🏘️ What is the step-by-step CAF process?

The CAF (Caisse d'allocations familiales) is a French public body that can help pay part of your rent. Before you start, check that you are eligible:

Important: new rules since 1 July 2026. If you are a national of a country outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, and you are in France on a visa or residence permit for studies, you can receive CAF housing aid (APL, ALS or ALF) only if at least one of these applies to you:

you receive a higher-education grant based on social criteria (bourse sur critères sociaux), for example from the CROUS;
you work, as an employee or self-employed;
you are on an apprenticeship or professional-training contract.

Refugee and stateless students, and spouses of non-EU students, also remain eligible. EU, EEA and Swiss students are not affected by this change. Read the full conditions

👉 Click here to find all CAF tutorials!

1. Prepare your documents 📚

A passport or identity card (and your birth certificate if requested).
If you're from the EU, EEA or Switzerland: proof of enrolment, your European Health Insurance Card and a declaration of sufficient resources.
If you're from outside the EU: a valid residence permit or validated VLS-TS, and proof that you meet one of the exceptions above.
Your bank details (RIB).
A rent certificate signed by your landlord, if requested.

2. Apply online 💻

👉 Click here to start your housing aid application!

You will give general information (alone or as a couple, student status, rent, move-in date), your personal details, details of the accommodation (size, number of occupants, rent, date of first payment, landlord's details and SIRET number for a residence), and check your resources. The accommodation must have at least 9 m² of living space. At the end, you receive your CAF beneficiary number and a summary.

For the full guide, see How to apply for CAF housing aid step by step.

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