Roadmap for expats in France
A personalized roadmap of French administrative procedures, in the right order.
Understand your titre de séjour
The first step for everyone. Understand the system, identify your visa type, and find the right path for your situation.
Renew your titre de séjour
Start 2-4 months before expiry to avoid gaps in your legal status.
Register with Sécurité Sociale
Mandatory for healthcare coverage. Do it as soon as you have your titre de séjour.
Complete university enrollment
Don't forget the CVEC (EUR 103). You can't enroll without it.
Apply for CROUS scholarship (if eligible)
DSE deadline is strict (January-May). Don't miss it.
Find student housing (CROUS, CIUP)
Check your school's partnerships first - they often have reserved spots.
Deadlines change. Don't miss yours.
Create a free account to track your progress and get notified.
Open a French bank account
You need a RIB for almost every other procedure - salary, CAF, Sécurité Sociale.
Apply for Carte Vitale
Your health insurance card - needed for automatic reimbursement at doctors and pharmacies.
Declare a médecin traitant
Without one, your reimbursement drops from 70% to 30%.
Apply for CAF housing aid
Can cover EUR 50-250/month of your rent. Apply as soon as you move in.
Get proof of address sorted
Required for almost everything - bank, prefecture, CAF. Understand your options early.
Know your alternatives (post-July 2026)
Non-EU students without scholarships lose APL/ALS eligibility from July 2026.
Exchange your driving licence
Must be done within 1 year of getting your titre de séjour or you lose the right.
Deadlines change. Stay ahead of them.
Create a free account to track your progress, get step-by-step guides with document checklists, and never miss a deadline.
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