Fund your tuition and prove your budget
Plan for tuition fees and at least €877.50 a month of funds for the visa.
2026-2027 tuition fees for non-EU students (public institutions)Bachelor's €2,902, master's €3,950, PhD €398 per yearAutomatic exemption for French government scholarship holders and needs-based grant holders; institutions can grant other exemptions on request. Engineering schools and schools under other ministries set their own fees: check their website.
Verified on 10/10/2026 · Campus France CamerounSource
Minimum monthly funds877.50 €/monthVisa, first permit and renewals. Replaces €615.
Verified on 07/10/2026 · Service-public F2231Source
Payment to France without supporting documents (WAEMU)Up to 1,000,000 FCFA per paymentAbove that, the bank asks for documents supporting the transaction. Anti-money-laundering rules apply in every case.
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, instruction n°13/07/2025/RFE (art. 2)Source
Bank's time limit for a transfer outside WAEMU5 working days to carry out or reject the orderA rejection must say which supporting documents are missing.
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, instruction n°13/07/2025/RFE (art. 6)Source
Documents for family support sent abroad (WAEMU)The beneficiary's residence permit or certificate of residence abroad, proof of the expenses to cover (rent, tuition fees…), signed exchange form
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, instruction n°13/07/2025/RFE (annexe 1, point 8)Source
Documents to pay for a service abroad (WAEMU)Invoice from the foreign provider or contract, certified copy of the contract registered with the tax administration or a substitute service, signed exchange formFor tuition fees, the « family support » category (D105) also lists tuition fees: ask your bank which one it applies.
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, instruction n°13/07/2025/RFE (annexe 1, point 5)Source
E-money and payment institutions (WAEMU)Not allowed to send payments abroad; they can receive funds from abroadFast transfers go through people tied to an approved bank by an agreement, under its responsibility.
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, règlement n°06/2024/CM/UEMOA (art. 26)Source
Cash taken out of WAEMU by a resident travellerForeign currency: 3,500,000 FCFA at most per trip, to declare above 3,000,000 FCFA; CFA franc notes: 500,000 FCFA at mostEquivalent in CFA francs. To get foreign currency: a travel ticket outside WAEMU and a valid passport or ID card.
Verified on 12/10/2026 · BCEAO, instruction n°06/07/2025/RFE (art. 2, 4 et 6)Source
How to do it
- 1Look at your institution's tuition fees: this page shows the official public-institution amounts for students from outside the European Union.
- 2Work out your monthly budget: for the visa, you must prove at least €877.50 of funds a month.
- 3Arrange with your family or sponsor how the money will reach France.
What you need
- Your pre-enrolment or admission
- The proof of funds you plan to present
Tips
- Use Mbeng's « How much does it cost? » page to estimate your budget in FCFA and euros.
Official sources
Money
Paying your tuition from Senegal
Only pay into the institution's official account. An email, a WhatsApp message or a middleman giving you new bank details is the classic sign of a scam: call the institution back before paying.
- 1Ask your institution for the official document setting what you must pay (invoice or fee request) with its bank details, and keep your admission or enrolment certificate.
- 2Check these bank details by calling the institution yourself on the number shown on its official website, before paying anything.
- 3Go to a bank with the person paying and fill in the exchange form: up to 1,000,000 FCFA per payment, no supporting documents are required.
- 4Above that, the bank asks for supporting documents. For a service paid abroad, that's the invoice or contract; the « family support » category also lists tuition fees. Ask your bank which one it applies.
- 5Make the transfer to the institution's account, with your name and file reference in the payment description, then keep the transfer order and the institution's receipt.
What you need
- Admission or enrolment certificate
- The institution's invoice or fee request, with its bank details
- ID of the person ordering the transfer
- Signed exchange form (provided by the bank)
Tips
- The bank has 5 working days to carry out or reject your transfer; if it rejects it, it must tell you which documents are missing.
- Mobile money can't be used to pay a school in France: e-money issuers are not allowed to send payments abroad.
- Before paying a deposit, ask the institution in writing for its refund terms if your visa is refused.
A question about this step?
“Fund your tuition and prove your budget”: ask Mbeng, the answer comes from the guides and official sources.