Your First 30 Days in Paris: The Expat Relocation Checklist

Arriving in Paris for a new job, a transfer, or a life project means tackling administrative tasks while simultaneously discovering the city, the administrative language, and often a new workplace. The good news: almost everything can be done online, and the steps follow a simple logic. You need an address to open a bank account, a bank account to get paid and subscribe to everything else, then come health, children, and taxes. Here’s the week-by-week checklist we provide to the families and employees we house.

Before You Go: What to Prepare

Preparing in the days leading up to your departure can save you weeks of complications once you've arrived.

• Originals of your documents: passport, visa, employment contract or transfer letter, birth and marriage certificates. For foreign certificates, a translation by a sworn translator is often required; inquire in advance.
• Several months of bank statements and your most recent pay slips, even foreign ones: these will be useful for your bank and for housing applications.
• Children's school records and, if you're targeting an international or bilingual school, submit an application as early as possible: places are limited.
• Accommodation for your arrival. This is the cornerstone: without an address, most administrative procedures remain blocked. A furnished apartment rented by the month allows you to arrive with a lease and a proof of accommodation, then search for a permanent home without rushing. Our dedicated page for expats moving to Paris details how this works.

Week 1: Settle In and Get an Address

Collect keys and supporting documents. On your first day, request your lease and a proof of accommodation (attestation d'hébergement) or proof of address (justificatif de domicile). This document opens almost all doors: bank, prefecture, health insurance, school enrollment.

Validate your residence permit. If you are a national of a non-EU country and arrive with a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS), it must be validated online within three months of your arrival on the official website for foreign nationals in France. For other permits (talent passport, posted worker, etc.), follow the instructions received with your visa and check deadlines on the Ministry of Interior's website. EU citizens do not need to apply for a residence permit.

Get a French phone number. Operators offer no-commitment plans that you can subscribe to in-store or online with an ID. A French number simplifies everything: banking, deliveries, medical appointments, and authentication apps.

Familiarize yourself with transport. In Paris, the metro, RER, bus, and tram operate with the Navigo card. For stays of several months, a monthly or annual subscription is the easiest. Fares change annually: consult them on the Île-de-France Mobilités website. Good to know: if you are an employee, your employer covers part of your public transport subscription.

Week 2: Bank, Contract, and Insurance

Open a bank account. With your passport, residence permit (or visa), and proof of address, you can open an account with a traditional or online bank. You'll receive a RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire), which your employer, landlord, and service providers will request. If a bank refuses to open an account for you, French law provides a "droit au compte" (right to an account): the Banque de France can designate a bank that will be required to open one for you.

Provide your information to your employer. RIB, address, social security number if it already exists: your HR department will need these for your first paycheck. Large companies often have a mobility service or a partner relocation agency: don't hesitate to contact them.

Check home insurance. Depending on the type of lease, home insurance may be mandatory or already provided by the landlord. Ask about this at the time of signing and keep the certificate handy.

Weeks 3 & 4: Health, Children, and Daily Life

Register for health insurance. Employees are generally affiliated with French Social Security (Sécurité sociale). Your employer initiates part of the process; you'll need to finalize your application with the health insurance fund (CPAM) to obtain your definitive number and your Carte Vitale. In the meantime, keep all your medical expense forms (feuilles de soins).

Choose a supplementary health insurance (mutuelle). Most private sector employees benefit from company health insurance. Inquire with HR to join and, if necessary, add your family.

Declare a primary care physician (médecin traitant). This allows for better reimbursement. Online appointment booking platforms indicate doctors who accept new patients and those who speak English.

Enroll children in school. For public nursery and elementary schools, enrollment begins at the Mairie (town hall) of your arrondissement, with proof of address. For middle and high schools, assignment goes through the rectorat. International and bilingual schools have their own calendars: contact them as soon as possible.

Taxes. France levies income tax at the source. Your first tax declaration is made in the spring of the year following your arrival, on the official tax website. If your situation is complex (income in two countries, secondment), a tax advisor specialized in expatriation can help you avoid double taxation.

Driver's license. A license issued by an EU country remains valid in France. For other countries, it is generally recognized for one year after your arrival; depending on agreements with your country, you may be able to exchange it for a French license during this period. Check your specific case on the official website of the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS).

What About Permanent Housing?

Once your bank account is open and you've received your first French pay slips, the search for long-term housing becomes much simpler. Landlords generally request proof of income in France, a tax notice, or a guarantor. Without these, some solutions exist: the Visale guarantee from Action Logement, under certain conditions, or an employer's guarantee.

Many families choose to stay three to six months in a furnished apartment while they explore neighborhoods, compare commutes to work and school, and build a solid application file. If you're undecided between neighborhoods, our guides to the 16th arrondissement and the 17th arrondissement are a good starting point for families, and our article on monthly furnished rentals in Paris explains the different types of leases.

The Checklist in Summary

1. Before Departure: Original documents and translations, bank statements, school records, booked arrival accommodation.

2. Week 1: Lease and proof of accommodation, residence permit validation, French phone number, Navigo card.

3. Week 2: Bank account and RIB, information submitted to HR, home insurance.

4. Weeks 3 & 4: Health insurance and Carte Vitale, supplementary health insurance, primary care physician, school enrollment, review of taxes and driver's license.

Arrive with Peace of Mind

At HelloParis, we house expats, families, and relocating employees every month in furnished apartments in Paris, from studios to five-room units, for a month or more. Your lease and proof of accommodation are provided upon arrival, our team communicates in English, and companies can book for their employees with a monthly invoice: see our Companies page. Tell us your arrival date, budget, and office location: we'll send you a selection in less than an hour.