Living in France

France is a unitary state. Unlike federal countries, the big rules that newcomers meet — residence and visas, social security and health insurance, income tax, tenancy law and family benefits — are set nationally and apply in the same way across the country. What differs from place to place is the office that applies them and how busy it is.

Who does what

• The prefecture (préfecture) represents the state in each département. It issues and renews residence permits. In Paris this role is held by the Paris police prefecture (préfecture de police); residents of the neighbouring Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne départements go to their own prefecture.
• ANEF (Administration numérique pour les étrangers en France) is the national online platform for most residence procedures: validating a long-stay visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS), and applying for or renewing many permit types.
• OFII (Office français de l'immigration et de l'intégration) runs the integration pathway: the republican integration contract (contrat d'intégration républicaine, CIR), civic training, language training and, for some permit types, the medical check.
• The health insurance fund (Assurance Maladie, local CPAM) registers you for public health cover (protection universelle maladie, PUMa) and issues the carte Vitale.
• The family benefits fund (CAF) pays housing aid and family benefits.
• The town hall (mairie) handles civil status (births, marriages), school enrolment and many local services. Paris has a city hall and 20 district town halls (mairies d'arrondissement).
• The tax administration (DGFiP, impots.gouv.fr) handles income tax; France Travail handles job seekers' registration and unemployment benefits.

What most newcomers deal with first

1. Residence status. Citizens of the EU, the European Economic Area and Switzerland do not need a residence permit, though they can ask for one. Most other nationals need a long-stay visa from a French consulate before travelling. If it is a VLS-TS, you validate it online within three months of arrival and pay a tax (€300 in the general case since 1 May 2026, €100 for students).
2. Health insurance. Anyone who works or lives in France stably and lawfully is covered by the PUMa. Workers are affiliated immediately; people without work usually have to wait three months after arrival.
3. A bank account. Salaries, rent and benefits are paid by transfer to a French or SEPA account. If banks refuse you, the droit au compte procedure at the Banque de France guarantees a basic account.
4. Housing. Landlords may only ask for documents on an official list, deposits are capped and Paris has rent control.
5. Integration. Non-EU nationals who intend to stay long term usually sign the CIR with OFII. Since 1 January 2026 a first multi-year residence card requires French at level A2 and a passed civic exam; a first resident card requires B1.

Getting help

• Service-Public.fr is the official site that explains administrative procedures for individuals; most of its pages are in French, and some key pages are available in English.
• Allô Service Public answers general administrative questions by phone but cannot see personal files.
• Free, neutral housing law advice is available from the ADIL in each département (ADIL 75 in Paris).

The HomiStart France guides are general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm details with the official sources linked in each guide or with the office responsible for you.