Moving to France: the first documents you will receive

The immigration documents you need depend on your nationality, the length and purpose of your stay, and your family situation.

Many non-EU nationals staying in France for more than three months need a long-stay visa, residence permit or another document confirming their legal basis of stay. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland generally follow different rules.

Check the exact document type, validity dates, any work conditions and the steps required before expiry.

Many immigration procedures are handled online or through the prefecture responsible for your place of residence.

You may receive requests for additional documents, appointment notices, confirmation that an application was submitted or information about the production or collection of a residence document.

Keep copies of everything you submit and save confirmation emails, reference numbers and appointment notices.

The French Social Security number, often called the numéro de sécurité sociale, identifies you within the social-protection system.

It can appear on health-insurance documents, payslips and correspondence from social-security organisations.

If your number is temporary or your personal data are being verified, keep the related documents until your registration is fully confirmed.

Health-insurance administration is commonly handled through Assurance Maladie and your local CPAM.

Documents may concern registration, proof of entitlement, reimbursement, your Carte Vitale, bank details for repayments or requests for additional evidence.

Your attestation de droits is an important document confirming your health-insurance rights and should be kept even after you receive a Carte Vitale.

Depending on your household, residence status, income and housing situation, you may deal with the Caisse d'allocations familiales, known as CAF.

CAF correspondence can concern family benefits, housing support, household changes, income information or requests for supporting documents.

Eligibility depends on the specific benefit and your individual circumstances, so read requests and deadlines carefully.

Employment paperwork may include your employment contract, amendments, payslips, employer certificates and documents connected with social contributions.

Check the employer, job title, working time, salary, contract duration and any probation or notice terms.

Payslips contain important information about gross salary, deductions, social contributions and net pay.

People who become tax residents of France may have French tax-reporting obligations, and the rules for the year of arrival can depend on when you moved and what income you received.

France uses withholding at source for many types of income, but this does not remove the obligation to file an annual income-tax declaration when required.

Tax documents can include declarations, notices of assessment, payment schedules, refunds and requests for supporting information.

Many French administrative services are available online and may use FranceConnect or another secure account system for authentication.

Depending on your situation, you may use online services for taxes, health insurance, immigration procedures, benefits and other government interactions.

Treat authentication codes and identity-verification requests carefully and never approve a login or signature request you do not recognise.

French organisations frequently ask for a RIB, or relevé d'identité bancaire, when setting up salary payments, reimbursements, benefits or direct debits.

A RIB contains bank-account identifiers such as the IBAN and BIC. Check the account holder name before sending it.

Be cautious if an unexpected email or message asks you to change bank details or send a RIB to an unfamiliar address.

Housing paperwork may include the rental agreement, deposit information, état des lieux, rent receipts, utility contracts and correspondence from the landlord or agency.

Before signing, check the rent, charges, deposit, contract duration and notice rules.

Keep copies of the move-in inspection and photographs of the property condition because they can become important when you move out.

Families may receive school enrolment forms, calendars, meal or childcare documents, consent forms, attendance notices and payment requests.

Some administrative steps depend on the child's age, municipality and school type.

A single school document can contain several dates, so record enrolment appointments, holidays, meetings and return deadlines separately.

You may receive documents from national authorities, your prefecture, municipality, tax office, health-insurance body, CAF or another public organisation.

The letter may ask for evidence, payment, an appointment, confirmation or a response.

Always identify the sender, reference number, requested action and deadline before deciding what to do next.

Residence, tax, benefits, employment and administrative documents can contain strict deadlines for providing evidence, paying an amount, attending an appointment or challenging a decision.

Keep the original document and record when it arrived. Save proof of every online submission, payment and postal response.

If a deadline affects residence status, employment, taxes, benefits or a significant amount of money, verify the requirements through the responsible authority or a qualified professional.