Banking

Open a Bank Account in France: Expat Guide (2026)

Published February 10, 2026 · Verified on October 6, 2026

A French bank account is the starting point for most administrative steps after you arrive in France. This guide covers your legal right to an account if a bank refuses you, the procedure with the Banque de France, and free bank switching. Every figure comes from the official sources listed at the end of the page. The guide does not compare banks, list required documents or quote bank tariffs, because we have not checked them against official sources or each bank's current price list.

Key takeaways

Right to an account: Article L. 312-1. The Banque de France designates a bank within 1 business day of receiving your documents, and that bank opens the account within 3 business days of receiving its required documents.
Cost: opening the account under the right to an account and the basic banking services are free (Service-Public F2417).
Switching banks: the bank switching assistance service is free, with 22 business days in total for both banks (Service-Public F33881).

Who can open a French bank account

Service-Public F2417 lists three situations in which you can use the right to an account:

You reside in France.
You legally reside in another EU member state.
You are a French national residing outside France.

A bank can still refuse to open an account. If yours does, the right to an account described below is your fallback.

Required documents

Service-Public F2417 refers to an arrêté of 31 July 2015 for the documents required for a right-to-an-account request. Which documents a bank asks for when you open an ordinary account is set by the bank, and we did not verify them. Ask the bank for its list before you apply.

Step-by-step procedure

Apply to a bank

Submit your application to the bank you chose, online or in a branch. Ask the bank which documents it requires and keep a copy of what you sign.

Ask for the refusal letter if the bank says no

If a bank refuses, it must give you a letter stating the reason. According to Service-Public, no answer within 15 days counts as a refusal.

File your request with the Banque de France

Send your completed request form and supporting documents to the Banque de France online, at a branch counter or by post.

Open the account with the designated bank

The Banque de France designates a bank by letter within 1 business day of receiving your documents. The designated bank gives you its list of required documents within 3 business days of the designation and opens the account within 3 business days of receiving them.

The right to an account (droit au compte)

A right guaranteed by law

Article L. 312-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code, cited by Service-Public F2417, is the legal basis of the right to an account for the people listed above.

Procedure

The bank that refuses must give you a letter of refusal stating the reason. No answer within 15 days counts as a refusal.
You file your request with the Banque de France, online, at a branch counter or by post.
The Banque de France designates a bank by letter within 1 business day of receiving your documents.
The designated bank gives you its list of required documents within 3 business days of the designation and opens the account within 3 business days of receiving them.

Free basic banking services included

Account opening and closure
Delivery of your bank details (RIB)
Standing orders and transfers
Monthly statements
Cash deposits and withdrawals
Checks
A debit card
Remote consultation of your balance

The Service-Public.fr page F2417 listed in the sources describes the request in full.

If you are new to France

Two points matter when you arrive from abroad.

The right to an account depends on the situations listed above: residence in France, legal residence in another EU member state, or French nationality with residence outside France.
How banks treat foreign-issued documents, and whether a bank serves customers in English, is set by each bank and was not verified here. Ask the bank before you apply.

For other banking topics, see our banking hub.

Closing an account and bank mobility

According to Service-Public F33881, the bank switching assistance service is free of charge and both banks have 22 business days in total to complete the procedures. The new bank transmits your new bank details to your creditors and debtors within 5 business days of receiving the information from the old bank. The old bank transfers the positive balance and closes the account if you ask it to, but it cannot close an account with a negative balance.

If you plan to keep a joint account or add a savings product, read our guides to the joint bank account and the Livret A.

Frequently asked questions

Who can use the right to an account in France?

Service-Public F2417 lists three situations: residing in France, legally residing in another EU member state, or being a French national residing outside France.

What can I do if a bank refuses to open an account?

The bank must give you a letter of refusal stating the reason, and no answer within 15 days counts as a refusal. You can then ask the Banque de France to designate a bank, online, at a branch counter or by post (Service-Public F2417).

Is the account opened under the right to an account free?

Yes. Service-Public F2417 states that opening the account under the droit au compte and using the basic banking services are free of charge.

Is it free to move my account to another bank?

Yes. Service-Public F33881 states that the bank switching assistance service is free of charge, with 22 business days in total for both banks to complete the procedures.

Official sources (accessed October 6, 2026)

Written by Yasin Baytürk, publisher of comparatif24.fr

Verified on October 6, 2026

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