Administrative steps to study abroad: the complete checklist

Between the moment the student receives admission and the moment they board the plane, there are an impressive number of administrative steps that must be chained in the right order. Every year, we see families perfectly organised on programme choice… and completely lost on the steps that follow.

This article is the complete checklist, destination by destination, of what to handle between July and September. For each step: when to do it, how much it costs, what documents are needed.

Overview: the 7 categories

1. Visa (or equivalent)
2. Health insurance / medical coverage
3. Bank account in the host country
4. French diploma recognition if required
5. Housing (see our dedicated article)
6. Parental documents (power of attorney, attestations)
7. Telecommunications (phone, internet)

1. The visa

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (Student visa)

When: as soon as the unconditional offer is confirmed (typically mid-August after Bac results). The visa takes 3-6 weeks to be issued.

Cost: £558 + £776/year NHS surcharge (paid upfront for the entire cycle). For a 3-year Bachelor’s: ~£2,830 total.

Documents:

• CAS letter from the university
• Passport valid 6 months beyond the end of the course
• Proof of sufficient funds (~£1,334/month × 9 months for London)
• English language test if required
• Biometric photo
• TB test for certain origin countries

🇳🇱 Netherlands

No visa for EU nationals (French included). The student arrives with their ID card and registers at the municipality (BRP — Basisregistratie Personen) within 5 days of moving in. Mandatory to obtain a BSN number (Dutch equivalent of a national ID number), needed for opening a bank account, subscribing to insurance, etc.

Cost: free.

🇨🇦 Canada (Study Permit)

When: as soon as admission is confirmed. The study permit takes 6-12 weeks from France.

Cost: 150 CAD (~€105) + 120 CAD for the CAQ if studying in Quebec.

Documents:

• Official Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
• CAQ (Quebec only) — must be obtained before the federal study permit
• Proof of sufficient funds (~10,000 CAD/year + tuition)
• Medical exam by an IRCC-approved doctor
• No criminal record (some profiles)

🇺🇸 United States (F-1 visa)

When: as soon as you receive the I-20 form from the university (usually May-June). The visa takes 4-8 weeks, but appointment slots at the US consulate in Paris can be hard to find in summer, so book very early.

Cost: SEVIS fee $350 + visa fee $185 + variable consular fees. ~$600 total.

Documents:

• I-20 form from the university
• DS-160 form completed online
• Passport valid 6 months beyond the end of the course
• US-standard photos
• Proof of funding
• Mandatory consular interview

🇦🇪 UAE

When: once admission is confirmed, the university sponsors and organises the student visa. Much simpler than most countries.

Cost: 3,000 AED (€750) for the annual renewable student visa.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

No visa for EU nationals. The student must declare their presence at the cantonal population office within 14 days of arrival and obtain a student residence permit (permit B). Cost: ~80-150 CHF.

🇧🇪 Belgium

No visa for French nationals. The student registers at the commune within 8 working days of arrival and obtains an annex 33 (immatriculation certificate). Cost: ~€20.

2. Health insurance

🇬🇧 UK

Coverage via the NHS once the NHS surcharge is paid during the visa. Access to GPs and hospitals. No other steps needed.

Tip: register with a GP (general practitioner) as soon as you arrive on campus. Free and mandatory to be able to consult later.

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Dutch health insurance is NOT mandatory for foreign students who don’t work. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) suffices for emergency care.

Special case: if the student starts working (even a small student job), they must immediately subscribe to Dutch health insurance (~€120-150/month). Not doing so = fine + retroactive catch-up.

🇨🇦 Canada

Variable by province. In Quebec, French students benefit from RAMQ (Quebec health insurance) via a Franco-Quebec agreement: near-complete coverage, free.

In other provinces, the student must subscribe to university health insurance (~600-1,200 CAD/year).

🇺🇸 USA

Mandatory health insurance, offered by the university (or equivalent external). Cost: $2,500 to $4,500/year. Usually already included in tuition at most universities; check the admission contract.

🇦🇪 UAE

Mandatory, often included in tuition or organised by the university. Cost: ~1,500-3,000 AED/year.

🇨🇭 Switzerland

Mandatory LAMal insurance — one of the most expensive items in Swiss student life. Student rate: ~80-120 CHF/month. Must subscribe within 3 months of arrival.

🇧🇪 Belgium

French students can remain affiliated with French Social Security via the EHIC, OR subscribe to a Belgian mutualité (~€7-15/month). The Belgian mutualité is recommended if staying more than 6 months.

3. Bank account

General rule: opening a bank account in the host country is essential in the first weeks to:

• Receive local aid (grants, local housing benefit)
• Pay rent (landlords often refuse international transfers)
• Avoid exchange fees on every withdrawal

Quick tip

Before leaving, open a Revolut or Wise account (free, online, works everywhere) that lets you receive/send funds in multiple currencies without exchange fees. Not a replacement for a real local bank account, but very useful during the first weeks.

4. French diploma recognition

For most EU destinations (Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland), the French Bac is recognised directly via the Bologna conventions. No particular step.

For the UK, the Bac is accepted by British universities via the UCAS tariff (official conversion done by UCAS).

For the USA and Canada, some universities require a diploma evaluation by a third-party organisation (WES — World Education Services, or ECE — Educational Credential Evaluators). Cost: ~$200, delay 4-6 weeks.

5. Parental documents to prepare

Parental authorisation (mandatory for minors)

If the student leaves before turning 18, a parental authorisation (or AST — Autorisation de Sortie du Territoire) is mandatory to leave France. Free document filled and signed by parents, with a copy of the signing parent’s ID.

Emergency medical authorisation

A document signed by parents allowing the university (or host country medical services) to administer emergency care. Not mandatory everywhere but strongly recommended.

Financial support attestation

For visa applications (USA, UK, Canada), parents must provide an official attestation that they cover their child’s costs, with corresponding bank statements.

Certified copies

Have 5-10 certified copies of the Bac, passport, and transcripts. Done free at the town hall in France.

6. Telecommunications

Phone

Two options:

Option A — Keep the French number: retain a French plan (Free, Sosh) that includes data and calls in many countries. Advantage: keep the number for French administrative procedures.

Option B — Local SIM card: buy a local SIM card in the host country. Advantage: cheap plan, local number usable everywhere locally.

Recommendation: start with option A for the first 2-3 weeks, then switch to option B once settled.

Internet

Usually included in accommodation (student residence, halls of residence). For private housing, count ~€30-50/month.

The ideal calendar (for a September start)

Period	To do
June	Confirm admission, book housing, start visa if needed
July	Get visa, prepare parental documents, order EHIC
Early August	Bac results, send official transcripts to university, prepare budget
Mid-August	Plane ticket, travel insurance, certified copies of diplomas
Late August	Open Revolut/Wise, travel logistics
Arrival (early September)	Municipality registration (NL, BE, CH), local bank, GP registration (UK), local SIM

Key takeaways

• 7 categories to anticipate: visa, health insurance, bank account, diploma recognition, housing, parental documents, telecoms.
• For the EU (Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland): no visa but mandatory municipality registration within 5-14 days.
• For the UK: plan for ~£2,830 in visa + NHS surcharge upfront.
• Revolut / Wise are valuable allies for the first weeks before opening a local account.
• Don’t forget: parental authorisation (minor), emergency medical authorisation, certified copies.

Going further

• Student housing: how to find a place when your family lives abroad
• The France + UK dual application, step by step
• United Kingdom country guide
• Gov.uk — Student visa

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Article written by Constantin Mardoukhaev, co-founder of Axiom Academic. Constantin supports francophone families through the complete logistics of international departure — including the administrative steps nobody thinks to list in June.