The APL (aide personnalisée au logement) is a monthly housing allowance paid by the CAF that lowers your rent. For years it was one of the first things international students applied for. Since 1 July 2026 the rules have changed for most non-EU students, so it is worth checking where you stand before you count on it in your budget.
In short
- EU, EEA and Swiss students: nothing changes. You can apply under the usual conditions.
- Non-EU students with a student visa or residence permit: since 1 July 2026 you need a needs-based scholarship (bourse sur critères sociaux), unless you are in one of the exceptions below.
- Main exceptions: you work (salaried or self-employed), you are on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract (alternance), you are a refugee or stateless, or you are the spouse of a non-EU student.
- Timing: aid is due from the month after you apply, so apply as soon as you move in.
- Where: online at caf.fr. It is free, so never pay a third party to apply for you.
What changed on 1 July 2026
According to the CAF, non-EU students who hold a long-stay visa or a residence permit marked “étudiant” or “poursuite d’études” can now receive housing aid only if they get a needs-based scholarship. This includes CROUS scholarships and some regional scholarships for health and social-work programmes.
The rule applies to new applications made from 1 July 2026 and to students who were already receiving APL. If you were receiving it and do not meet the new condition, the CAF says your right ends from July 2026.
Who is not affected
The CAF lists these situations as still eligible without a needs-based scholarship:
- EU, EEA and Swiss nationals
- Students with a professional activity, salaried or self-employed
- Students on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract (alternance)
- Refugees and stateless people
- Spouses of non-EU students
The CAF’s announcement does not set a minimum number of hours or a minimum income for the “professional activity” exception. If you have a small student job, check your own situation with the CAF before relying on the aid.
| Your situation | Can you apply for APL? |
|---|---|
| EU, EEA or Swiss student | Yes, usual conditions |
| Non-EU student with a CROUS needs-based scholarship | Yes |
| Non-EU student in alternance (apprenticeship or professionalisation contract) | Yes |
| Non-EU student with a salaried job or self-employed activity | Yes, according to the CAF (confirm your case) |
| Non-EU student with no scholarship, job or apprenticeship | No, since 1 July 2026 |
The general conditions for APL
If you are eligible under the rules above, the usual APL conditions still apply:
- You rent the home (or live in an approved residence) and it is your main residence, meaning you live there at least 8 months a year.
- The home meets the minimum standards for a decent home.
- Your resources are below a ceiling that depends on your household and where you live.
- If you are a non-EU national, you hold a valid residence document.
The amount depends on your rent, your area and your resources. The only reliable way to know it is the free simulator on caf.fr.
How to apply, step by step
- Check that you are eligible. Use the table above. If you are non-EU, have your scholarship notice, employment contract or apprenticeship contract ready.
- Run the simulation on caf.fr. Go to “Simulation” and choose housing aid. It takes about 10 minutes and gives you an estimate.
- Prepare your documents (see the checklist below).
- Apply online on caf.fr as soon as you have signed your lease and moved in. Every month you wait is a month of aid you do not get.
- Ask your landlord or residence to complete their part (the rent certificate). Many residences do it online for you.
- Follow your file in your CAF account and upload any extra document the CAF asks for. Report changes (new job, end of contract, move) quickly.
Documents checklist
- Passport or national ID card
- Valid visa or residence permit (non-EU students)
- Bank details (RIB) of an account in your name. Need one? See how to open a bank account in France.
- Your lease and the landlord’s rent certificate
- Non-EU students: proof of your needs-based scholarship, employment or apprenticeship contract
When and how the aid is paid
Your right starts on the first day of the month after your application. Payment arrives around the 5th of the following month. For example, if you apply in October, your right starts in November and the first payment is made in early December.
In most cases the APL is paid directly to your landlord, who deducts it from your rent. Your rent receipt should show the amount.
Budget tip
Plan your first two months of rent without the APL. Even when everything goes well, the first payment arrives weeks after you move in.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting to apply. The aid is not backdated to your move-in date.
- Counting on APL before checking the 2026 rule. If you are non-EU without a scholarship, job or apprenticeship, build your budget without it.
- Not reporting changes. If your job or contract ends and it was the reason you were eligible, tell the CAF. Overpayments must be paid back.
- Paying for help. Applying on caf.fr is free.
Frequently asked questions
Can international students still get CAF housing aid in 2026?
Yes, but not all of them. EU, EEA and Swiss students are not affected by the change. Non-EU students on a student visa or permit need a needs-based scholarship, unless they work, are in alternance, or are in another exception listed by the CAF.
I am in alternance. Can I get the APL?
Students on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract are listed by the CAF as an exception, so you can apply under the usual conditions.
I have a part-time student job. Is that enough?
The CAF lists salaried or self-employed activity as an exception but its announcement does not give a minimum number of hours or income. Contact the CAF through your account to confirm before counting on the aid.
Is the first month paid?
No. The right starts the month after your application, which is why you should apply as soon as you move in.
Who receives the money, me or my landlord?
Usually your landlord, who deducts it from your rent.
What to do next
- No French bank account yet? Read how to open a bank account in France as a student.
- Just arrived? Register for health insurance too: French health insurance and the Carte Vitale.
- Browse all housing guides.
Sources
- CAF, APL : ce qui change pour certains étudiants à partir du 1er juillet 2026, consulted 26 September 2026
- Service-Public.gouv.fr, Aide personnalisée au logement (APL), updated 1 July 2026, consulted 26 September 2026
- CAF, caf.fr (simulator and online application)
