Timeline: every step in the right order
A successful move in France starts three months before the date. The following timeline summarises the administrative obligations and recommendations from service-public.gouv.fr.
| Deadline | Action | Official tool |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months before | Registered notice to landlord | Law 89-462 art. 15 |
| 2 months before | Three mover quotes | Standard contract 250 EUR/m3 cover |
| 1 month before | CAF, school, banking mobility, parking permit | caf.fr / ants.gouv.fr |
| 2 weeks before | Energy, internet, mail forwarding | laposte.fr |
| Move-in day | Meter reading, exit inventory, key handover | Law 89-462 art. 3-2 |
| Within 30 days | Single declaration, car registration, electoral roll | service-public.gouv.fr R11193 |
Rental notice: 1 month or 3 months?
Notice rules come from Law 89-462 of 6 July 1989, supplemented by the ALUR Law of 2014 which expanded tight-housing zones. Length depends on lease type and city.
| Situation | Notice | Proof required |
|---|---|---|
| Unfurnished, outside tight zone | 3 months | None |
| Unfurnished, tight-housing zone | 1 month | Mention in letter |
| Job move / first job / job loss | 1 month | Employer proof |
| Medical reason | 1 month | Medical certificate |
| RSA, AAH, social-housing allocation | 1 month | Agency proof |
| Domestic violence | 1 month | Protection order |
| Furnished rental | 1 month | None |
Notice must be delivered by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt, bailiff act, or hand delivery against signed receipt. The clock starts on receipt, not on sending. Forgetting to state a reduced reason defaults the notice to 3 months.
Tight-housing zone: is my city eligible?
Tight-housing zones were defined by decree 2013-392 of 10 May 2013 and expanded since. Roughly 28 metropolitan areas qualify: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Rennes, Grenoble, Toulon, Annecy, Bayonne, the Geneva-Annemasse corridor, plus many coastal and alpine towns. The official simulator service-public.gouv.fr/simulateur tells you in one click.
Single online change-of-address declaration
Instead of contacting each agency separately, France offers a single free online service: service-public.gouv.fr/R11193. Available up to 3 months before and 3 months after the move.
Administrations notified in one step
- Tax office (DGFiP)
- CAF, CPAM, MSA, CGSS, Enim (social and health benefits)
- France Travail (employment)
- SIV (car registration)
- Pension funds: Agirc-Arrco, Cipav, CDC, CNRACL, Ircantec, Mines, RAFP, Camieg, CNMSS, FSPOEIE, SASPA
- Partner energy suppliers (EDF, Enercoop)
The service does not handle private contracts (internet, banking, insurance, mobile). Those remain on you.
Electricity and gas: cancel and activate
Cancellation is free and immediate with any supplier (article L224-15 of the French Consumer Code). At the new home only the network operator activation fee applies (Enedis for electricity, GRDF for gas).
| Service | Time | Indicative fee (incl. VAT, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Linky remote activation | 24 h | 1.69 EUR |
| Linky standard activation | 5 days | 30.37 EUR |
| Express activation (24 h) | 24 h | 71.69 EUR |
| GRDF gas activation | 5 days | 21.30 EUR |
Fees are set by the Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE). Moving is a good time to compare suppliers; see our internal guide to switching electricity provider in France.
Internet and phone: transfer or switch
You can either transfer your box or cancel and pick a better deal. Landline portability is free. For mobile, portability works independently of address unless you switch to a carrier with no signal in the area. A move is also a chance to cancel an over-priced mobile plan.
Check fiber eligibility at the new address first; initial install takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on operator (Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues). Booking before key handover avoids a week without internet.
Banking mobility: switch banks paperless
Since the Loi Macron of 6 August 2015, article L312-1-7 of the French Monetary Code forces every bank in France to offer a free banking-mobility service. On a single mandate, the new bank retrieves the list of recurring direct debits and standing orders from the old bank, then notifies all issuers (employer, tax office, utilities, telecom, insurers) of the new IBAN. Legal deadline: 22 working days.
A move is the perfect time to compare and switch to a cheaper or better-suited bank. Expats arriving in France should read our how-to-open-a-bank-account guide, and review online banks vs traditional banks.
CAF benefits and moving assistance
Any housing benefit (APL, ALF, ALS) or welfare payment (RSA, activity bonus, family allowance) requires an up-to-date address. Update on caf.fr, section "My account, Declare a change", at least 1 month before the move. The single online service-public declaration syncs CAF automatically.
Moving-specific aids
- CAF Moving Allowance: families with at least 3 dependent children moving between the 3rd month of pregnancy and the youngest child's 2nd birthday, with APL or ALF eligibility (form Cerfa 11363).
- Housing Solidarity Fund (FSL): departmental aid for deposit, first rent, agency fees or moving costs.
- Action Logement (Mobili-Pass, Mobili-Jeune, Loca-Pass): for private-sector employees relocating for work, students and young apprentices.
- France Travail mobility aid: up to 5,200 EUR over 12 months for a move tied to a job over 60 km away.
Enrolling children in a French school
Nursery and primary: ask the new mairie for a school certificate, then complete admission with the principal. Bring the vaccination record, proof of address, and the radiation certificate from the previous school.
Collège (middle school) and lycée: contact the Direction des services départementaux de l'Éducation nationale (DSDEN) for the new academic district. Sector-based assignment is the rule; derogations on dossier. The school file transfers directly between establishments.
Canteen, after-school and school transport: separate registration at the mairie (primary) or with the department council (collège) or region (lycée). Start as soon as the move date is set; visit education.gouv.fr.
Home insurance: transfer or switch
Home insurance is mandatory for tenants (article 7g of Law 89-462) and strongly recommended for owners. It covers fire, water damage, theft and personal liability.
- Transfer: notify your insurer 1 month before to adjust cover (square metres, outbuildings, contents value) without coverage gap.
- Cancellation for moving: legitimate reason mid-term (article L113-16 of the French Insurance Code), 1-month notice after registered letter, pro-rata refund.
- Hamon Law (n. 2014-344): after 1 year, cancel any time at no cost.
Compare offers before signing; our home insurance France guide details cover, deductibles and best insurers. Cancellation specifics live in our Hamon law procedure.
La Poste mail forwarding
Two options:
- Temporary forwarding (6 or 12 months): redirects mail to a temporary address, France or abroad.
- Permanent forwarding (6 or 12 months): same after a definitive move.
Indicative rates 2026 (verify on laposte.fr): from 36 EUR for 6 months and 65 EUR for 12 months in metropolitan France. International forwarding starts higher. Subscribe online or in any post office, up to 30 days before the move.
Choosing a professional mover
A professional mover must sign the standard moving contract (contrat type) approved by ministerial decree, which guarantees a minimum cover of 250 EUR per cubic metre. For high-value items, declare a separate written value (déclaration de valeur).
Pre-signature checklist
- Get three detailed quotes (volume, distance, services).
- Verify SIRET and transport licence on infogreffe.fr.
- Read general terms: storage, indemnities, claim window (10 days after delivery).
- Photograph fragile furniture before pickup; keep the original waybill.
Indicative 2026 costs: 800 EUR to 2,000 EUR locally (under 30 m3, 50 km), 1,500 EUR to 5,000 EUR long distance within metropolitan France. Van rental runs 50 EUR to 150 EUR per day depending on size (Demeco, Hertz, Europcar). Members of the Chambre syndicale du déménagement follow a quality charter.
Exit inventory and deposit refund
The exit inventory (état des lieux de sortie) is mandatory. It is signed jointly with the landlord or agent, or filed via a court bailiff if disputed (Law 89-462, article 3-2). Perform it in daylight with electricity on, and attach dated photos and videos of every room.
Deposit: capped at 1 month of rent excluding charges for unfurnished and 2 months for furnished rentals (ALUR Law 2014). Refund:
- 1 month if the exit inventory matches the entry inventory.
- 2 months if the landlord withholds justified amounts (invoices required).
- Beyond the deadline, the deposit earns interest at the legal rate, plus a 10 % monthly rent penalty for delay.
Arriving from abroad: extra steps
Beyond the standard timeline, newcomers must handle several items:
- Visa validation: long-stay holders validate the visa on the OFII portal within 3 months of arrival (about 200 EUR fiscal stamp).
- Residence permit (titre de séjour): first request at the prefecture or via the ANEF portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr).
- French address proof: rental contract, EDF bill or hosting attestation are accepted for most contracts.
- CPAM healthcare registration: apply after 3 months of stable residency on ameli.fr (form S1106) to receive a Carte Vitale.
- Driving licence exchange: EU/EEA licences valid indefinitely; outside-EU licences must be exchanged within the first year on the ANTS portal.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to mention "tight-housing zone" in the notice letter: the notice defaults to 3 months.
- Cancelling home insurance before signing the new lease: cover gap and possible claim refusal.
- Activating energy on move-in day only: plan 5 working days or pay express 71.69 EUR.
- Skipping the exit inventory photos and videos: deposit risk.
- Paying two rents in parallel: negotiate a shorter notice or align entry dates.
- Delaying car registration: 135 EUR fine, and auto-insurance can refuse to pay a claim.
Frequently asked questions
What is the notice period to leave a rental in France?
Unfurnished rental: 3 months (reduced to 1 month in a tight-housing zone or for a qualifying special reason). Furnished rental: 1 month everywhere. The clock starts when the landlord receives the registered letter, not the day you send it (Law 89-462, article 15).
How does the single online change-of-address service work?
The free service at service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R11193 lets you notify multiple administrations in one step: tax office (DGFiP), CAF, CPAM, MSA, France Travail, vehicle registration (SIV), most pension funds, plus partner energy providers (EDF, Enercoop). It does not replace private contracts like internet, banking or insurance.
What reasons allow a reduced 1-month notice in an unfurnished rental?
Job relocation, first job, job loss, new job after loss of work, health condition justified by a medical certificate, recipient of RSA or AAH welfare, allocation of social housing, or victim of domestic violence (Law 89-462, article 15). The reason must be stated in the notice letter and justified with proof.
Do I need a French bank account before I move?
Highly recommended. Most landlords, energy suppliers and mobile networks require a SEPA direct debit from a French (or EU/EEA) IBAN. Several online banks (Boursobank, Hello bank!, Revolut FR, Wise) open an account remotely with passport plus address proof. Once in France, the Loi Macron 2015 free banking-mobility service transfers your direct debits in 22 working days.
How much does activating electricity and gas at a new home cost?
Cancellation is free with every supplier. Activation by Enedis 2026 indicative rates: 1.69 EUR for a Linky meter with remote activation, 30.37 EUR for standard set-up, up to 71.69 EUR for express 24 h. GRDF standard gas activation: around 21.30 EUR. Compare suppliers via energy-info.fr or our internal guides before signing.
Do expats need home insurance in France?
Yes for tenants (mandatory under article 7g of Law 89-462). Coverage must be in place the day you receive the keys. Several insurers (AXA, Allianz, MAIF, Luko, Lemonade Europe, Britline) offer English-speaking contracts. Moving is a legitimate cancellation reason mid-term under article L113-16 of the French Insurance Code.
How do I enrol my children in a French school?
For nursery or primary, request enrolment at the town hall (mairie) of your new address; they issue a certificate, then the school principal completes admission. For secondary, contact the academic rectorate (DSDEN) that covers the new sector. Required documents: passport or residency card, proof of address, vaccination record and school transfer certificate from the previous establishment.
Can I claim French welfare (CAF) as a foreigner?
Foreign residents with a valid long-stay visa or residency permit, and with stable French income, may apply for housing aid (APL, ALF, ALS), child benefits and RSA from CAF. EU/EEA citizens qualify under similar conditions. Apply on caf.fr after your first 3 months of residency; processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.
How much does La Poste mail forwarding cost?
La Poste offers permanent mail forwarding from roughly 36 EUR for 6 months and 65 EUR for 12 months (2026 indicative rates, verify on laposte.fr). Subscribe online or at any post office up to 30 days before or after the move. International forwarding available at higher rates.
How do I change the address on my French car registration?
Mandatory within one month of moving. Free for the first 3 address changes via ants.gouv.fr; the 4th triggers a new card with regional tax. Failure to update results in a fixed 135 EUR fine and can void the auto-insurance payout in case of a claim. The vehicle keeps its plate number.
What is a typical professional mover quote in France?
A local move (up to 30 m3 within 50 km) costs 800 EUR to 2,000 EUR; a long-distance move within metropolitan France 1,500 EUR to 5,000 EUR. Movers must sign a standard contract guaranteeing at least 250 EUR/m3 cover. Get at least three quotes, verify SIRET and transport licence, and submit a written declaration of value for high-priced items.
Can I work and move into the same week?
Yes, but plan one paid day off for the actual move. The Labour Code (article L3142-1-1) grants moving days only under specific collective agreements. Most employers approve unpaid or RTT leave when you give 3 to 4 weeks of notice. Banking-mobility, CAF and address-change paperwork can be filed online in advance to avoid post-move queues.
What if I am moving from abroad to France?
After visa validation on the OFII portal (long-stay holders), priorities are: secure housing, register at the town hall for the residency permit, get a French bank account (IBAN required for most contracts), enrol in CPAM for healthcare, sign mandatory home insurance, and connect electricity and internet. Plan 4 to 8 weeks of admin transition; the single online address change can be filed once your local address is confirmed.
Official sources
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Single change-of-address declaration (R11193)
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Tenant notice period (F1168)
- Légifrance — Law 89-462 of 6 July 1989 (rental relations)
- ANIL — National housing information agency
- La Poste — Mail forwarding
- Économie.gouv.fr — Banking mobility (Loi Macron 2015)
- ANTS — Car registration address change
Article updated 26 May 2026 by The comparatif24.fr team. Indicative fees may change; verify the latest version on official sites before any action.