Welcome to France

The “Études en France” procedure

If you are a national of one of the 67 countries with mandatory pre-consular procedure (including the French-speaking countries of the Maghreb and West Africa), your application to Enerlab Academy goes through the Pastel — Études en France platform (pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr). Below is an actionable checklist by country to turn the procedure into a clear roadmap.

🇲🇦

Morocco

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel platform opens pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr
Nov. 2025 – Jan. 2026
Create your Pastel file and add Enerlab Academy to your choices
Jan. – Feb. 2026
Campus France interview (Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fes, Marrakech, Agadir)
March – April 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
May – July 2026
Visa application at the French consulate (TLScontact in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier)
August 2026
Long-stay visa issued
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, online OFII validation

💶 Fees to budget for in Morocco

Campus France fee: 500 MAD (≈ €47)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
TLScontact service fee: 289 MAD (≈ €27)
Sworn translation of transcripts: ≈ €100 to €200 depending on volume
French tests (DELF/TCF): 600 to 1,200 MAD depending on the centre

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

Baccalaureate obtained outside the French system: have it validated by ENIC-NARIC France before Pastel.
Late blocked account: open your blocked account as soon as you are admitted, not after. Average delay: 3 to 4 weeks.
Copy-paste motivation letter: Campus France detects generic templates. Personalise your project for each school.
Overstating your French level: the Campus France interview evaluates your actual level. Be honest on your DELF.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Morocco: maroc.campusfrance.org
French Consulate in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Fes, Marrakech, Agadir
TLScontact Morocco: fr.tlscontact.com/ma

Start my application from Morocco →

🇩🇿

Algeria

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel opens — create your file as soon as possible
Nov. 2025 – Jan. 2026
Add Enerlab Academy to your Pastel choices
Jan. – March 2026
Campus France interview (Algiers, Oran, Annaba, Constantine, Tlemcen)
April – May 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
May – August 2026
Visa application at the French consulate — 8 to 12 weeks in peak season
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, OFII validation within 3 months

💶 Fees to budget for in Algeria

Campus France fee: 8,000 DZD (≈ €55)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
Sworn translation: ≈ €100 to €200
DELF/TCF tests: 7,000 to 12,000 DZD depending on the centre

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

Long consular delays: 8 to 12 weeks in peak season (June–August). Apply for your visa as soon as you receive the Letter of Acceptance.
Baccalaureate equivalence: automatic for Algerian Bacs, but double-check your transcripts (grade, average).
Blocked account: opening from Algeria can be slow. Plan for 4 to 6 weeks.
Passport number consistency: must match across Pastel, visa, and all Enerlab documents. Any mismatch blocks the procedure.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Algeria: algerie.campusfrance.org
French consulates: Algiers, Oran, Annaba
VFS Global Algeria (visa appointments)

Start my application from Algeria →

🇹🇳

Tunisia

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel opens
Nov. 2025 – Jan. 2026
Pastel choices and Enerlab Academy inclusion
Jan. – Feb. 2026
Campus France interview (Tunis, Sfax, Sousse)
March – May 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
May – July 2026
Visa application at the French consulate in Tunis
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, online OFII validation

💶 Fees to budget for in Tunisia

Campus France fee: 200 TND (≈ €60)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
Sworn translation: ≈ €100 to €200
DELF/TCF tests: available at the Institut Français de Tunisie

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

Bac average validation: averages below 12/20 are often rejected at the interview. Argue with your professional project.
Template motivation letter: Campus France Tunisia is particularly strict on generic projects.
Number of choices: cap at 7, focused on a coherent field.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Tunisia: tunisie.campusfrance.org
Institut Français de Tunisie (DELF/TCF tests)
French Consulate in Tunis

Start my application from Tunisia →

🇸🇳

Senegal

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel opens
Nov. 2025 – Feb. 2026
Create your Pastel file in Dakar
Feb. – March 2026
Campus France interview (Dakar)
April – June 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
June – August 2026
Visa application at the French consulate in Dakar — apply EARLY (high demand in July–August)
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, OFII validation

💶 Fees to budget for in Senegal

Campus France fee: 70,000 FCFA (≈ €107)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
Sworn translation: ≈ €100 to €200

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

High demand in July–August: file your visa application as early as May, otherwise you risk a delayed start.
Financial documents: prove the stability of family resources for at least 12 months.
Senegalese Bac: equivalence is recognised, but include the upper-secondary transcripts.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Senegal: senegal.campusfrance.org
French Consulate in Dakar

Start my application from Senegal →

🇨🇮

Ivory Coast

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel opens
Nov. 2025 – Feb. 2026
Create your Pastel file in Abidjan
Feb. – March 2026
Campus France interview (Abidjan)
April – June 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
June – August 2026
Visa application: VFS Global Abidjan (not TLScontact)
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, OFII validation

💶 Fees to budget for in Ivory Coast

Campus France fee: 75,000 FCFA (≈ €114)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
VFS Global fee: ≈ €35 (to confirm)
Sworn translation: ≈ €100 to €200

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

VFS Global ≠ TLScontact: in Ivory Coast, visa appointments are handled by VFS Global. Check the correct website.
Blocked account creation: Ivorian banks do not all offer this service. Prefer a French bank with remote account opening.
Proof of housing: secure your student residence BEFORE filing the visa application.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Ivory Coast: cotedivoire.campusfrance.org
French Consulate in Abidjan
VFS Global Ivory Coast (visa appointments)

Start my application from Ivory Coast →

🇨🇲

Cameroon

Études en France procedure mandatory

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

Oct. 2025
Pastel opens
Nov. 2025 – Feb. 2026
Create your Pastel file (Yaoundé or Douala)
Feb. – March 2026
Campus France interview (Yaoundé, Douala)
April – June 2026
Enerlab Academy decision and Letter of Acceptance
June – August 2026
Visa application at the French consulate in Yaoundé or Douala
1^st Sept. 2026
Arrival in Paris, OFII validation

💶 Fees to budget for in Cameroon

Campus France fee: 75,000 FCFA (≈ €114)
Long-stay visa fee: €99
Sworn translation: ≈ €100 to €200

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

Cameroonian Bac equivalence: validated by French universities before Pastel (include the equivalence certificate in your file).
Motivation letter: argue the coherence between your prior studies and the chosen programme.
Blocked account: prefer remote opening at a French bank rather than at a Cameroonian one.

📞 Useful contacts

Campus France Cameroon: cameroun.campusfrance.org
French Consulates in Yaoundé and Douala

Start my application from Cameroon →

🌐 My country is not in the list above

Two possible cases:

Your country is concerned by the Études en France procedure but we have not yet written a detailed page for it. The full list of 67 concerned countries is available on campusfrance.org. Contact us, we will support you individually.
Your country is not concerned by the procedure: you can apply directly to Enerlab Academy via the pre-application form, then file your visa application directly at the French consulate in your country, without going through Pastel.

In all cases, reach out via the pre-application form specifying your country — we reply within 48 business hours.

Step 1 — Before you leave

Obtain your VLS-TS long-stay student visa (Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour)

Book your accommodation (see housing section below)

Take out a travel/health insurance covering your first days in France

Prepare your original documents: passport, visa, Enerlab Academy enrolment certificate, transcripts, birth certificate

Bring international payment methods (credit card, cash in euros for the first few days)

Step 3 — Administrative formalities

CVEC

Student Life & Campus Contribution, mandatory (€103 in 2026). Pay at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr

Student health insurance

Free registration at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr upon arrival.

Bank account

Open a French bank account (required for rent, scholarship transfer, etc.). Student offers: BNP, Société Générale, LCL, neo-banks.

CAF (housing assistance)

If your housing is eligible: apply for housing assistance (APL/ALS) at caf.fr. Up to €200/month savings.

Daily life

Student Navigo Imagine R pass — RATP/SNCF transport card at a discounted rate (≈ €360/year, free for CROUS scholarship holders)

CROUS university restaurants — meals at €3.30 (standard) or €1 (scholarship holders)

Mobile phone — student plans from €10–15/month (Free, Sosh, Red by SFR)

Culture — cultural pass, reduced rates in museums and cinemas for under-26s

Useful contacts

Hauts-de-Seine Prefecture (permit renewal): hauts-de-seine.gouv.fr

Emergencies: 112 (all emergencies) / 15 (medical) / 17 (police) / 18 (fire)

Enerlab Academy welcomes you to France!
Our International Office is here to support you in every step of your installation.

The “Études en France” procedure

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Morocco

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Algeria

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Tunisia

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Senegal

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Ivory Coast

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

📅 Indicative timeline (September 2026 intake)

💶 Fees to budget for in Cameroon

⚠️ Common pitfalls to avoid

📞 Useful contacts

Step 1 — Before you leave

Step 2 — When you arrive

Step 3 — Administrative formalities

CVEC

Student health insurance

Bank account

CAF (housing assistance)

Student housing

Daily life

Useful contacts