CAF National Fund for Family Allowances (France) - Housing allowance

Student housing allowance (aide au logement) in France

You will receive a monthly rent allowance averaging about 100 to 300 EUR per month, provided you continue to live in the same student accommodation. The exact amount depends on your rent, where you live, whether you are already receiving a means-tested allowance, and your own income. The French Family Allowance Fund (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales, or CAF for short) pays out this amount. Depending on your housing situation, there are three different types of support: APL for state-subsidised and CROUS student halls of residence, ALF if you are supporting dependants, and ALS for everyone else living in private accommodation. You cannot choose which type applies to you; the CAF will determine this based on your circumstances. The first month after you move in is not taken into account, and the allowance is never granted retrospectively. You should therefore apply for it immediately once you have signed your tenancy agreement.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You live in France (mainland or overseas departments) and are enrolled as a student.
• Your home: You are renting a flat that meets the minimum standards (at least 9 m² for one person). This is your main residence, where you live for at least 8 months of the year. Shared accommodation is taken into account, and each tenant may submit their own application.
• Nationality: You are a French national or a foreign national with a valid residence permit. From 1 July 2026, students from countries outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland who hold a student visa will also need one of the following: a means-tested grant, a job or a training contract.
• No family link: Your landlord is not a relative.
• Income: You are on a low income. Your parents’ income is not taken into account; instead, the CAF uses a fixed amount per pupil.
• Field of study: Every subject at every institution.

How to apply

Applications must be made exclusively online at caf.fr – there is no paper form and no interview. You will need your tenancy agreement, your bank details and proof of income. Start by using the simulator on the CAF website to estimate how much you would receive. The first payment is usually made around two months after you’ve submitted your documents.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a standard state benefit and not a benefit awarded through a selection process. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive the benefit – so there is no selection panel you need to convince. Whether you receive the benefit depends on your income and your housing situation, both of which are assessed against set thresholds. Apply for the benefit immediately after signing your tenancy agreement, as it is not granted retrospectively and you will lose out financially for every month you wait.