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Travora Student · 2027 intake

Study in France from Congo-Brazzaville

A student living in Congo-Brazzaville must go through the Études en France procedure of Campus France Congo (Instituts français of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire), at every level. For the September 2027 intake, the campaign has been open since October 1, 2026: online application to submit by December 10, 2026 at the latest, then 75,000 FCFA application fee to pay at a BCI branch by December 12, 2026 at the latest, only after Campus France requests it. Then come the academic interview, the institutions' responses (before April 30, 2027) and the final choice (before May 31, 2027). Private schools not connected to the platform go through the procédure préconsulaire (pre-consular procedure) from April 1, 2027, with a passport required at submission. The visa is requested on France-Visas and then submitted at TLScontact in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire, depending on the city of residence: 35,000 FCFA visa fee (half rate) and 27,500 FCFA service fee. Since August 1, 2026, you must show €877.50 per month, i.e. 575,602 FCFA; Campus France Congo's visa page still shows €615, an outdated amount. No January intake in 2026-2027; no legalization is required for the Études en France procedure.

Updated October 13, 2026 · Reliability: high · 31 sources

Known cost before departure
135,500 – 137,500 FCFA
excluding funds and tuition
Required funds
575,602 FCFA / month
€877.5 / month
Processing time
Visa: 72-hour target announced by France-Visas for Congo, longer during peak periods.
Interview
Yes
Espace Campus France in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire (Instituts français du Congo)
Before the visa

Admission route

Études en France is mandatory for a first enrollment in French higher education. Licence (bachelor's), BUT, Master's, architecture schools and connected schools: apply on etudesenfrance.diplomatie.gouv.fr from October 1, 2026. BTS/BTSA, CPGE, DCG, IFSI: Parcoursup from January 2027, then Études en France application once admitted. Private schools and non-connected institutions (bachelor, mastère): procédure préconsulaire from April 1, 2027, as soon as an admission is received. PhD/doctorate: a degree conferring the Master's level and admission to a doctoral school before registering on the platform. Exempt from fees and interview: final-year (Terminale) students at the AEFE lycées Saint-Exupéry (Brazzaville) and Charlemagne (Pointe-Noire), but the visa is at full rate.[1][3][5][6][7][8][9]

Admission procedure fees

  • Études en France application fee (Campus France Congo)[1][2][3][4]75,000 FCFA

    Paid at any BCI branch to the beneficiary Institut français du Congo, with the CG application number, only after Campus France requests it; non-refundable. If the payment does not show up after 3 days, send the receipt to paiement.campusfrance@ifcongo.com. In the procédure préconsulaire, the 75,000 FCFA covers two procedures at most. Exempt: holders of French Government, AUF, Erasmus Mundus or European Union scholarships.

The visa application

Where to apply

Where to file
TLScontact center in your city of residence (Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire), no choice possible
Authority
French Embassy in Congo, visa section (Brazzaville), the only body authorized to decide; Consulate General in Pointe-Noire
Application center
TLScontact · Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire
Address
Brazzaville : Immeuble Diamond, 1er étage, avenue de l'Amitié. Pointe-Noire : Tour Mirror, avenue Moé Kaat Matou, 3e étage.
Opening hours
Brazzaville: submission by appointment Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., passport collection without appointment 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Pointe-Noire: submission and collection Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Appointment
Form on france-visas.gouv.fr, then TLScontact appointment. Students admitted through Études en France get their appointment via Campus France Congo; those admitted outside the platform book directly with TLScontact. TLScontact fees must be paid within 96 hours of booking, otherwise the appointment is canceled.
Tip
Book with a complete application, no earlier than 6 months before departure; you can apply from 3 months before the start of classes and appointment waits can reach two months (peak from May to September). Personal attendance mandatory.
Processing time
Visa: 72-hour target announced by France-Visas for Congo, longer during peak periods. Appointments: up to two months' wait.[10][12]
Interview
Yes · Espace Campus France in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire (Instituts français du Congo) · Academic interview mandatory in the main procedure (study plan, career plan, motivation); depends on the file in the pre-consular procedure; exemption for final-year (Terminale) students of AEFE high schools. No systematic interview when filing at TLScontact.[1][2][6]
Center website (TLScontact)Book an appointment / apply online

Sources for filing[10][11][12]

In order

The steps

  1. 1

    Get informed and choose programs[1][7][13]

    When: September-October 2026

    Information sessions at the Espace Campus France in Brazzaville (Institut français, Place de la République) or Pointe-Noire (Institut français, avenue Moé Kaat Matou); in Pointe-Noire, visits by appointment booked from your Études en France account. Check whether the program is connected to the platform, goes through Parcoursup or through the procédure préconsulaire. Campus France Congo has no partnership with any agency.

  2. 2

    Create the Études en France application[1][5][14]

    When: from October 1, 2026

    Personal account on etudesenfrance.diplomatie.gouv.fr (an account from a previous year is reused); application number in the format CG26-12345, to be quoted in every contact and on the France-Visas form.

  3. 3

    Check the language requirement[2][15]

    When: before submission

    Campus France Congo does not make the French test mandatory and presents it as "an additional asset". For the DAP (demande d'admission préalable, 1st year of Licence), nationals of countries where French is the sole official language, including Congo, are exempt from the test. Tests available at the Institut français du Congo: Ev@lang (free), DELF (35,000 FCFA), DALF (50,000 FCFA). The TCF is not mentioned by Campus France Congo; some programs may require a test.

    • DELF (Institut français du Congo)[2](depending on profile)35,000 FCFA
    • DALF (Institut français du Congo)[2](depending on profile)50,000 FCFA
  4. 4

    Submit the application online[1][5][16]

    When: before December 10, 2026

    Main procedure (Licence, BUT, Master's, architecture schools and connected schools): by December 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. at the latest, with no extension. This is earlier than the national DAP deadline (December 15). The calendar PDF also mentions "until December 12, 2026 at 11:59 p.m."; the "Les 8 étapes" (The 8 steps) page links December 12 to the payment.

  5. 5

    Pay the application fee at BCI[1][2]

    When: by December 12, 2026 at the latest

    75,000 FCFA at a BCI branch, to the beneficiary Institut français du Congo, with the CG number, only after Campus France Congo requests it on the platform and by December 12, 2026 at the latest. A minor can have their guardian pay. Non-refundable fee.

    • Études en France application fee[1][2]75,000 FCFA
  6. 6

    Attend the academic interview[1][5][6]

    When: December 2026 - February 2027

    After the application is validated, attend the Campus France interview in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire with the invitation and ID. The main procedure’s deadline is 28 February 2027. For pre-consular and Parcoursup procedures, the deadline is 8 August 2027; follow the invitation and instructions for the individual application.

  7. 7

    Institutions' responses and final choice[1][5][10]

    When: before April 30, 2027 and May 31, 2027

    Institutions' responses before April 30, 2027, final choice to be confirmed on the platform before May 31, 2027; then download the accord préalable d'inscription (pre-enrollment approval), a visa document.

  8. 8

    Private schools and Parcoursup: procédure préconsulaire[4][5][6]

    When: April 1 - August 2027

    Private schools and non-connected institutions: after admission, from 1 April 2027, submit the application with a valid passport before 20 June at 22:59, pay by 22 June at 23:59 and attend the interview by 8 August. For Parcoursup: submit upon admission, pay by 18 July at 23:59 and attend the interview by 8 August 2027.

  9. 9

    Gather the visa documents[10][17][18][19]

    When: April-June 2027

    Passport valid for at least 1 year and 3 months on the date of submission, signed form, two photos, birth certificate, Campus France accord préalable d'inscription (pre-enrollment approval), baccalauréat certificate, proof of funds and accommodation for at least three months; original and photocopies. Funds: €877.50 per month since August 1, 2026 (575,602 FCFA), i.e. €10,530 for one year (6,907,227 FCFA). Campus France Congo asks for an irrevocable transfer calculated over 10 months (€615 × 10 = €6,150, an outdated amount) or support from a sponsor whose signature is legalized at a town hall in France. No legalization of Congolese diplomas is required for France.

  10. 10

    Apply for the visa and submit at TLScontact[10][11][12]

    When: June-August 2027 (at least 3 months before the start of classes)Duration: appointment waits up to two months

    Long-stay visa form on france-visas.gouv.fr, then appointment at the TLScontact center in your city of residence (Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire). TLScontact fees to be paid within 96 hours of booking, otherwise canceled. On the day of the appointment: visa fee and service fee in cash, biometrics.

    • Student long-stay visa fee (half rate)[10][11][12]35,000 FCFA

      France-Visas amount; Campus France Congo shows 33,000 FCFA on an undated page, probably from the previous campaign.

    • TLScontact service fee[10][11]27,500 FCFA
  11. 11

    Decision and passport collection[12][20][21]

    When: July-August 2027Duration: 72 hours targeted

    Stated target of 72 hours, longer at peak times. If refused: mandatory prior appeal to the Commission de recours contre les décisions de refus de visa (visa refusal appeals board, Nantes) within 30 days. Fees are not refunded.

  12. 12

    Travel and steps after arrival[1][17][22][23][24][31]

    When: August-September 2027

    Arrive at least 15 days before classes. Validate the VLS-TS online within 3 months (€100), pay the CVEC (student life contribution, €105 in 2026-2027) before enrollment, register for health insurance for free. Before the VLS-TS expires: multi-year "étudiant" residence card (€100 when renewing after a VLS-TS; €150 for an initial card issue).

    • VLS-TS validation fee (after arrival)[22][23]€100≈ 65,596 FCFA
    • CVEC 2026-2027 (after arrival)[24]€105 / year≈ 68,875 FCFA
The application

Required documents

  • Passport[6][10][25]

    required

    Valid for at least 1 year and 3 months on the date of submission; issued less than 10 years ago, at least two blank pages.

    Local specifics: Another section of Campus France Congo's visa page asks for validity "until November 2026" (text from the previous campaign). In the procédure préconsulaire, a passport is required at submission.

  • France-Visas long-stay visa form[10][26]

    required

    Completed online, printed and signed, with the receipt.

  • Two ID photos[10]

    required

    Recent, ICAO standards.

  • Campus France pre-approval of enrollment[10]

    required

    Issued after the final choice.

  • Admission certificate from the institution[3][6]

    requiredprivate school, short program, PhD

    Private schools, Parcoursup, PhD/doctorate; uploaded in Études en France.

  • Baccalauréat certificate and diplomas[10]

    required

    No legalization required for the Études en France procedure.

    Local specifics: Authentication procedure for the Congolese bac not found (October 12, 2026).

  • Birth certificate[10][27]

    required

    Copy required for the visa; request it from the town hall of the municipality of birth.

  • Proof of funds (€877.50 per month)[10][17][19]

    required

    Irrevocable bank transfer, scholarship certificate or a guarantor's financial sponsorship; 575,602 FCFA per month at the fixed rate.

    Local specifics: The Campus France Congo page still calculates on €615 × 10 months (€6,150, "4,000,000 fcfa") or €315 × 10 months if housed for free: amounts predating August 1, 2026. Acceptance of mobile money not found.

  • Proof of accommodation for at least three months[10][25]

    required

    Booking, lease or attestation d'hébergement (accommodation certificate).

  • Visa fees and service fees[10][12]

    required

    35,000 FCFA (France-Visas) and 27,500 FCFA TLScontact service fee, paid at the appointment.

Depending on your profile

  • Guarantor's attestation de prise en charge (sponsorship certificate)[10]

    Signature legalized at the town hall (guarantor in France), with ID, bank statements, pay slips and tax notices.

  • Scholarship certificate[3][28]

    French Government, AUF, Erasmus Mundus or EU scholarship holders: exempt from Campus France fees; French Government scholarship holders exempt from visa fees.

  • Parental authorization (minors)[29]

    France-Visas forms, sponsor in France; "mineur scolarisé" (school-age minor) visa before age 18.

Before departure

Detailed fees

  • Études en France application fee (BCI)[1][2][3]75,000 FCFA

    Non-refundable; exemptions for scholarship holders and final-year (Terminale) students of AEFE high schools.

  • Student long-stay visa fee (half rate)[10][12][28]33,000 – 35,000 FCFA

    France-Visas; 33,000 FCFA according to Campus France Congo (undated page). Free for French Government scholarship holders.

  • TLScontact service fee[10][11]27,500 FCFA

    To be paid within 96 hours of booking; non-refundable.

  • DELF or DALF (optional)[2](depending on profile)35,000 FCFA

    DELF 35,000, DALF 50,000, Ev@lang free; not required by Campus France Congo.

Total135,500 – 137,500 FCFA

excluding blocked funds; Campus France fees 75,000 + visa 35,000 (33,000 according to Campus France Congo, hence the minimum) + TLScontact service 27,500. Excluding optional tests, tuition fees and post-arrival costs (VLS-TS validation €100, CVEC €105). No legalization or translation required. A French Government scholarship holder pays neither the Campus France fees nor the visa.

For the visa

Funds to prove

575,602 FCFA / monthi.e. €877.5 / month

Fixed rate 655.957; €10,530 per year. If the embassy keeps Campus France Congo's 10-month calculation: €8,775 (5,756,023 FCFA), unpublished Travora calculation.

47% of the gross SMIC (minimum wage) on the filing date (decree no. 2026-526 of June 22, 2026), i.e. €877.50 per month since August 1, 2026, indexed to the SMIC. Campus France Congo still shows €615 (former amount) and €315 if housed for free; the reduction for free accommodation is not confirmed since the decree.[10][17][18][19]

Accepted proof

  • irrevocable bank transfer
  • scholarship certificate
  • guarantor's attestation de prise en charge (sponsorship certificate) with proof of income
2027 intake

Timeline

  1. October 1, 2026

    Études en France campaign opens[5]

  2. December 10, 2026

    application submission deadline (main procedure)[1][5]

    at 11:59 p.m., no extension

  3. December 12, 2026

    deadline to pay the 75,000 FCFA at BCI[1]

  4. January 2027

    Parcoursup opens (BTS/BTSA, CPGE, DCG, IFSI)[5]

  5. February 28, 2027

    Interview deadline (main procedure)[5]

    Official calendar visually checked on 13 October 2026.

  6. April 1, 2027

    pre-consular procedure opens (private schools, non-connected institutions)[5]

  7. April 30, 2027

    institutions' responses[5]

  8. May 31, 2027

    final choice[5]

  9. June 20, 2027

    pre-consular procedure: submission[5]

    Submit before 20 June 2027 at 22:59; pay by 22 June at 23:59; interview by 8 August 2027.

  10. July 18, 2027

    Applicants admitted through Parcoursup: payment deadline[5]

    Payment by 18 July 2027 at 23:59. Submit the application upon receiving admission; interview by 8 August 2027.

  11. June 2027to be confirmed

    visa application (no earlier than 6 months before departure, at least 3 months before the start of classes)[5][10][11]

    after the final choice; Congo-specific date window not published

  12. Date not published

    spring intake[30]

    None in 2026-2027: single intake in September 2027.

  13. June 22, 2027

    Pre-consular procedure outside Parcoursup: payment deadline[5]

    Until 23:59.

  14. August 8, 2027

    Pre-consular and Parcoursup procedures: interview deadline[5]

Specifics Congo-Brazzaville → France

Differences and pitfalls

What differs from the general rule

  • Campus France fees set at 75,000 FCFA, paid at a BCI branch (not at the visa service provider), after Campus France's request and no later than December 12, 2026.
  • Submission deadline of December 10, 2026, earlier than the national DAP deadline (December 15).
  • Visa at 35,000 FCFA (half price) and TLScontact service at 27,500 FCFA, at the center in the city of residence (Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire); TLScontact fees to be paid within 96 hours of booking.
  • Congo is among the countries where French is the sole official language: no French test for the DAP; Campus France Congo presents the test as merely an asset.
  • Final-year (Terminale) students of the AEFE high schools in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire are exempt from fees and the interview, but pay the full visa fee.
  • No spring intake in 2026-2027.
  • No apostille in Congo; no legalization is required for the Études en France procedure.

Pitfalls to avoid

Confusing Congo-Brazzaville and the DRC[11]

Use congobrazzaville.campusfrance.org and france-visas.gouv.fr/congo-republique-du, not the DRC sites.

Paying too early or too late[1][5]

The 75,000 FCFA is paid at BCI only after Campus France Congo's request, no later than December 12, 2026; no extension.

Missing the TLScontact 96-hour window[11]

Appointment canceled if the TLScontact fees are not paid within 96 hours; fees never refunded.

Guarantor sized on €615[10][17][19]

Campus France Congo's visa page still calculates on €615 per month; since August 1, 2026, €877.50 (575,602 FCFA) is required.

Using an intermediary[2][7]

Campus France Congo has no partnership with any agency and asks applicants not to hand documents or passwords to a third party.

Submitting without a passport (private schools)[6]

In the pre-consular procedure, the passport is mandatory from submission; the receipt is not accepted.

Applying for the visa too late[10]

Up to two months' wait for an appointment; a late application does not entitle you to an earlier appointment.

Forgetting to validate the VLS-TS[22][23]

Without online validation within 3 months (€100), your stay becomes irregular.

Figures

Statistics

Congolese (Brazzaville) students enrolled in France
No official figure found: Not found (departures/cg.json, October 12, 2026).
student visas issued to or refused for Congolese nationals
No official figure found: No official per-country figures found (see destinations/fr.json).

Travora does not issue visas.

Travora is not affiliated with any embassy, consulate or service provider (Campus France, TLScontact, VFS Global, BLS…). Rules and amounts change: check the official website before any payment or filing. Page updated October 13, 2026.

Checked on

Sources

  1. [1]Les 8 étapes de la procédure — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  2. [2]Brochure Campus France Congo 2027 (calendrier de la procédure 2026-2027) — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  3. [3]Cas particuliers — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  4. [4]Brochure procédure préconsulaire 2025 — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  5. [5]Calendrier 2026 - 2027 — Campus France Congo, accessed October 13, 2026
  6. [6]Procédure préconsulaire — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  7. [7]Qui sommes-nous ? — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  8. [8]Enrolling in an institute of higher education — Campus France, accessed October 12, 2026
  9. [9]Which countries are affected by the "Etudes en France" procedure? — Campus France, accessed October 12, 2026
  10. [10]La demande de visa — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  11. [11]Congo (République du) — lieu de dépôt — France-Visas (ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères), accessed October 12, 2026
  12. [12]Changer de lieu de dépôt — Congo (République du) — France-Visas (ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères), accessed October 12, 2026
  13. [13]Nos locaux — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  14. [14]Les 8 étapes de la procédure Études en France (mise à jour le 18 septembre 2024) — Campus France Togo, accessed October 12, 2026
  15. [15]Le français langue étrangère et les tests de langue (fiche Campus France, novembre 2018) — Campus France, accessed October 12, 2026
  16. [16]Dossier blanc : demande d'admission préalable (DAP) – inscription en première année de licence — Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, accessed October 12, 2026
  17. [17]Étudiant étranger en France : visa de long séjour ou titre de séjour (vérifié le 1er août 2026) — Service-Public.gouv.fr (DILA), accessed October 12, 2026
  18. [18]Décret n° 2026-526 du 22 juin 2026 portant actualisation et indexation du niveau de ressources dont le ressortissant de pays tiers doit justifier pour être admis au séjour pour un motif d'études (JORF n° 0146 du 24 juin 2026) — Légifrance, accessed October 12, 2026
  19. [19]Étudier en France en 2026 : ce qui change pour les étudiants internationaux (24 juillet 2026) — Campus France Biélorussie, accessed October 12, 2026
  20. [20]Questions fréquentes – France-Visas — France-Visas, accessed October 12, 2026
  21. [21]Visa de long séjour (séjour de plus de 3 mois à 1 an) (vérifié le 9 octobre 2026) — Service-Public.gouv.fr (DILA), accessed October 12, 2026
  22. [22]Timbre fiscal : hausse des taxes sur les titres de séjour au 1er mai 2026 (22 avril 2026, mis à jour le 12 mai 2026) — Service-Public.gouv.fr (DILA), accessed October 12, 2026
  23. [23]How to validate your long-stay visa upon your arrival in France? (updated on 12 August 2026) — Campus France, accessed October 12, 2026
  24. [24]Enseignement supérieur – Université : quels sont les frais d'inscription en 2026-2027 ? (publié le 21 août 2026) — Service-Public.gouv.fr (DILA), accessed October 12, 2026
  25. [25]Le Visa Études — Campus France Côte d'Ivoire, accessed October 12, 2026
  26. [26]The visa application process – France-Visas — France-Visas, accessed October 12, 2026
  27. [27]Légalisation de documents du Congo-Brazzaville — NetherlandsWorldwide (ministère néerlandais des Affaires étrangères), accessed October 12, 2026
  28. [28]Frais de visa – montant, catégorie, plein tarif, tarifs réduits, gratuité — France-Visas, accessed October 12, 2026
  29. [29]Mineurs scolarisés – France-Visas — France-Visas, accessed October 12, 2026
  30. [30]Rentrée décalée 2026 - 2027 : ce qu'il faut savoir — Campus France Congo, accessed October 12, 2026
  31. [31]Étudiant étranger en France : visa de long séjour ou titre de séjour — Service Public, accessed October 13, 2026
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