APL (Aide Personnalisée au Logement) is the monthly housing benefit paid by the CAF to reduce your rent. For international students in France, October 2026 brings two things to keep in mind: a new revision of APL amounts based on the IRL (rent index), and a change to eligibility rules that came into force on 1 July 2026 for some non-EU students. This guide explains exactly how much APL housing aid you can get in France, who is still eligible, and how to apply.
In short
- Eligibility changed on 1 July 2026: non-EU students who are not scholarship holders and not working in France can no longer claim APL. EU nationals and all scholarship holders (boursiers) remain fully eligible.
- APL amounts were revised on 1 October 2026 based on the IRL rent index, as happens every year.
- Typical student amounts: €50 to €250/month depending on your rent, income, city and scholarship status. A boursier paying €400/month in Montpellier can receive around €200 to €250.
- Apply on caf.fr as soon as your lease is signed. Entitlement starts the month after you apply; it is not retroactive.
- APL is recalculated automatically every 3 months based on your last 12 months of income. You do not need to reapply.
What is APL housing aid in France?
APL stands for Aide Personnalisée au Logement. It is a monthly housing benefit paid by the CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) directly to the tenant or, in some cases, to the landlord. Its purpose is to reduce the effective cost of rent for people with modest incomes. In France, APL is one of the most widely used social benefits: around 800,000 students receive it each year.
Importantly, APL only applies to conventionné housing, meaning the landlord has signed an agreement with the French state. In practice, this includes most CROUS university residences, a large share of social housing (HLM), and many private-sector furnished flats. If your accommodation is not conventionné, you may instead be eligible for the ALS (Allocation de Logement à caractère Social), which works in a similar way but applies to non-conventionné properties.
Who is eligible for APL housing aid in France in 2026?
To claim APL, you must first meet the general conditions: you must have a signed lease in your own name, the accommodation must meet minimum standards (at least 9 m² for one person), and your income must be below the CAF ceiling for your situation. Additionally, you must not be renting from a parent or close family member.
For international students, however, a further eligibility condition applies since July 2026. The section below explains exactly what changed.
The July 2026 change for international students
Since 1 July 2026, the French government has tightened APL eligibility for non-EU international students. A decree published on 28 June 2026 removed APL entitlement for non-European students who are neither scholarship holders nor working in France. The government stated the goal was to concentrate APL on students who are financially precarious and settling in France on a longer-term basis.
Who is still eligible for APL in October 2026?
- All EU, EEA and Swiss nationals — no change.
- Scholarship holders (boursiers) of any nationality — no change.
- Students on an alternance contract (apprentissage or professionnalisation).
- Students who are working or have recently worked in France.
- Students with refugee, subsidiary protection or temporary protection status.
- Algerian nationals holding a “étudiant” residence certificate.
- Holders of a RECE or APS Jeunes diplômés residence permit.
If you are a non-EU student who is not a scholarship holder and does not fall into one of the categories above, you are no longer eligible for APL as of July 2026. In that case, contact your CROUS directly: non-eligible students can still access CROUS social housing at reduced rates and other support schemes. Additionally, the ALS may or may not apply depending on your situation; check on caf.fr.
How much APL can you get in France in October 2026?
There is no single fixed APL amount: the benefit is calculated individually for each applicant. That said, the CAF uses a simplified income forfait for students, which sets a reference income regardless of your actual income (up to a ceiling), making it easier to estimate your entitlement.
| Student type | Housing type | CAF income forfait (2026, frozen) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-scholarship student | Standard rental (private or CROUS studio) | €8,600/year |
| Scholarship student (boursier) | Standard rental | €6,900/year |
| Non-scholarship student | Foyer or résidence universitaire | €6,600/year |
| Scholarship student (boursier) | Foyer or résidence universitaire | €5,400/year |
In practice, a student with the boursier forfait (€6,900/year) will receive a higher APL than a non-scholarship student (€8,600/year) for the same rent and zone, because a lower reference income results in a higher benefit. This is why scholarship holders tend to receive substantially more APL.
What determines your APL amount?
Four factors determine your individual APL amount. All four are assessed together, which is why two students with the same rent can receive very different amounts.
| Factor | How it affects APL |
|---|---|
| Rent amount | Higher rent generally means higher APL, up to a ceiling set by the CAF for your zone. Rent above the ceiling is not taken into account. |
| Income | Lower income means higher APL. The CAF uses the income forfait for students (see table above), recalculated each quarter based on your last 12 months. |
| Geographic zone | Zone 1 (Paris and inner suburbs) has the highest rent ceilings and tends to produce the highest APL. Zone 2 covers cities over 100,000 inhabitants. Zone 3 covers all other areas. |
| Household composition | Living alone, as a couple or with dependants affects the calculation. If you live with someone who is not eligible for APL, your benefit is calculated as if you were single. |
Real examples of APL amounts for students in France (October 2026)
The following examples are estimates based on the 2026 CAF barème. Use them as a reference point, then run your own simulation on caf.fr for a precise figure.
| Situation | Monthly rent (excl. charges) | Zone | Estimated APL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship student, boursier échelon 2 (€307/month) | €400 | Zone 2 (Montpellier) | ~€200–250 |
| EU non-scholarship student, no income | €600 | Zone 1 (Paris suburbs) | ~€150–200 |
| Scholarship student (boursier) | €300 (CROUS room) | Zone 2 (Lyon) | ~€100–150 |
| Alternance student, salary €800/month | €550 | Zone 2 (Bordeaux) | ~€80–130 |
| Non-scholarship student, part-time job €500/month | €450 | Zone 3 (Rennes) | ~€50–100 |
Simulate before you sign
Before committing to a flat, run the official CAF simulator on caf.fr. It uses the current barème and gives you a realistic estimate in about 5 minutes, without creating an account. If the simulation shows €0, check the eligibility section above before assuming you are not entitled.
How to apply for APL in France: step by step
The application is entirely online and takes about 30 minutes if you have your documents ready. Although the process is straightforward, the timing matters: entitlement starts the month after you apply, so apply as soon as your lease is signed.
Prepare your documents. You will need your passport or ID, your residence permit (for non-EU nationals), a birth certificate with a sworn French translation, your French RIB (bank account details with a French IBAN), your signed lease, a rent attestation from your landlord, and your student enrolment certificate (certificat de scolarité). If you are a scholarship holder, include your scholarship notification letter.
Create your CAF account. Go to caf.fr and click “Créer mon compte”. You will need a French mobile number to receive the verification code. Use the same email address you plan to keep long-term, as the CAF will send all notifications there.
Then, complete the housing benefit form. Once logged in, go to “Mes droits et paiements” and select the housing aid application. You will be asked for your address, lease details, landlord information (including their SIRET if they are a professional), your income and your household situation.
Next, upload your documents. The CAF will ask you to upload the required documents via their secure portal. Ensure all scans are legible and complete. Incomplete files are the most common cause of delays; a missing page can suspend your application for weeks.
Finally, wait for the processing decision. The CAF typically processes housing aid applications within 2 to 6 weeks. You can track your file status in your online account. Once approved, you will receive a notification letter and your first payment will arrive within the month.
When does APL start and when do you get paid?
APL entitlement starts on the first day of the month following your application. As a result, if you move in on 5 October and apply on 10 October, your APL starts from 1 November and your first payment arrives in November or December depending on the processing time. This is why applying on the very first day of your lease is important: each month of delay is a month of APL you will not recover.
Once awarded, APL is paid monthly by the CAF, usually in the first week of each month for the previous month’s rent. The amount is reviewed automatically every 3 months based on your last 12 months of income. You do not need to reapply at each review; however, you must inform the CAF of any significant change in your situation (new job, change of address, end of lease).
Frequently asked questions
Can non-EU international students still get APL in France in 2026?
It depends on your situation. Since 1 July 2026, non-EU students who are not scholarship holders and are not working in France are no longer eligible for APL. However, non-EU students who are scholarship holders (boursiers), on an alternance contract, currently working, or hold refugee or specific residence permit status remain fully eligible. If you are unsure, check your situation against the eligibility list above before applying.
How do I know if my flat is conventionné and eligible for APL?
Ask your landlord directly whether the property is conventionné with the state. Most CROUS residences, HLM social housing and many furnished student rentals from professional agencies are conventionné. If the property is not conventionné, you may be eligible for the ALS (Allocation de Logement à caractère Social) instead, which covers non-conventionné properties and works in a similar way. The CAF simulator will automatically indicate which benefit applies to your situation.
I am dependent on my parents’ tax household. Does that affect my APL?
Yes, in an indirect way. If you are still part of your parents’ tax household (possible up to age 25 in France), your parents may lose some family benefits (allocations familiales) and tax deductions when you apply for APL. In contrast, you yourself may receive a higher APL because you declare your own income independently. In most cases, applying for APL is financially advantageous for the student, but it is worth discussing with your parents first.
Amounts, timing and what changes them
Why did my APL amount change without me doing anything?
APL is recalculated automatically every 3 months based on your last 12 months of income, as reported by your employer or declared to the French tax authority. If your income increased (for example, you started a student job), your APL will likely decrease at the next quarterly review. Conversely, if your income dropped, it may increase. Furthermore, the overall APL amounts are revised every year on 1 October based on the IRL rent index, which can also cause a small upward adjustment.
Do I need a French IBAN to receive APL?
Yes. The CAF can only pay APL into a French bank account. You will need to provide a RIB (relevé d’identité bancaire) with a French IBAN starting with FR76. If you do not yet have a French bank account, open one before applying: BoursoBank, Hello Bank and Revolut (new accounts since August 2026) all issue French IBANs and are free to open. Without a French RIB, the CAF cannot process your payment even if you are fully eligible.
Can I get APL for a CROUS room?
Yes. CROUS residences are conventionné with the state and are therefore fully eligible for APL. As a result, even though CROUS rents are already subsidised (€200 to €500/month), you can receive APL on top of that, reducing your effective rent further. Apply on caf.fr as soon as you receive your CROUS lease. The application process is identical to a private rental.
What to do next
- Open a French bank account (required to receive APL): Best bank account for international students in France (2026).
- Find student housing eligible for APL: CROUS student residence in France: how to apply.
- Get your transport pass for Paris: Navigo Pass for International Students in Paris 2026.
- Register for health cover: French health insurance for international students (Ameli and Carte Vitale).
Sources
- CAF, APL: ce qui change pour certains étudiants à partir du 1er juillet 2026, June 2026
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CAF housing allowance (APL): new eligibility criteria, 2026
- Ecla, International student APL: what changes in 2026 and the alternatives, August 2026
- Bourseinside, Montant APL 2026: revalorisation, plafonds figés, coup de frein pour les étudiants étrangers, 2026
- Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, Aides au logement pour les étudiants internationaux, October 2025