Moving to Paris is an act of love and an administrative marathon. France has a passionate relationship with paperwork, and the journey of an expatriate arriving in Paris resembles a bureaucratic obstacle course where each office asks for a document you can only obtain from the next one.
This guide brings order to the chaos. Twenty essential steps, classified by chronology and priority, with realistic timelines and pitfalls to avoid for each. This is the checklist we have been sharing with our international clients at Home Select for fifteen years, tested by hundreds of families from every continent.
Before arrival: steps to plan ahead
1. Visa and residence permit
EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: you need nothing. Complete freedom to settle. Move on to the next step.
Non-EU citizens: you must obtain a long-stay visa before arrival, from the French consulate in your country of residence. The visa type depends on your situation: employee visa (if transferred or hired by a French company), Passeport Talent visa (executives, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors), visitor visa (if you have sufficient resources without working in France), student visa.
Timeline: 2 to 8 weeks for visa approval. Start the process 3 months before your departure.
Once in France: within 3 months of arrival, you must validate your visa on the ANEF platform (Administration Numerique pour les Etrangers en France) and apply for your residence permit if necessary. The Paris Prefecture (Cite de l’Immigration, 12th arrondissement) handles applications. Processing times are notoriously long (3 to 6 months for a first permit).
2. School enrollment for children
If you have children, start admission procedures 6 to 12 months before arrival for international and bilingual schools. Our complete guide to international schools in Paris details the institutions, fees and admission procedures.
For the French public system, enrollment is done at the local town hall (mairie d’arrondissement) once you have proof of address. It is quick, but school assignment depends on your address.
3. Bank account opening (preparation)
If you are an EU citizen, some French online banks (Boursorama, Fortuneo, Hello Bank) allow remote opening before arrival, with an EU passport and proof of address (even a foreign one to start).
For non-EU citizens, open a Wise or Revolut account before departure. These multi-currency accounts let you receive transfers, pay in euros and manage the transition. A standard French bank account will come later.
4. Temporary health insurance
Before the French social security system takes over (allow 2 to 4 months), take out international health insurance covering France. Insurers such as Cigna, Allianz Care, or April International offer expatriate contracts that can be activated immediately. Budget: 100 to 300 euros/month depending on coverage.
The first week: priorities
5. Temporary or permanent housing
If your property purchase is not finalized on arrival, you will need temporary housing. Options include: hotel (expensive beyond a few days), short-term furnished rental (Airbnb, Lodgis, Paris Attitude, expect 2,000 to 4,000 euros/month for a decent two-bedroom), or apart-hotel (Adagio, Citadines, from 2,500 euros/month).
Key point: you will need French proof of address for almost all subsequent steps. A lease or an attestation of accommodation works. An Airbnb does not.
6. French mobile phone
Absolute priority. You will need a French number for medical appointments (Doctolib), deliveries, government offices, and virtually everything.
French mobile operators are remarkably affordable by Anglo-Saxon standards. Free Mobile offers a plan at 19.99 euros/month (210 GB data, unlimited calls to 110 destinations). RED by SFR and B&You are in the same range. You can subscribe in-store with your passport and a payment method, no proof of address required.
7. Transport
The Pass Navigo is the key to Parisian transport: metro, bus, RER, tram throughout the Ile-de-France region for 86.40 euros/month (2026 rate). It can be topped up online or at stations. You will need a passport photo and a French phone number for the Ile-de-France Mobilites app.
In the meantime: single T+ tickets (2.15 euros) or books of 10 are available without formalities.
The first month: administrative foundations
8. Opening a French bank account
Go to a branch with: passport, visa or residence permit (if non-EU), French proof of address (lease, rent receipt, attestation), proof of income (employment contract or recent bank statements).
Banks most experienced with international clients: BNP Paribas (International Clients service), HSBC France, Societe Generale. Online banks are cheaper but do not always offer the support an expatriate needs initially.
Timeline: the account opens in 1 to 2 weeks. The bank card arrives by post 5 to 10 days later.
9. Social security registration (CPAM)
If you work in France, your employer initiates the registration. If you are inactive, retired or self-employed, you must register yourself on the ameli.fr website (section “You have just arrived in France”).
Documents required: passport, residence permit, proof of address, French bank details (RIB), birth certificate (translated and apostilled if necessary).
Timeline: obtaining the definitive social security number takes 2 to 6 months. In the meantime, a provisional number is assigned, and your private insurance covers costs.
10. Registering with a GP
The French system revolves around the attending physician (medecin traitant), your designated GP who coordinates your healthcare. Without a declared attending physician, your reimbursements are reduced.
Use Doctolib (the essential app) to find a GP in your neighbourhood who accepts new patients. Filter by language if you need an English-speaking doctor.
Standard GP consultation: 26.50 euros (regulated rate), reimbursed at 70% by social security. The remainder is covered by supplementary health insurance (mutuelle).
11. Supplementary health insurance (mutuelle)
French social security reimburses approximately 70% of medical costs. The remaining 30% (and more for dental, optical, hospitalization) is covered by a supplementary health insurance policy (mutuelle). If your employer offers one, enrollment is mandatory. Otherwise, take out an individual policy (50 to 150 euros/month depending on coverage level).
12. Electricity and gas
You must open a contract in your name. The historical supplier is EDF for electricity and Engie for gas, but alternative providers (TotalEnergies, Ekwateur, Octopus Energy) are often cheaper.
Opening is done online or by phone, with the delivery point number (PDL) of your home (available from the previous contract or from the Linky meter). Activation within 24-48 hours.
13. Internet
The four operators (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues) offer fiber broadband boxes from 20-30 euros/month. Fiber is available in virtually all of Paris. Installation by a technician within 1 to 2 weeks.
Free is the most competitive (Freebox at 29.99 euros/month). Orange is the most reliable for customer service. For intensive professional use, Orange or SFR are more recommended.
14. Home insurance
Mandatory for all tenants, strongly recommended for all owners. Take out a policy before moving in: the landlord or notaire will ask for it.
Online insurers (Luko, Lovys) are quick and affordable (10-25 euros/month for a Parisian apartment). Traditional insurers (MAIF, MACIF, AXA) offer more coverage but at higher prices.
Jean Mascla’s advice: Make a list of all steps that require proof of address, and obtain that proof of address as a priority. A signed lease, a rent receipt or a property ownership certificate unlocks almost everything else. Without proof of address, you are administratively paralyzed in France.
The first two months: consolidation
15. Tax registration
If you become a French tax resident (you live in France more than 183 days per year), you must declare your worldwide income in France. The first declaration is made the year following your arrival, but you should register with the Service des Impots des Particuliers in your arrondissement upon arrival to obtain a tax number.
If you remain a non-resident for tax purposes (you live in France less than 183 days but own property there), you fall under the Service des Impots des Non-Residents (SIPNR, based in Noisy-le-Grand). Our non-resident tax guide details the obligations.
16. CAF (Family Allowances Fund)
If you have children, you may be entitled to family allowances, even as a foreigner legally residing in France. Registration at caf.fr. Family allowances start from 2 children (approximately 140 euros/month for 2 children). Other benefits exist (housing assistance, activity bonus) depending on your income.
17. Consular registration
If you are a French national returning from abroad, update your situation at the consulate (deregistration from the consular register). If you are a foreign national, register with the consular registry of your embassy in Paris. This is useful in case of emergency and for your country’s elections.
18. Driving licence
EU citizens: your national licence is valid in France without time limit.
Non-EU citizens: your foreign licence is valid for 1 year after settling in France. Beyond this period, you must exchange it for a French licence or retake the test. Exchange is possible if France has a bilateral agreement with your country (this applies to the United States, but only certain states, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, etc.). The application is made on the ANTS website (Agence Nationale des Titres Securises). Timeline: 2 to 6 months.
19. Electoral registration (if applicable)
EU citizens residing in France can vote in municipal and European elections. Registration with the local town hall before the 6th Friday preceding the election.
20. Mail and redirections
Set up a mail redirect from your previous address (La Poste offers this service internationally for certain countries). Create a La Poste account with your new address for registered mail and administrative mailings. Also remember to update your address with all institutions: bank, insurance, subscriptions, employer.
Jean Mascla’s advice: Keep a physical folder (a pouch, a binder) with the originals of all your French documents: residence permit, lease, bank details (RIB), tax notice, Carte Vitale, social security certificate. The French administration loves originals and certified copies. Having everything at hand will save you hours of frantic searching before each administrative appointment.
Is buying property part of your move to Paris? Our 16 property hunters have been supporting expatriates from start to finish since 2011, and not just in finding the apartment. We point you to the right contacts for each step of your relocation. Let’s talk about your relocation project
The summary checklist
Before arrival: visa (non-EU), children’s school, preparatory bank account, temporary health insurance.
Week 1: housing (temporary or permanent), French phone, transport (Navigo).
Month 1: French bank account, social security, GP, supplementary health insurance, electricity/gas, internet, home insurance.
Months 2-3: tax registration, CAF, consular registration, driving licence, electoral registration, mail redirects.
This is a dense journey, but each step taken individually is manageable. The key is order and planning. And if you are buying property in Paris as part of your relocation, your Home Select property hunter can guide you toward the right service providers at each stage: bank, notaire, tax advisor, property manager, insurer.
For further reading: our complete guide to buying from abroad and our guide to the best neighbourhoods for expatriates.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get administratively settled in Paris?
Allow 2 to 3 months for the essentials to be in place: residence permit (if required), bank account, social security number, health insurance, electricity and internet contracts. Some steps such as obtaining the definitive Carte Vitale or full tax registration can take 4 to 6 months. Our advice: start the longest steps (visa, bank account, school) before your arrival.
Does an EU citizen need a visa to move to Paris?
No. Citizens of the EU, the EEA (European Economic Area) and Switzerland have the right to settle freely in France without a visa or residence permit. They simply need to register with the town hall for certain procedures (electoral registration, school enrollment) and file an arrival declaration if staying more than 3 months. Non-EU citizens must obtain a long-stay visa before arrival, then a residence permit once in France.
Can you open a bank account in France from abroad?
Some online banks (Boursorama, Fortuneo) allow remote opening for EU residents. For non-EU non-residents, it is more complex: most traditional banks require physical presence and a French proof of address. The most pragmatic solution: open an account with an international online bank (Wise, Revolut) before arrival for immediate needs, then open a standard French bank account once on site with your lease or proof of address.
