Nigerian students seeking to study in private French institutions now face stricter financial requirements, according to the French embassy in Abuja. The embassy justified these changes during a July 16 press conference, citing a surge in fraudulent visa applications processed through Campus France.
Muriel Piquet-Viaux, the embassy’s Cultural and Cooperation Counselor, highlighted common irregularities including forged bank statements, falsified transcripts, fake identity documents, and inaccurate financial proofs. Consular authorities have implemented enhanced verification measures to scrutinize all submitted documents.
Under the new rules, Nigerian students admitted to private French institutions must now provide proof of full tuition payment or demonstrate access to sufficient funds before visa approval. For those who have already paid deposits, the embassy states that procedures will vary by institution, though blocked funds will be released once visas are granted.
This policy currently applies exclusively to Nigeria, making it the only African nation subjected to these tightened student visa conditions—a decision that has sparked widespread concern and backlash from affected families.