What is ANEF and why does it matter for international students?
ANEF (Administration Numérique pour les Étrangers en France) is the French Interior Ministry's official portal for all procedures related to foreign nationals' residence in France. Since 2021, and systematically since 2023, the validation of the VLS-TS (Visa de Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour, or Long-Stay Visa Acting as a Residence Permit) for students is handled exclusively through this platform.
If you arrive in France with a long-stay student visa, you must validate your VLS-TS on ANEF within 3 months of your first entry into France. Without this validation, your visa is not recognised as a valid residence permit on French territory, putting you at risk of an irregular immigration status.
This guide takes you through the entire process, from creating your account to receiving your validation certificate.
Step 1 — Create your ANEF account
Go to administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr. The homepage offers two options: 'I validate my visa' (for new arrivals with a VLS-TS) and 'I renew or modify my permit' (for students already in France).
Click 'I validate my visa'. You will be prompted to authenticate via FranceConnect or create an ANEF account directly with your email address. Creating a direct account is recommended if you do not yet have a FranceConnect account, as the linking process can take a few days.
Documents needed to create your account:
- Valid email address (keep access to this inbox — all official exchanges will go through it)
- Visa number (visible on your visa, format 'VLS-TS XXX...')
- Date of birth
- Nationality
After creating your account, you will receive a confirmation email. Click the link within 24 hours to activate your account.
Step 2 — Complete your validation file
Once logged in, you access the VLS-TS validation form. This form is divided into several sections:
'Identity' section: Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. Any discrepancy can result in rejection.
'Situation in France' section: Enter your residential address in France, your institution, and the date of your first entry into France. This date is critical for calculating the 3-month deadline.
'Documents to upload' section: This is the most important step. Accepted formats are PDF, JPG and PNG. Each file must not exceed 5 MB. Required documents are:
| Document | Recommended format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (photo page) | PDF or JPG | All text must be legible |
| Passport (VLS-TS visa page) | PDF or JPG | Visa number must be clearly visible |
| ID photo (×2) | JPG | White background, 35×45 mm, under 6 months old |
| Proof of address | Rental receipt, lease, or accommodation certificate | |
| Enrollment certificate | With institution stamp and current academic year | |
| Proof of financial resources | Bank statement, scholarship letter, or guarantor proof |
The ANEF platform automatically checks the compliance of certain documents (photo resolution, legibility). If a document is flagged as non-compliant, you will be asked to re-upload it before submission.
Step 3 — Pay the €75 validation tax
VLS-TS student validation requires a €75 tax (2026 amount, regulated by article L. 311-13 of the CESEDA). This payment is mandatory and non-refundable.
Two payment methods are accepted on ANEF:
- Bank card (Visa, Mastercard) — secure payment directly on the platform.
- Electronic tax stamp — purchased in advance at timbres.impots.gouv.fr. You will receive a 16-digit code to enter on ANEF.
Important: if you start the ANEF form and let the session expire before payment, some information may be lost. Prepare your payment method before opening the form.
French government scholarship holders (Eiffel programme, CROUS) or students covered by bilateral agreements may in some cases be exempt from this tax. Check with your international affairs office before paying.
Step 4 — Submit and track your file
After completing all fields and making payment, click 'Submit my application'. You will immediately receive:
- A confirmation email with your ANEF file number.
- A provisional receipt downloadable from your account, certifying that you have initiated the process. This document has legal value and may be requested during ID checks.
Standard processing time is 5 to 10 business days for complete files. During university registration periods (September-October), processing can take up to 3 weeks. Once your file is processed, you will receive an email inviting you to return to ANEF to download your definitive validation certificate.
What if your file is rejected or flagged as incomplete?
If your file is rejected, ANEF notifies you by email specifying the reason (illegible document, missing information, non-compliant photo). You can then correct and resubmit without paying the tax again, within 30 days of the rejection notification.
If you contest the rejection, you may file a gracious appeal with the prefecture of your department within 2 months of notification. This appeal can be submitted via the demarches-simplifiees.fr portal.
For technical difficulties on the platform (bugs, loss of access, blocked document), the ANEF support service is reachable at 0806 001 620 (free number, Monday to Friday 8:30am-5:30pm).
Renewal and next steps
The ANEF validation is valid only for the current academic year. For the following year, you will need to apply for renewal of your student residence permit via ANEF, generally 2 to 3 months before your current permit expires. If you meet the eligibility criteria (see our article on the multi-year permit), you may be eligible for a 2 or 4-year permit, simplifying future procedures.
Meridiane supports you through all these steps: our AI assistant can help you prepare your documents, check their compliance, and guide you through ANEF forms based on your personal situation. Available 24/7 at meridiane.fr.