Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF) · 8 steps · ≈ 45 min

Request APL housing aid

In FrenchAide Personnalisée au Logement (APL)

APL is the monthly housing aid run by CAF. It pays a fraction of your rent every month while you're a tenant, calculated from your declared income, your rent, and the size of your household. Most tenants in France qualify: salariés on modest income, many freelancers, and students who meet the conditions. Since 1 July 2026 those conditions are narrower for students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, who now need a bourse sur critères sociaux to receive APL as a student.

The single most important thing to know: APL is not retroactive beyond the month you apply. Wait three months after moving in to file and you've left three months of money on the table. Apply the day you sign your bail.

The portal is caf.fr. You'll need a signed bail in your name, a French RIB to receive the payment, your numéro de sécurité sociale (or evidence of a CPAM filing in progress), and an idea of last year's net taxable income. CAF cross-references most of this automatically once you've created the account; you confirm rather than re-type.

Have these ready

· A signed bail (rental contract) in your name or your couple's name
· A French RIB (bank account)
· Your numéro de sécurité sociale (or a CPAM filing in progress)
· An email address you check often

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Common questions

Can foreigners get APL?

Usually yes, with one exception. Anyone with a valid titre de séjour or VLS-TS qualifies on the same terms as French nationals, and EU citizens qualify without a titre. The exception, since 1 July 2026 under décret 2026-552: a student from outside the EU, the EEA or Switzerland gets APL only if they hold a bourse sur critères sociaux. Students who work, are on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract, hold refugee or stateless status, or are the spouse of a non-EU student remain eligible. The portal asks for your titre number; have it ready.

When should I apply for APL?

The day you sign your bail. APL is calculated from the month of application, not the move-in date. If you signed the bail on the 1st but applied on the 15th of the following month, you've forfeited a month of aid.

How much APL will I get?

The CAF simulator (caf.fr/aides-et-demarches/mes-services-en-ligne/le-simulateur-aides-au-logement) gives a precise estimate in five minutes. Typical ranges are €100-€300/month for students, €0-€250 for salariés, depending on rent, postcode, and income. There's no minimum to apply; the simulator tells you if it's worth filing.

How long does CAF take to process the APL request?

Three weeks to two months. The first payment usually lands by the 5th of the month following the validated dossier. CAF sometimes asks for a missing document mid-flow; check the portal weekly until the file shows 'Droit ouvert'.

Can I get APL if I'm hosted (héberge) by family or friends?

No. APL requires a bail in your name (or a sub-lease registered with the owner). If you pay rent informally to a host who isn't your landlord on paper, you don't qualify.