Students Under 18

A minor student must be accompanied by a guardian, either a parent or an individual with legal guardianship rights, in order to open a French bank account. Please be aware that most banks will not agree to open a bank account for a foreign minor student whose guardian does not live in France and/or does not hold French residency. A French bank account is needed by those enrolling in a long-term French phone plan; however, all French phone carriers offer short-term renewable plans.

Minor students are ineligible to enroll in the French healthcare system, AMELI, until they receive a student residence permit (carte de séjour). After students receive the permit, it takes between two weeks and three months for their enrollment to be reviewed and accepted for the French healthcare system.

It is important to note that proof of health insurance is required for students submitting documents to Campus France during the visa application process. For this reason, Parsons Paris encourages minor students and their guardians to check with their home health insurance to ensure that it can provide international coverage. Our partner Academic Programs International (API) can provide students who are unable to procure international coverage with the required coverage at a cost until they are covered through AMELI.

After enrolling in the French healthcare system, AMELI, students will receive a French social security number, which is required for those who wish to legally intern or work in France. As explained in the section just above, non-EU students must have a residence permit (carte de séjour) to enroll in AMELI. As a result, the ability to work or intern depends on a student’s birth date and the processing time of both the residence permit (carte de séjour) application and the enrollment in AMELI.

EU nationals may enter and study in France without a visa, but not all EU residence permit holders are granted the right to enter and study in France without a visa.

Parsons Paris encourages minor students and their guardians to check with their home or national health insurance program to determine whether it provides coverage in France. API can provide students who are unable to procure international coverage with the required coverage at a cost until they are covered through AMELI.

After enrolling in the AMELI, students will receive a French social security number, which they will need in order to legally intern or work in France.

Parsons Paris encourages non-EU students under 18 and their guardians to contact Student Life at [email protected] as soon as the decision to enroll in Parsons Paris is made. Our Student Life team partners with API to support all incoming students in their immigration processing. Students will receive detailed information on the steps they need to take after they have made their deposit.

Students who arrive to study in France before their 18th birthday must obtain a minor visa (visa mineur scolarisé), which differs from a student visa (visa étudiant). Minors must apply for this minor visa from their home country or country of residence. In general, students should begin the visa application process three to four months before the start of the semester. Note that students in this situation who begin this process two months before the semester starts will not have the recommended amount of time to start the visa application process.

Minor students should plan to arrive in Paris accompanied by a legal guardian who can stay seven to ten days to fully address administrative matters.

After arriving at Parsons Paris, minors must contact the Parsons Paris Student Life team at [email protected]. They will meet with a member of the team who will help them with the process of converting a minor visa to a student residence permit (carte de séjour). This must be started within two months of a student’s turning 18 to ensure legal immigration status and to prevent difficulties.

The conversion process involves: 

• Gathering required documents.* All documents must be either in French or translated into French by an accredited translator in France.
  • Your passport
  • Your minor visa
  • A copy of your birth certificate
  • E-photos taken in a photo booth in Paris
  • Your entrance stamp or boarding pass showing the day you entered France or the EU)
  • Proof of a valid home address in France (in or outside Paris)
  • Your New School email address
    *Please note that this list is not exhaustive and Student Life will explain what additional documentation is required.
• Attending an appointment with the French immigration office (préfecture)
• Respecting travel restrictions (see “Travel Restrictions,” below)

Non-EU students entering France on a minor visa are not authorized to travel outside of the country between the time they turn 18 and the time they secure a new residency permit.

As this restriction may affect travel plans for students during weekend and school breaks, it is important for families and guardians to be aware of it and plan accordingly. 

Minor students who turn 18 after the end of the academic year (following the spring semester) may choose to go back home to apply for a student visa.

Parsons Paris Student Life hereby declines responsibility for any consequences resulting from a non-EU student’s decision to leave France before their transition to a residency permit is complete.

Non-EU students who are younger than 18 can find information about insurance and work (employment and internships) in the “All Students” section, above.