French High School Application Guide
From school choice to visa—what international families need to know
French high schools attract families with rigorous academics and flexible pathways. This walkthrough explains selection, documents, review, interviews, and the Mineur Scolarisé visa in clear English so families new to the French system can prioritize actions and avoid omissions.
Historical data
97%
Visa approval rate
Planning window
6-12
months of prep
Core documents
4
Transcript / language / references / statement
How we support French High School Study Abroad
Precise school matching
Beyond rankings—we align school lists with personality, academics, and target universities so each student gets a tailored fit.
School communication & follow-up
We manage email traffic and submissions across time zones and languages, track review status, and make sure offers arrive without delay.
Visa and guardianship
From the Mineur Scolarisé visa to local guardianship in France, we address the safety and daily life concerns parents care about most.
Application stages
Full journey from research to admission
Common school selection paths
- Prioritize location (Paris, Lyon, Nice) plus boarding/day needs, then match teaching languages and tracks.
- Plan subject combinations and language options based on future university goals in France, other Francophone countries, or global English routes.
- Check international student ratio, language support, and home–school communication to ensure smooth integration.
Standard timeline
Step 1
Research & school list (6–12 months ahead)
Confirm locations, curriculum tracks, and boarding preference; shortlist schools open to international students.
Step 2
Document preparation
Prepare transcripts, language proof, recommendation letters, personal statement, and extracurricular evidence in bilingual format.
Step 3
School review + interview
Some schools set written tests or video interviews to assess language base, motivation, and independence.
Step 4
Offer + visa
After admission, book TLS to submit the “Mineur Scolarisé” long-stay student visa quickly and confirm guardianship and accommodation.
Essential files
Academics + language + references + statement
Ensure consistency across all documents.
Timing
Some schools open 1 year early
Start in Grade 9 or 10 for a smoother process.
Communication
French/English email
Reply within time-zone windows to avoid losing seats.
Top concerns
The 3 questions parents ask most
Application timing
The earlier, the more options
Popular international sections may reserve seats a year ahead. Work backwards using “research–visit–submit” milestones to avoid deadlines.
Language requirements
French foundation is needed
Most schools expect roughly DELF B1 or a pre-entry language course; bilingual or English tracks may add extra checks.
Competition & fit
Limited seats, holistic review
Schools value grades plus personality, adaptability, and family cooperation. Prepare interview stories and extracurricular highlights to raise success rates.
Why work with a specialist?
- Insight into each school's preferences to match curriculum tracks and boarding choices quickly.
- Quality control for bilingual documents so details stay consistent and avoid rejections.
- Mock interviews, email tracking, and TLS appointment support reduce cross-border friction.
- Pre-departure guidance on housing, insurance, guardianship, and course bridging to help students adapt smoothly.
Visa & family support
Mineur Scolarisé visa & home–school coordination
Visa essentials
- Visa D “Mineur Scolarisé” is tailored for underage students. We guide families through each step once the offer is issued.
- We help compile every required document and keep it aligned with school submissions so nothing critical is missed.
- Peak seasons are busy; we plan TLS booking and file delivery based on admission dates to protect the start-of-term timeline.
After arrival: how we work with families and schools
- Accommodation: we match host families or campus boarding based on student personality and family goals, and we keep monitoring adaptation.
- Communication: we build a stable contact channel with the school so learning and wellbeing updates stay timely and complete.
- Wellbeing: we watch for academic pressure and emotions, and connect advisors or school counselors when needed to ease the transition.
Need a personalized plan?
Sanai advisors deliver end-to-end French high school applications
Our team has years of French High School Study Abroad experience and understands local admission calendars, visa requirements, and school communication. We can build a school list, curriculum plan, and living arrangements tailored to your family.