Returning Students

Returning non-European national students must maintain a valid residency permit, called a titre de séjour, throughout the duration of their studies. This means you’ll be expected to renew your residency permit every year you’re a student at AUP. It’s illegal to live in France under an expired titre de séjour, or under a tourist visa, with the intention of studying. 

If you’re a citizen of France or another European Union country, you don’t need a residency permit. 

Renewing your residency

Four and a half months before your residency visa expires, you must contact the Student Immigration Services Office by email to discuss the renewal process. You’ll be given a list of required documents and instructions to submit your visa renewal application online. Your application must be complete and ready for processing no later than two months prior to the expiration date. 

Any renewal application submitted late to French authorities will incur a €255 late fee. The amount of the late fee penalty is subject to change without notice. 

Once your application is submitted, you will receive proof of submission that should be forwarded to the SIS Office. Then, once French authorities have processed and validated your request, you will receive a certificate which will serve as a temporary residency permit while waiting for the final permit to be issued. This document will allow you to travel. A copy should be shared with SIS.  

When the new residency permit is ready, French authorities will ask you to book an appointment to pick up the permit. You’ll be required to purchase a “tax stamp” to bring to this appointment in exchange for the permit. Once you have the new residency permit, you must send a copy of this to SIS for your records at the University to be updated.  

Important: your titre de séjour may expire during the summer, so you must check your status and discuss your options with the SIS Office before you leave for summer vacation. Don’t schedule trips or buy tickets before checking in with  SIS. Also, your passport must have a validity of more than six months to launch your renewal procedure.