Housing benefit (CAF)

As a student, you can receive financial aid from the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF) to help you pay your rent.

What are the conditions to benefit from it?

To be eligible for housing aid, you mandatory have to:

Hold a valid visa / residence permit
(Caution: holders of a visa with the mention "temporary exemption from residence permit" cannot receive this aid)
Have a lease contract
Do not have family relationship with the landlord
Have a bank account in France or a SEPA bank account

When to apply?

You should apply as soon as possible after signing your lease agreement.

Indeed, the CAF will take into account the date of your online application and not the date of entry into your accommodation.
You should also know that the aid is not paid for the first month and is paid to the landowner, who will deducted the amount from your rent.

Step 1: Create your CAF account

Create your account in 3 steps on www.caf.fr:

Fill the information concerning your identity and contacts
Introduce the verification code received by text or mail (check your spams)
Define your own password

If you do not have a French Social Security number (Student with a European Health Insurance Card-EHIC), answer "No" to the question "Je possède un numéro de Sécurité sociale". You will get a provisional number at the end of the process, via email or text (P + 8 figures). You will also find it on the summary screen.

The CAF will process your application within few days (8 days on average). You will then receive your "N° allocataire" per post or email.

Create your account step by step

Step 2: Application for the housing benefit

Go to www.caf.fr > Aides et démarches > Mes démarches

You can whether make a simulation/test of your rights to the APL or directly submit an application by clicking on “Faire la demande”.

Do not forget to download the different "Récapitulatifs" (recaps) at the end of the process (Step 5: "Fin")

Consult the guides (available in French, English and Spanish)> End of the page “Vous êtes étudiant, vous venez de l'étranger pour étudier en France et vous souhaitez obtenir l'allocation logement étudiant » > Select the guide depending on your king of accomodation :

Processing times

Caution: The processing times can be very long.
See the CAF website to know more.

Example: On the 23rd January, the CAF is processing applications submitted between the 21st and the 27th October 2022.

More information

Bank account

Health coverage

Visas and Residence Permits

Since April 2021, international students can apply for an online visa on France-Visas.