Welcome to France
Welcome to FERRANDI Paris, the French school of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management
We are very pleased to have you and hope you have an educative and enjoyable time here!
On this page you will be able to find information that will help you prepare for your arrival in Paris: how to find accomodation, open a bank account, check you have the appropriate insurance, as well as Visa information.
Practical information for incoming
EU students
EU citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland do not require a visa
Non-EU students
Citizens of all other countries must apply for a 12-month Visa Long Séjour – Titre de Séjour étudiant (VLS-TS) (Long Stay Student Visa) at a French consulate or embassy or Campus France bureau. This will also allow you to work in France.
Important Notes:
- You cannot stay in France on a residence VISA issued for another EU country.
- If you have a VISA (student or other) valid in another EU country this will not cover your stay in France; you will need to apply for a VLS-TS for France
Online VISA Application: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en_US/web/france-visas/welcome-page
Online validation of the VLS-TS Long Stay Visa: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/vls-ts/demarches/etape/numero-visa
(You have a visa that is valid for 6 to 12 months that you need to validate when you arrive in France. )
- If you are currently living in a country in which you do not have official citizenship, it may not be possible to apply for your visa from this country, you must return to your country of citizenship to file the application
- if you are an accompanying spouse or have any other type of status in France, please make sure you check with FERRANDI and/or with the French authorities nearest you as to your eligibility to undertake studies and to do an in-company internship
Participants who require a visa are invited to contact the French Consulate or Campus France Bureau nearest them as soon as possible to find out what the application requirements are. Requirements and processing times vary from one country to another so make sure that you take care of this in a timely manner.
You will need to show a certificate of enrollment (the “Attestation” that is included in your admission packet, as well as other documentation regarding your ID, financial situation etc. You may require other documentation from FERRANDI (for example a receipt for the deposit payment) – if this is the case, please let us know and we will be happy to provide it.
For more information at "Help desk Paris": https://access.ciup.fr/en/accss-paris-centre/
Online Visa application
Online Visa validation
Mandatory Student Health Care coverage
The Registration to the Social Security Insurance is mandatory and free of charge and will entitle you to reimbursement of your health care expenses.
Register here: https://etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr/#/
On arrival in Paris, whether that be at the Paris Orly or Charles de Gaulle airports or the Gare du Nord train station, you can make use of all public transport to get to your final destination. Tickets can be purchased at the counter or at the ticket machines around the stations. During your stay in Paris it may be more economically viable for you to invest in a Navigo Pass which gives you unlimited use of public transport per month for a certain price.
Their website can be found at www.navigo.fr.
If you are looking for a slightly more luxurious mode of transport on arrival, FERRANDI Paris has a partnership with the Student Concierge Club. They take care of your arrival and escort you to your destination and then offer further services to help you to settle in and feel at home in Paris.
For more information visit their website at https://studentconciergeclub.com/en/.
FERRANDI Paris has no on-campus housing, however the school offers advice on finding suitable accommodations. A list of housing possibilities and contacts is available to all candidates once they have confirmed their enrollment.
An excellent and reliable source for housing is our partner Studapart. It is our principal resource for helping our students finding housing in Paris:
You only have to create an account on their website. Studapart provides all the reassurance you need for a smooth rental:
- 100% of verified ads
- Secured booking of your accommodation in advance and directly on their platform
- Dedicated multilingual team members available upon request 6/7, response within 48h maximum
- Protection against unexpected events : fraud, last-minute concellations, non-compliant accommodation, etc.
- Studapart can be your guarantor during the duration of your rental
- Home insurance available after booking
Below we have also listed various websites which advertise apartments for rent and then put you in contact with the landlord:
- https://www.parisattitude.com/
- https://www.paristay.com/
- https://www.parisianhome.com/en/
- https://www.immojeune.com/en/
- https://www.lodgis.com/en/
- https://www.morningcroissant.com/
Guide to housing options:
- Home-stay- Rooms to rent in someone's home, either in Paris or the greater Paris region. Reasonably priced and a good way to improve your French!
- Residences and dormitories- Dedicated to students and are often affordable for students.
- Private housing / Agencies- Agencies can help you with the formalities of renting an apartment as well as finding somewhere to suit your needs.
IMPORTANT:
Internet sources are generally good but beware of scams on free sites such as CraigsList and Le Bon Coin. Please also avoid holiday rental sites as they are rented by the week and are usually more expensive.
Opening Your Bank Account
For more information at Campus France Video
The French Government have made it compulsory that all students who are coming from non-EU countries are required to have a medical check-up by a French doctor in France and obtain a medical attestation signed by this doctor before enrolling into school.
Students must have their check-up appointment before the first day of school and provide the school with the attestation on the first day of class.
In order to assist you, FERRANDI Paris has partnered with Dr Ségolène De Lichana, who speaks both English and Spanish. She is based at 72 boulevard Saint-Michel, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. This is a 15-minute walk from the school (close to Métro Luxembourg or Notre Dame des Champs).
To make an appointment with her you must book via www.doctolib.fr. The price of an appointment is approximately 25€.To assist you, we have made a helpful document walking you through the steps you will need to follow to make an appointment.
You will need to take your vaccination record to show to the doctor. The doctor may ask you to take some additional tests (blood tests, urine analysis, x-ray of your lungs). It will be the doctor who will decide which tests you need and do not need to do depending on your individual situation.
It is very important that you tell Dr Ségolène De Lichana that you are a student at FERRANDI Paris as she will provide you with your medical attestation which you will need to give to us at school.
FERRANDI Paris has a strong network of businesses who regularly take our interns. These include prestigious and reputable hotels, restaurants, bakeries, pastry shops and caterers.
Students will be placed in an internship by their chef-instructors. The process for internship assignments will be explained during orientation.
Interns are entitled to a stipend of approximately 500 Euros per month. Other benefits may be provided at the discretion of the company.
Dress code
At FERRANDI Paris we instill the importance of looking the part in our students, since it constitutes an immense part of service in the gastronomy and hospitality industry. As such, we have a dress code that students must adhere to. It must be professional and elegant. Please contact your exchange coordinator to receive the guidelines before your arrival.
Student Experiences
At FERRANDI Paris we instill the importance of looking the part in our students, since it constitutes an immense part of service in the gastronomy and hospitality industry. As such, we have a dress code that students must adhere to. It must be professional and elegant. Please contact your exchange coordinator to receive the guidelines before your arrival.