How do I find accommodation for a foreign student?

International students make up 14% of the student population in France, according to Campus France. This represents 430,000 people. And coming to study in France involves a whole host of formalities: obtaining a student visa, enrolling at school or university, opening a French bank account, but also finding accommodation. This search, sometimes carried out from a distance, can prove difficult for foreign students, especially in areas with high rental pressure.

So how do you go about finding accommodation? University halls of residence, student or classic rental leases, shared accommodation... What are the options available to international students? Garantme explains.

Finding accommodation in France as an international student: what are your options?

Are you moving to France as part of a university exchange program like Erasmus +, or as an international student enrolled at a French institution? But where and how can you find accommodation? Here's a closer look at your options.

Student or international residences

Many international students opt to live in a university residence. These are accommodation solutions designed specifically for students, ideal for new arrivals. They offer furnished accommodation with services included, such as laundry, internet connection, caretaking, etc.

University residences (often called cités U) can be public, managed by the CROUS, or privately owned. There are also student residences, both religious and secular, whose conditions vary. Some are co-educational, others not, and still others offer half-board or full-board accommodation.

The different types of rental contracts

Are you looking to rent private accommodation? Before you start looking for an apartment, it's essential to understand the specific features of renting in France and the different types of lease available.

• The student lease has been specifically designed for your profile as a tenant. It is non-renewable, valid for 9 months, i.e. the duration of an academic year, and applies only to furnished rentals.

• The mobility lease is a rental contract designed exclusively for the short-term rental of furnished accommodation. It is ideal for students, trainees and apprentices, including foreign nationals. It can be signed for a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 10 months, but cannot be renewed.

• A standard lease can be signed for a furnished or unfurnished property. The contract is for an initial period of one year, and may be tacitly renewed.

• Shared accommodation is also a preferred choice for many foreign students in France, who see it as an excellent way of integrating, practicing French on a daily basis and meeting other students or young professionals, in addition to living in larger accommodation. In shared accommodation, each tenant must provide a full dossier and sign a single lease (all tenants on the same contract) or an individual lease (one contract per room).

The guarantor

In France, the majority of rentals, whether arranged by private individuals or agencies, require a guarantor, i.e. a natural or legal person who undertakes to pay your rent if you are unable to do so. This can be an obstacle for foreign students whose families do not live in France. However, solutions do exist, thanks to private organizations that can act as guarantors on your behalf. Aware of the problems encountered by international students in accessing rental accommodation, Garantme offers a joint guarantee adapted to foreign students.

Our advice on finding student accommodation

Are you arriving in Paris or another French student city next fall? The first step is to find accommodation. Don't panic, with a good dose of motivation and a little forethought, you'll find your future student home.

A complete file

The first step in maximizing your chances of finding student accommodation is to prepare a solid, comprehensive application. Every item must be up-to-date, recent and provided in good quality so as to be legible. This includes

• proof of identity :
• proof of enrolment at your university ;
• proof of income for you or your parents;
• proof of your guarantor's identity and income.

Do you know about our rental file service? With Garantme, it's easy to create your own secure, watermarked rental file. Once validated, your file will reassure landlords.

Plan ahead

Start looking for student accommodation several months before the start of the school year, especially in cities with high rental pressure, such as Paris, Lille or Lyon. Remain vigilant and aware of the reality of the rental market in your search area, and beware of overly tempting advertisements, requests for payment before a visit, or exchanges by e-mail only.

Get in touch with your host school or university

Consider contacting your university's international student reception service. They can give you advice and sometimes even suggest partner accommodation. Contacting other international students from the same school or country on forums or social networks can also help.

Grants and subsidies available to foreign students

As a foreign student, you can benefit from theAide Personnalisée au Logement (APL) or theAllocation de Logement Sociale (ALS), subject to resources and housing conditions. In both cases, these benefits are paid by Caf. Find out more!

As you can imagine, the language barrier and unfamiliarity with the French rental market and administrative procedures can make finding accommodation difficult for foreigners. However, with some forethought, a solid application and the right resources, finding student accommodation in France as a foreigner is possible. Whether you're looking for student residences, studio flats on a classic or mobility lease, shared accommodation, etc., there are solutions to support your application and reassure landlords, such as the joint guarantee offered by Garantme.