Opening a bank account in France and the right to an account

Documents you need

• Passport or national ID card

  required

• Proof of address in France less than three months old

  For example a rent receipt, a utility or internet bill, a home insurance certificate or a tax notice.

  required

• Hosting certificate (attestation d'hébergement) with your host's ID and proof of address

  If you are staying with someone.

  optional

• Residence document (non-EU nationals)

  optional

• Proof of income or status (contract

  optional

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose a type of bank

   You can open an account with a branch-based bank, a bank's online brand or an app-based provider. Branch banks offer face-to-face appointments, while online and app-based providers work mainly through an app, sometimes in several languages. Compare monthly account fees, card fees, cash withdrawal conditions and international transfer costs on each bank's published fee schedule (plaquette tarifaire). Each year, your bank must send you a statement of the fees you paid.

2. 2

   Step 2: Prepare your documents

   Banks must verify your identity and address before opening an account. Expect to show:

   • a valid official photo ID: passport, national ID card or residence permit;
   • a proof of address, for example a rent receipt, a utility or internet bill less than three months old, a home insurance certificate or a tax notice;
   • if you are staying with someone, a hosting certificate (attestation d'hébergement) signed by your host with their ID and proof of address (Service-Public provides a template);
   • for non-EU nationals, your residence document.

   Banks may also ask about your income or occupation. Online banks may use certified identity-check services and ask for a first transfer from another account in your name.

3. 3

   Step 3: If a bank refuses, ask for a refusal letter

   A bank may refuse to open an account. If it has not answered within 15 days of your request, this counts as a refusal. The bank must then give you a letter of refusal stating the reason and tell you that you can ask the Banque de France for the right to an account (droit au compte). You can also ask the refusing bank to send your file to the Banque de France for you.

4. 4

   Step 4: Apply for the droit au compte

   Send the Banque de France the request form, a valid French or foreign ID, a proof of address less than three months old, the refusal letter (or proof that you applied more than 15 days ago) and a sworn statement that you have no other deposit account. You can apply online in your personal space on the Banque de France website, at a branch counter or by post. The CAF, a consumer association or a social services centre can help you.

5. 5

   Step 5: Open the designated account

   Within one working day of receiving your complete file, the Banque de France designates a bank. That bank sends you the list of documents it needs within three working days and must open the account within three working days of receiving them. The account comes with basic banking services free of charge, including a bank card authorised for each use, transfers, direct debits, cash withdrawals, online balance checks and two bank cheques per month.

6. 6

   Step 6: Share your RIB and set up payments

   Download your RIB as soon as the account is open and send it to your employer, the health insurance fund (through your ameli account), the CAF and your landlord or utilities. Add your bank details to your impots.gouv.fr account so that tax refunds and balances go through this account.

Savings accounts

Switching banks and closing an account

Accounts you keep abroad

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Leaving without a written refusal; without it you cannot easily use the droit au compte.
• Forgetting that, as a French tax resident, you must declare bank accounts you hold abroad when you file your tax return.
• Relying on a new account for rent before the card and PIN have arrived.
• Opening several Livret A accounts; only one per person is allowed.

Tips

• Ask for your PIN and card before relying on the account for rent; a first card may take several days to arrive.
• Keep a copy of your fee schedule and check your annual fee statement.
• If you start a micro-enterprise, a separate account for the business becomes mandatory once turnover exceeds €10,000 two years in a row.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Open a bank accountAdd to plan
• File your French income tax return each springAdd to plan
• Get a French mobile numberAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Apr 2027.