My next steps

You are now preparing for your arrival in France and there are several things you need to check before leaving.

• Make sure your visa procedure is taken care of
  
• Have your passport or ID card (for European students) ready
  
• Make a copy of your passport, French visa and all other important documents and send them to your e-mail address
  
• Make sure your current passport will be valid for at least six months beyond your return date
  
• Take an original of your birth certificate & a certified translation in French (with filiation)
  
• Reserve a temporary accommodation for your first few nights in Lyon
  
• Call your bank to ensure you can withdraw money in a foreign country
  
• Make sure you have some cash for your arrival (avoid huge amounts)
  
• See how you can access the campus easily
  
• Check that your phone works once reaching France for the first few days
  
• Make sure you have all the contacts you need
  
• Bring your medical records (for example, if you have an ongoing medical condition)
  
• Bring the original of your English test (if any)
  
• Bring the original of your diploma and transcripts with you (not copy)
  
• Have a valid European Health Insurance Card (for European students only)
  
• If you are a non-European student, do not forget the OFII form
  
• Take your vaccination card or a copy
  
  Please note that the French administration (Préfecture,CAF housing benefits...) does no longer accepts birth certificates translated into French in a foreign country (even by the Alliance Française – with China as an exception). You must have your birth certificate translated into French by sworn translators in France. Should your birth certificate be written in a rare language (for example: Hindi), you must have your birth certificate translated into English in your country of origin and then into French. The list of sworn translators is available here. (In French).