France
Your start in Paris
France's capital is a single local authority, the Ville de Paris, divided into 20 districts (arrondissements), each with its own town hall. Residence permits for Paris residents are handled by the préfecture de police, health insurance by the CPAM de Paris and housing aid by the Caf de Paris. Rents are capped by rent control.
At a glance
Paris is the capital of France and the centre of the Île-de-France region. For newcomers, three layers matter: the City of Paris (Ville de Paris) for local services, state offices for residence and tax, and national social security funds with Paris branches.
The city and its 20 arrondissements
The Ville de Paris runs local services such as civil status (births, marriages), schools, libraries and many social services. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements. Each has a district town hall (mairie d'arrondissement). The city's information line 3975 (cost of a local call) answers questions about city services, and an online contact form reaches the right department.
Who handles what for newcomers
- Residence permits: the préfecture de police handles residence permits for people living in Paris (75). Most applications go online through ANEF or the prefecture's online forms; cards are collected by appointment after an SMS or email. If you live in Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis or Val-de-Marne, your own prefecture is responsible.
- Integration: the OFII Paris office holds the welcome sessions where newcomers sign the republican integration contract.
- Health insurance: the CPAM de Paris opens your rights and issues the carte Vitale; most contact is through your ameli account.
- Housing aid and family benefits: the Caf de Paris, with four sites in the city.
- Housing advice: ADIL 75 gives free legal advice on leases, rent control and deposits.
- Transport: Île-de-France Mobilités sets fares for the metro, RER, trains, trams and buses across the region; the all-zone Navigo Mois costs €90.80 a month in 2026.
Renting in Paris
Demand for rental homes is high. Paris applies rent control (encadrement des loyers) to most main-residence and mobility leases signed or renewed between July 2019 and 24 November 2026: the base rent may not exceed an increased reference rent set for the type of home and area. Check Service-Public or ADIL 75 for whether the scheme has been extended when you sign. Deposits and agency fees are capped, and landlords may only request documents from an official list.
The HomiStart Paris guides are general information, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm details with the official sources linked in each guide.
An overview of moving to France and your first month in Paris, the documents to bring, what life here costs, and the emergency numbers to save on day one.
Arrival Plan for two to six months of preparation before departure and about three months of formalities after arrival Arrival Spread over about four weeks; most steps take one online form or one appointment Moving Several weeks to a few months, mainly waiting for certificates, apostilles and translations from your home country Money About 30 minutes to draft a first budget with this guide Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers in your phone
Somewhere to stay that gives you a proof of address, validating your visa, a bank account, a French phone number, a transport pass and registering for health insurance.
Housing From a few days (hotel, holiday rental) to several weeks or months of applications (student and young workers' residences) Residence and visas About 30 minutes for the online validation; a half day for the OFII welcome session; months for some card decisions Banking From a same-day online opening to a few weeks; droit au compte takes a few working days after the Banque de France receives your file Internet and mobile About 20 minutes in a shop or online; a physical SIM sent by post takes a few days, an eSIM can work the same day Transport A few minutes to buy a ticket; ordering a personal Navigo card takes longer Insurance An online form or a few documents; processing takes several weeks, and the definitive social security number for people born abroad can take several months
Choosing the right long-stay visa or residence card, the talent card, studying, family routes, validating your visa with OFII and the préfecture de police, renewals, and the path to French nationality. EU citizens' rights are explained separately.
Residence and visas Visa decisions from abroad can take weeks to months; renewals must be filed between four and two months before expiry Residence and visas About 30 minutes for the online validation; a half day for the OFII welcome session; months for some card decisions Residence and visas No residence procedure is required; an optional card application takes about 30 minutes online Residence and visas Visa processing from abroad takes weeks; decisions on applications filed in France can take up to four months in most categories Universities Applications open many months before the academic year; the visa itself takes several weeks Residence and visas The prefecture has six months to decide on a complete file; visas and arrival formalities follow Residence and visas About an hour to file online; decisions can take several months Citizenship Preparing the file takes weeks; the administration has up to 18 months to decide (12 months after 10 years of residence)
Finding a flat with a complete dossier and the free Visale guarantee, temporary options, lease vocabulary, avoiding scams, rent control and tenant rights, home insurance, CAF housing aid, and setting up electricity and internet.
Housing Often several weeks of searching; a complete dossier lets you apply the same day you visit Housing From a few days (hotel, holiday rental) to several weeks or months of applications (student and young workers' residences) Housing About 15 minutes to read; keep it open when you read an advert or a lease Housing About 10 minutes to read; a few minutes of checks for each promising listing Housing About 20 minutes to read; a free ADIL appointment usually has to be booked ahead Insurance About 30 minutes to compare and take out a policy online; the certificate is usually issued immediately Housing About an hour for the simulation and online application; the CAF then processes your file Utilities About 30 minutes per contract online. Electricity is usually switched on within five working days; internet installation can take one to several weeks.
Looking for a job, your rights as an employee, getting foreign qualifications recognised, working as a micro-entrepreneur, and registering with France Travail if a job ends.
Jobs Usually several weeks to several months, depending on your sector, experience and French level Employment About 20 minutes to read; keep it at hand when you sign a contract or if a problem arises. Employment A few weeks to several months for a comparability certificate; often a year or more for regulated health professions with non-EU diplomas Employment About an hour to register online; your identification numbers usually follow within days to a few weeks Employment About 30 to 60 minutes to register online, then a first appointment and a short monthly update
Joining public health insurance, your social security number and carte Vitale, complementary cover, finding a doctor in Paris, pharmacies and prescriptions, and emergency numbers.
Insurance An online form or a few documents; processing takes several weeks, and the definitive social security number for people born abroad can take several months Insurance About an hour to prepare the form and copies; the definitive number can take several months Insurance About 15 minutes to read; comparing individual offers can take an evening Healthcare From a few days to several weeks to find a GP who accepts new patients as médecin traitant Healthcare About 10 minutes to read Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers in your phone
Opening a bank account and the right to an account, income tax withheld at source and the yearly return, the cost of living in Paris, and housing aid.
Banking From a same-day online opening to a few weeks; droit au compte takes a few working days after the Banque de France receives your file Taxes About 15 minutes to read; a first paper return takes one to two hours with your documents at hand Money About 30 minutes to draft a first budget with this guide Housing About an hour for the simulation and online application; the CAF then processes your file
Navigo passes and 2026 fares for the metro, RER, trains, trams and buses, cycling with Vélib' and Véligo, and exchanging a foreign driving licence.
Transport A few minutes to buy a ticket; ordering a personal Navigo card takes longer Transport A few minutes to sign up for Vélib'; a long-term rental or bike purchase takes a little longer Driving About an hour for the online application; the French licence usually arrives a few weeks after the file is validated
Crèches and childminders in Paris, enrolling children in school, CAF family benefits, and bringing your family to France.
Childcare Applying takes an hour; finding a place can take months, so start as early as you are allowed Schools Primary enrolment usually takes one or two appointments; placement in secondary school for a child arriving from abroad can take a few weeks because of the assessment Family About an hour to create a CAF account and apply online; processing then takes some weeks Residence and visas The prefecture has six months to decide on a complete file; visas and arrival formalities follow
Learning French, the integration contract and the 2026 language and civic exam rules, and building a social life through associations, libraries and volunteering.
Language Reaching A2 from scratch usually takes several hundred hours of study; the CIR runs for one year, renewable once Making friends and building a social life in ParisPractical ways to meet people in Paris as a newcomer: associations and the September association fairs, Paris'Anim activity centres, free libraries and conversation workshops, volunteering, sport, language exchanges and parent networks, plus what newcomers commonly notice about social life in Paris. Ongoing; most friendships grow from repeated contact in the same group over months
Shop opening hours and Sundays, public holidays, your rights as a consumer, and phone contracts.
Shopping About 10 minutes to read Local government About 5 minutes to read Consumer rights About 15 minutes to read; a complaint letter takes 20 minutes Internet and mobile About 20 minutes in a shop or online; a physical SIM sent by post takes a few days, an eSIM can work the same day
Neighbourhoods on the map
Select a pin to read about a neighbourhood.
Map of neighbourhoods in Paris