If you are looking for an accommodation you probably heard about the help you can get from the CAF to pay your rent!
But, what's CAF exactly and what are the kinds of help you can get from the CAF for your accommodation?
What is CAF?
If you are looking for an accommodation in France you might have already heard the word "CAF" at your University International Office or in some article on Internet.
But what's CAF exactly??
Well it's a very common question among student.
In a nutshell CAF is the acronym for Caisse d'Allocations Familiales.
CAF is the French Family Benefit Fund.
CAF can provide you some financial aid to pay your rent.
What kind of help can I get from the CAF?
You have to know that CAF will not find you an accommodation. To find an accommodation, you better look at the housing solution in Paris on yourself.
By the way, we have built a list of accommodation for people who are looking a place to stay in Paris or in its suburbs; you better look at it ;)
So by reading this you understand that it's your job to find an accommodation first.
However, CAF can help you financially to pay your rent!
For a student, CAF housing subsidy can be made through the CAF website or at CAF offices.
CAF conditions to be entitle to housing subsidy:
Please, make sure to check the official conditions on CAF website because the condition could have changed since the time we wrote this article for you ;)
Who can apply to CAF housing subsidy?
All students' regardless of their nationality.
You are certainly entitled to a CAF housing subsidy if:
- You rent, co-rent or sub-rent a housing
If you share a flat, each roommate must make an application, mentioning his/her share of rent. Each roommate must sign the lease - Your housing has a surface of at least 9m² (16m² if 2 persons share the place)
- You don’t need to produce a residence permit to apply for CAF housing subsidy if you are a student from the European Union or European Economic Space (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungaria, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Rumania, United Kingdom, Slovaquia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland)
- To get the CAF housing subsidy if you are not a citizen from a European Union country you must hold a valid residence permit
When to apply to CAF housing subsidy?
You must apply for CAF housing allowance as soon as you have moved into your flat.
List of CAF offices :
From Monday to Friday -> 8:30am to 4:30pm.
- Centre de Gestion Finlay ( beneficiaries living in the districts 7e, 8e, 14e, 15e et 16e )
50, rue du Docteur Finlay – 75015 Paris – Métro Dupleix / Bus 42 station Dupleix - Centre de Gestion La Chapelle ( beneficiaries living in the districts 17e et 18e )
47, rue de La Chapelle – 75018 PARIS – Métro Marx Dormoy / Bus 65 station Les Roses
- Centre de Gestion Laumière ( beneficiaries living in the districts 9e, 10e and 19e )
67-69, avenue Jean Jaurès – 75019 PARIS – Métro Laumière / Bus 60 station Laumière
- Centre de Gestion Nationale ( beneficiaries living in the districts 11e, 12e, 13e et 20e )
101, rue nationale – 75013 PARIS – Métro Nationale ou Olympiades / Bus 62, 64, 83 station Olympiades
- Centre de Gestion Pot-de-Fer ( beneficiaries living in the districts 1er, 2e, 3e, 4e, 5e et 6e )
19, rue du Pot-de-Fer – 75005 PARIS – Métro Place Monge / Bus
We hope that our "What is CAF" article helped you to see the importance to apply to the CAF.
If you look for some housing to stay we remind you that you can have a look on some accommodation solution in Paris and in its suburbs here ;)