Registering your address after arriving in France
Tax office, bank, CAF, employer and health insurance - who to notify when you arrive in France and how to get proof of address.
As soon as you arrive in France, several organisations need your address. Missing one means risking lost mail - or suspended benefits. The good news: the process is simple once you know who to notify and in what order.
Why your address matters
Your address is not just an administrative detail. It affects several important things.
First, official mail. Your residence permit (titre de séjour), health reimbursements and tax letters all arrive by post. An incorrect address means a lost document.
Then, your benefits. CAF (the family-benefits office) and public health insurance (Assurance Maladie) use your address to process your requests. If it is missing or wrong, your file can be blocked.
Finally, your residence permit itself. The préfecture (the local government office for residence permits) sends your permit or receipt (récépissé) to the address you declared. It is the temporary document proving your application is being processed. An incorrect address can delay your entire regularisation.
Who to notify
Here are the organisations to contact after settling in. Prioritise the first three: tax office, bank and CAF.
| Organisation | Why |
|---|---|
| Tax office | To receive your tax notice and tax identification number |
| Bank | Required to keep your account active and receive your statements |
| CAF | Essential to receive any housing or family benefit |
| Employer | Payslips, social documents, insurance |
| CPAM (the local health-insurance fund) | To receive your Carte Vitale (health insurance card) and health reimbursements |
| Préfecture or OFII (the French immigration office) | Sending your residence permit or receipt |
| School or university | If you are a student, for official communications |
| Home insurance | Your policy must show the exact address of the insured property |
CPAM is your local public health insurance fund. The Carte Vitale - the green chip card you show at the doctor - is sent to the address you declared with them.
OFII is relevant if you signed a republican integration contract on arrival.
Proof of address
A proof of address is a document that confirms you live at the stated address. Most organisations ask for one less than three months old.
Three types of document are generally accepted:
- an energy bill (electricity, gas) or water bill in your name,
- a rent receipt signed by your landlord,
- a hosting certificate signed by the person you are staying with, along with their ID and their own proof of address.
If you have just arrived and do not yet have a bill, the hosting certificate is the quickest solution. It is enough to open a bank account, register with CAF or contact CPAM.
Required documents
- A proof of address less than three months old (bill, rent receipt or hosting certificate)
- A valid ID or passport
- Depending on the organisation: your CAF claimant number, your CPAM insurance number or your tax number
- 1
Get a proof of address
Ask your landlord for a rent receipt, or get a hosting certificate if you are staying with someone. You can also use your first energy bill as soon as you receive it.
- 2
Update at the tax office and your bank
Report your address on impots.gouv.fr (under "Manage my profile") and to your bank online or in branch. Both steps can be done quickly online.
- 3
Notify CAF, your employer and public health insurance
Log in to your account on caf.fr and on Ameli (the public health-insurance website) to update your address. Also send the update to your employer for your payslips.
- 4
Report your address to the préfecture or OFII if needed
If your residence permit is being processed, check the address in your file on the ANEF portal (the online immigration portal). If it is incorrect, correct it right away.
Xenaflow helps you open your utility contracts and register your address everywhere.
View procedureOnce your address is registered everywhere, you have a solid foundation for all your next steps in France.
Frequently asked questions
What documents count as proof of address?
An energy or water bill in your name, a rent receipt or a hosting certificate signed by the person you are staying with are accepted. The document must be less than three months old.
Which organisations should I notify first when I arrive in France?
Start with the tax office, your bank and CAF (the family-benefits office). Then notify CPAM (the local health-insurance fund), your employer and the préfecture or OFII if you have a residence permit application in progress.
What happens if my address is wrong at the préfecture?
The préfecture sends your residence permit or receipt to the address you declared. An incorrect address can delay your regularisation or cause the document to be returned. Correct it right away on the ANEF portal.