Follow them top to bottom: each step unlocks the next.
01
Open a French bank account Start here
Get your RIB — the document that unlocks almost every step after it.
→ 02Get a French phone number First week
Needed for ANEF, Ameli, and SMS codes on government sites.
→ +Pay your CVEC Enrolment
The student & campus contribution — required before many schools finalise registration.
→ 03Register for social security (Ameli) Free
Free student health cover — and the number CAF often needs from you.
→ 04Validate your titre de séjour Deadline
The strict three-month window to make your VLS-TS a valid residence document.
→ 05Claim CAF housing aid (APL) Money
The €100–200/month you're entitled to — and how to actually get it.
→ +Rent with no guarantor (Visale) Housing
Runs alongside: how to secure a place using the free state-backed guarantee.
→Not sure what order to do these in?
Answer three quick questions and get your steps in the right order — with your titre de séjour deadline and a guide for each one.
Build your roadmap →