen, you’ll find Indian/Asian stores for dals, rice, atta, etc., but they’re pricier than India.)

Buy in France (cheap in Carrefour, IKEA, Auchan, Action)

• Cutlery (forks, spoons, knives).
• Non-stick pots & pans.
• Cooking spoons, spatula, ladle.
• Strainer, chopping board, scissors.
• Oven-safe dish (many student rooms have microwaves/ovens).
• Dish rack, cleaning stuff.

Quick Reference – Jobs & Internships in Rouen (For Indian Students)

Tips for Indian Students in Rouen (English-Speakers):

• Legal work limit: 20 hrs/week (min wage ~€7.83/hr → ~€700/month). Focus on English-demand roles: tutoring, babysitting, tourism, cafes.
• Always get a written contract; avoid scams or underpaid cash jobs.
• Networking (student groups, uni boards) gives faster results than just online applications.

Student SIM Card Comparison – Rouen

Pro Student Tips:

• Cheapest option for long-term: Free Mobile (€20/month, huge data).
• Easy & English-friendly: Lebara & Lycamobile (setup in English, recharge online).
• Short stay (first month): Orange Holiday SIM (tourist-friendly, fast setup).
• If you don’t want physical SIM hassle: Go with AloSIM or Ubigi eSIM.
• Always carry passport when buying SIM in store (mandatory in France).

Indian Grocery Stores in France

Pro Tips for Indian Students in Rouen

• Order essentials ahead using Dookan or Annachi—perfect for your first week, saves you shopping trips.
• Use Neuf Provinces when already in Rouen for quick buys (condiments, sauces, some spices). Always compare prices at checkout.
• Tip from expats: “You can order from … annachi.fr—they deliver all over France.”Reddit

Things to Do Immediately After Arrival in Rouen

Legal & University Formalities

• Validate your Visa (VLS-TS) with OFII within 3 months of arrival.
• Register at University / Orientation Day – collect student card, course schedule, Wi-Fi, library access.
• Apply for French Health Insurance (CPAM) – free but mandatory; register online at fr.
• Get Student Insurance (Mutuelle étudiante) for extra medical coverage (optional but useful).

Accommodation & Housing

• CAF Housing Aid (APL) – apply online at caf.fr → students usually get €100– €250/month subsidy.
• Sign your housing contract and get an attestation d’assurance habitation (mandatory house insurance, ~€30–50/year).
• Open electricity/Internet account (if private housing, not CROUS).

Banking & Finance

• Open a French bank account (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, or online banks like N26/Revolut). Needed for CAF + stipend + payments.
• Get a Forex Card / Revolut / Wise account for cheaper India ↔ France money transfers.
• Keep €200–300 cash for initial expenses (bus pass, groceries, SIM card).

Mobile & Connectivity

• Buy a SIM card (Free, Lebara, Lycamobile are cheapest).
• Install essential apps → Astuce Rouen (local transport), SNCF Connect (trains), Too Good To Go (cheap food), Leboncoin (second-hand items), Wise/Revolut (money).
• Get Student Wi-Fi access from university.

Transport & Mobility

• Get Navigo / Astuce Rouen card for buses, trams, metro → student discount available (~€37.60/month).
• Apply for SNCF Carte Jeune (18–27) → 30% discount on trains (Rouen ↔ Paris & nationwide).
• Use BlaBlaCar for cheap intercity trips.

Shopping & Daily Essentials

• Buy cheap essentials at Action, IKEA, Carrefour, Auchan.
• Check Leboncoin / Vinted → second-hand furniture, cycles, clothes at very low cost.
• Carry or buy a pressure cooker → saves money and makes Indian cooking easy.
• Stock Indian spices locally at Indian/Asian stores (Velan Paris, Paris Store) or order online (indiansupermarket.fr).

Jobs & Internships (for English speakers)

• Check university career portals (JobTeaser, LinkedIn student groups).
• Search part-time jobs on Indeed, Pole Emploi, Erasmusu.
• Network via Facebook/WhatsApp groups like “Indians in Rouen” for local opportunities.
• Remember: You can legally work 20 hrs/week on student visa (~€700/month at minimum wage).

Community & Support

• Join Indian/French student WhatsApp groups → housing, jobs, events.
• Join university clubs (sports, cultural, entrepreneurship) → networking & cheap activities.
• Register at Indian community in Paris (ICWA events) if you want larger Indian network.

Study & University + Social & Community Apps

First Month Survival Planner – Rouen (for Indian Students)

Week 1 – Essentials & Setup

Week 2 – Banking & Housing

Week 3 – Health & Daily Life

Week 4 – Career & Settling In

Quick “Survival Musts” in First Month

• SIM card + Internet
• Transport pass (Astuce Rouen / SNCF Carte Jeune)
• French bank account
• CAF housing aid + insurance
• CPAM health insurance
• Basic Indian spices, pressure cooker
• Part-time job hunt begins