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France

Complete guide for international students in France: bureaucracy, housing, budget, health, work, and finance.

Updated on: Jun 10, 2026

In France the leap is not just Paris: CAF, social security, deposits and administrative times change a lot between Île-de-France and regional university cities. Those who arrive with a complete dossier receive discounts; those who improvise remain for months without accommodation or social number.

What really changes here

  • Numéro étudiant + inscription administrative: basis for everything else
  • CAF (housing aid): also possible for students, but requires a contract and patience
  • Insurance/PUMA and Vitale cards after registration
  • Rental: dossier (guarant, payslips, garants) in great demand in Paris
  • Transportation: I sail to Paris; SNCF jeune elsewhere — car not necessary
  • Payments: cards everywhere; French RIB for rent

Ideal if…

  • Those who study in French or international programs large campuses
  • Students with a French guarantor or Visale service
  • Medium cities (Lille, Toulouse, Rennes, Strasbourg) for low costs
  • Those who exploit CROUS canteens and associative culture

Harder if…

  • Erasmus budget only without buffer for Paris
  • No guarantor and no visa for downtown studio apartment
  • You expect administrative responses in 48 hours
  • You don't speak French for contracts and CAF

First 7 days

  1. Visa/permit validation if non-EU (OFII within deadlines)
  2. University registration + attestation
  3. Open account with French RIB
  4. Accommodation with contract (CROUS or private)
  5. Student Social Security Registration
  6. French SIM; save 112 / 15 samu
  7. Create CAF account if eligible
Mistakes to avoid
  • Signing bail without understanding charges et état des lieux
  • Do not open CAF files due to delays
  • Working beyond student permitted hours
  • Skip OFII after non-EU arrival

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