After You Arrive

Your Address in France

France has no town hall sign-up for students. Your address still matters: you give it when you validate (confirm) your VLS-TS, and you need proof of address for your bank and your residence permit.

Registration Basics

Address Registration in France

There is no town hall sign-up for students. Instead, your address is part of your visa validation, your residence permit, your bank account and your health cover.

Deadlines

Validate your VLS-TS within 3 months of arrival. If you hold a residence permit card, you must also report any move.

Where Your Address Matters

These offices need your French address.

ANEF (residence permits)

Visa validation, permit renewal and address changes, all online.

Your university

Keep your address up to date in your student file.

Your bank

Needs proof of address to open an account.

Also Update

Health cover (state health insurance, called Assurance Maladie): Your account on ameli.fr, the state health insurance website.
Family allowance office (CAF): If you get housing aid, you make a new request when you move.

Step-by-Step Guide

Address Steps in France

What to do with your address, in order.

Get proof of address

Keep your rent agreement (lease) or housing contract, rent receipts and bills. Offices ask for recent proof.

Validate your VLS-TS

Within 3 months of arrival, validate your visa online on the ANEF website with your French address.

Open a bank account

You need valid ID, proof of address and your enrolment certificate.

Report any move

Residence permit holders report a new address online.

Key Deadlines

Dates you must not miss.

Institution	Deadline	Method	Consequences of Missing
VLS-TS validation	Within 3 months of arrival	Online on the ANEF website	Without it, your stay in France is not legal. You may also not be allowed back into France or the other Schengen countries (European countries with no border checks between them) after a trip.
Residence permit address change	Within 3 months of moving	Online on the ANEF website	-

Qogent Advisor Tip

Ask your landlord or student hostel for a paper saying you live there (a housing certificate) on day one. You will need it for your bank and visa validation.

Required Documents

Proof of Address in France

Papers that show where you live.

To report a move

Residence permit
Passport pages with your identity, dates and entry stamps
Proof of address less than 3 months old
Photo

To renew your residence permit

Proof of address less than 6 months old

To open a bank account

Valid ID
Proof of address
Enrolment certificate

Important Information

Special Cases

Situations students from India and Pakistan often face.

Moving residence

Report the new address on ANEF. If you get housing aid, ask again for the new home.

Temporary first housing

If you look for a flat after you arrive, book temporary housing until you find a permanent place.

Report a move in time

Residence permit holders must report a new address online within 3 months of moving.

Housing aid rule from 1 July 2026

Since 1 July 2026, students from outside the European Union (EU) on a study permit get housing aid (APL) only with a CROUS grant (for low family income), a job or an apprenticeship.

Frequently Asked Questions