1. Centre d'aide
  2. My housing certificate

❌ My city is not listed on LivinFrance: can I buy a certificate for a nearby city?

Buying a housing certificate for a neighboring city might seem logical... but it’s risky for your visa. Here’s what you need to know.

🚫 No, it’s not recommended. Here’s why 👇

Embassies require that the address on your housing certificate be within 30 km of your school.

If you choose a nearby city instead of the one where your school is located, there’s a high chance the distance exceeds 30 km.

👉 And if the distance is over 30 km?
Your visa could be refused.

🚫 Real example:

You’re studying in a city that is not available on our list (e.g. Châteauroux)
You want to buy a certificate for a nearby city that is available on LivinFrance (e.g. Poitiers)
➡️ Bad idea ❌
The distance between Châteauroux and Poitiers is well over 30 km.
Result: your certificate won’t be valid, and your visa is at risk.

✅ What should you do instead?

If your city is not available on the LivinFrance platform:
➡️ Do NOT buy a certificate for another city.
We cannot guarantee that it will meet embassy requirements.