🏡 What are the conditions to receive CAF housing aid?

When you arrive in France, rent can quickly become one of your biggest expenses. The good news is that APL (housing aid from the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) can help you reduce your monthly costs 💸

But are you eligible? Here’s what you need to know, simply explained !

✨ Conditions to meet in 2026

1. Be legally staying in France
You must have a valid residence permit if you are a non-EU student. If you are a European student, your passport is enough to prove your legal status.

2. Have a rental contract in your name
You must be a tenant or co-tenant with a lease. The accommodation must be your main residence, meaning the place where you actually live during your studies.

3. Pay rent
APL is only for students who pay rent. If you are staying for free with a friend or family member, you are not eligible.

4. Actually live in the accommodation in France
You must be physically present in France and living in the accommodation you are applying for. The aid depends on your real living situation.

5. Meet eligibility criteria based on your status and nationality
Since 2026, not all students are eligible:

• ✅ If you are a European student, you are eligible

• ✅ If you are a scholarship student, regardless of nationality, you are eligible

• ❌ If you are a non-EU student without a scholarship, you are no longer eligible

👉 In short: if you are from outside the EU, you must have a scholarship to receive APL.