France
An overview to prepare your move
Our home market: Rootovia is headquartered in Paris and our consultants work here every day. A network of agencies and landlords, a fine read of neighbourhoods, known contacts at the préfecture and the health insurance office. The real pressure point is housing in the Paris region, where the tenant file and the guarantor decide everything; on the residence side, the EU moves freely and the “passeport talent” offers a clear route for qualified non-Europeans.
Our services for France
Each service below is adapted to the local procedures of France.
Cost of living in France
| 1-bed flat, central | €1,400/ month |
|---|---|
| Studio, outside centre | €760/ month |
| Utilities (water, electricity, heating) | €160/ month |
| Transport pass | €88/ month |
| Groceries | €280/ month |
| Restaurant meal, mid-range | €16/ meal |
| Coworking desk | €250/ month |
Estimates for a single person, excluding extras. Sources: national statistics institutes and Rootovia surveys, updated quarterly.
Key administrative procedures
- 1
Validate the long-stay visa (VLS-TS)
For non-Europeans arriving on a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, validation is done online on the ANEF portal within 3 months of arrival, with the tax paid. Without it, the stay becomes irregular and blocks renewal.
- 2
Social security and carte Vitale
Apply to open your rights with the health insurance fund (universal health cover) as soon as you reside on a stable basis, then order the carte Vitale. Plan a top-up policy (mutuelle) and private insurance for the waiting period.
- 3
Bank account and proof of address
A French account is needed to receive a salary and pay rent by direct debit. Proof of address (lease, energy bill, or a hosting certificate plus the host’s ID) gates almost every other procedure.
- 4
Tenant file and guarantor
In Paris, landlords expect a full file (last three payslips, tax notice, employment contract) and a guarantor earning about 3 to 4 times the rent, or the Visale guarantee (free, from Action Logement), increasingly accepted.
Visa and right to stay
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals: free settlement, no residence-permit formalities. Non-Europeans: the VLS-TS (long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit, validated online) covers the employee, student, visitor or spouse categories. The “passeport talent” grants a multi-year card (up to 4 years) for a qualified employee paid at least about twice the minimum wage, a researcher, a company founder or a “talent” profile. The “salarié” or “travailleur temporaire” card rests on a contract and a work authorisation requested by the employer. The student visa allows salaried work up to 964 hours per year, and the temporary residence authorisation (APS) allows looking for a job or starting a business after a French degree.
FAQ — France
Verified review — France
« Arriving in Paris for the new term with no French guarantor, I thought it was hopeless. Rootovia built my file, secured the Visale guarantee and lined up three viewings in a week in the 13th. Lease signed five days before classes started. »
« “Qualified employee” passeport talent from Buenos Aires: an exact document list, amounts checked for consistency, VLS-TS validated online on arrival with zero back-and-forth. You could tell they do this in Paris every week. »
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