Finding and managing your housing is a key step of your stay. In France, the housing process involves several essential steps to secure your move-in and optimize your budget.
From searching for a home to protecting your residence, including financial support from the CAF, acc&ss guides you through every step to simplify your administrative procedures.
Click on the topic that applies to you to access dedicated information.
The assistance for international students and researchers doesn't stop!
Even though the Welcome Desk has concluded, our services are available all year round. Our goal remains the same: to help you settle in with peace of mind and understand the essential procedures in France.
💡 What We Do For You
We guide you through all your administrative procedures :
📍 Where to Find Us
We welcome you with or without an appointment, in person or via video conference. And finding us couldn't be simpler:
➡️ Maison Internationale of the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (to the right of the CROUS restaurant)
🕒 Our Hours
| Mode of Visit | Days | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment Only (In-Person) | Monday Wednesday | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Monday) 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Wednesday) |
| Video call (Rdv – 15 min) | Wednesday | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| Walk-in (In-Person) | Monday
Tuesday Thursday Friday | 1:00 pm–5:00 pm 9:00 am –1:00 pm & 2:00 pm–5:00 pm 2:00 pm - 5:00 9:00 am–1:00 pm & 3:00 pm –5:00 pm |
📝 We recommend that you register (for free) on our website before your first visit or a video appointment.
🤝 Meet our partner
CPAM de Paris
For all your health-related questions: Ameli account, Carte Vitale, CSS (Supplemental Health Coverage), reimbursements, etc.
→ Twice a month: mornings by appointment, afternoons walk-in
📅 Next Dates: December 1 · December 19, 2025 · January 5 · January 16, 2026
CAF (Urgent Student Matters)
For urgent situations related to the APL (Housing Benefit).
→ Dates are announced on the Portail des Résidents website
👉 Your Next Step
Have a question? Need a little help with a procedure?
📩 Book an Appointment, Come Meet Us, or Write to Us
In Paris, on the first Sunday of the month, national museums open their doors... for free!
👉 Next Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025. This is the perfect time to:
Your goals for this day:
🎨 Discovery: Explore iconic collections
🏛️ Culture: Visit a museum you've been putting off for too long
📸 Memories: Fill your phone with photos worthy of a cultural guide
💡 Bonus and Preparation:
📅 The next free Sundays: January 4, 2026 — February 8, 2026 (note them down now... or screenshot)
🔗 Looking for inspiration? Check out a selection of outing ideas on Sortir à Paris.
And you, where are you going on December 7th?
✈️ Are you planning to go home or travel during the holidays?
If your residence permit is expiring soon or has already expired, good news: you can leave and return to France with your API (Attestation de Prolongation d’Instruction / Certificate of Extension of Instruction) (provided you have already started the procedure to renew your residence permit).
📌 But beware, remember to present the following documents to the competent authorities:
💡 Useful Mini Reminder:
The API is an official document given when your renewal application is under review. It extends your rights (stay, health insurance, CAF, and sometimes work depending on your status).
Apply via the Prefecture's contact form
✨ Check back tomorrow... major spoiler: a contest with prizes to win. You don't want to miss it. 😏🎁
Settling in Paris also means taking care of your health!
And when your rights are open with the CPAM (Health Insurance), you have access to plenty of schemes... often unknown! Here are the ones that can really help you 👇
⭐ Prevention Check-up (Ages 18–25)
A 100% covered appointment to take stock of your health: sleep, vaccines, diet, stress... Simple, useful, free.
⭐ Mon soutien psy (Psychological Support)
A scheme to benefit from psychological support:
A clear, regulated, and accessible framework.
Learn more⭐ M’T Dents (Ages 3–24)
Free dental examinations and preventive care at key ages. Perfect when you're discovering the French health system!
Learn more⭐ STI Screenings (Under 26)
Tests covered 100%, in full confidentiality.
⭐ Contraception (Women < 26)
Consultations and methods covered depending on the specific schemes.
⭐ Cervical Cancer Screening (Ages 25–65)
Examination covered according to the recommended schedule.
Learn more⭐ Complémentaire Santé Solidaire (CSS)
Free or very low-cost supplementary health insurance (mutuelle) for people with modest resources.
Learn more💡 Quick Essential Reminder
Open your rights, create your Ameli account, request your Carte Vitale: this is what allows you to access all these schemes.
🤝 Need an explanation?
The CPAM, a privileged partner of acc&ss, holds on-campus sessions to:
📅 Next sessions: December 19, January 5
More info on access.ciup.fr
Did you know? Your photo is the first contact with recruiters! 🤝
La Maison Étudiante de Paris is offering you a great opportunity to improve your professional (and even artistic!) profile with a free photo shoot by professionals. Say goodbye to the blurry selfie photo on your CV! 😉
Appointment to note in your calendar:
📅 Date & Time: Friday, December 19, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Maison Étudiante de Paris, 76bis Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris
💡 Tips - How to prepare?
Hurry, it's quick! Each session lasts 30 minutes and takes place in a small group.
⚠️ Registration is MANDATORY!
Book your slot now:
Important Note: Any absence not reported at least 12 hours in advance will result in registration on a red list, preventing you from benefiting from future workshops. We are counting on your sense of civic responsibility!
✨ See you tomorrow for a 100% Parisian event not to be missed!
🚀 Here we go with your first challenge!
From December 5 to 7, Acc&ss Paris Centre is launching its first Advent Calendar quiz!
📌 The principle? Super simple:
💡 👥 Who can participate ?
This contest is reserved for residents of the Cité internationale :
• Ages 18+
• Registered on our website: here
• With Internet access + email
Winner Announcements :
• On the Acc&ss website
• And on our LinkedIn page
✨ Winners will be contacted directly by email. 😏🎁
The contest is now over. Thank you for participating 🎉 See you on 12/10/25 to find out the winner's name.
❄️ The event not to be missed: The Winter Party!
The Maison étudiante de la Ville de Paris invites you to its Winter Party, a free, warm, and surprise-filled event.
📍 76 bis rue de Rennes, Paris 6e
🕔 12 décembre — de 17h à 22h
📌 ✨On the program: only cool stuff
💡 🌬️Why you should go?
Because December is even better when you share: creating, swapping, playing, laughing, leaving with an item of clothing (or a cutting!) and good memories.
Are you going? Do you want to share your experience?
Aide au logement (housing benefits): you can benefit from it, even as an international student or researcher!
⭐ How to apply?
1️⃣ Create your account on caf.fr
2️⃣ Submit your request under "Mes démarches (My procedures) → Aide au logement (Housing assistance)"
📌 3️⃣ Submit the requested documents based on your situation:
💡 ⭐ If you move on :
📍 Declare your new address → Submit a new APL application (Otherwise, the assistance automatically stops.)
⭐ Have you been stuck for more than 3 months? Are you still waiting for your allowance? Payment suspended?
👉 Acc&ss can get you an emergency appointment with the CAF.
⏳ Deadline : Monday, December 8 at 1 PM
⚠️ Limited places
Want a comforting break before the holidays?
Le Relais social international (RSI) invites you to a moment of sharing and conviviality to end the year gently✨
📌 🎉 What's planned
💡 🕒 Time and location:
📅 Wednesday, December 17, 2025
🕒 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Salon de la Fondation Deutsch de la Meurthe
👉 Would you like to participate?
And if you want, send us your photos or your feedback: we will share your best moments on LinkedIn and on the acc&ss website 🎉
🎉 Svetlana P. wins the first Advent Calendar quiz! Congratulations to her, and thank you all for participating 🙌
From December 10 to 12, try your luck with the second quiz in our Acc&ss Paris Centre Advent Calendar!
📌 The principle remains the same: simple, fast, effective.
📌 🧠 ✨ How to play?
💡 👥 Who can participate ?
Reserved for residents of the Cité internationale :
• +18 years old
• Registered on our website
• With Internet access + email
Publication on :
• acc&ss website
• Our LinkedIn
✨ The winners will also be contacted by email. 😏🎁
The contest is now over. Thank you for participating 🎉 See you on 12/15/25 to find out the winner's name.
🤗 It's one of the most heartwarming moments of the year at the Cité...
The 2025 Residents' Christmas Market is back for a new edition rich in flavors, cultures, and good cheer!
📌 ✨ A culinary and cultural journey
💡 📅 Practical Information:
📅 Sunday, December 14
🕛 12 PM → 7 PM
📍 Maison Internationale (Salle Branet et Jeanne-Thomas)
Without forgetting the Bureau des résidents: beer, mulled wine, and hot chocolate ✨
🎶 Concerts, entertainment, a warm atmosphere: a real Christmas at the Cité!
✨ And of course… many other ephemeral markets and villages to discover all over Paris to extend the magic. ✨😏🎁
✨ Today, we're tackling a major classic of life in France: administrative procedures.
Because between the acronyms, the documents, and the appointments, it is sometimes difficult to find your way around... we're helping you talk like a real regular at French offices 😌🇫🇷
🔤 The must-know acronyms
CAF : Caisse d’Allocations Familiales
APL : Aide Personnalisée au Logement (Housing Benefits)
CPAM : Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie
VLS-TS : Visa Long Séjour valant Titre de Séjour
RIB : Relevé d’Identité Bancaire (bank details)
📚 Useful Vocabulary (FR → EN)
🗣️ Mini-situation: At the administration office (FR → EN)
👉 Arriving at the desk
Bonjour, j’ai un rendez-vous à 10h. — Hello, I have an appointment at 10 AM.
Je viens pour déposer mon dossier. — I’m here to submit my application.
👉 Explaining what you need
Je souhaite renouveler mon titre de séjour. — I would like to renew my residence permit.
Je voudrais demander l’APL. — I would like to apply for housing allowance (APL).
Je veux créer mon compte ameli. — I want to create my ameli account.
👉 Asking a question
Quels documents dois-je fournir ? — Which documents do I need to provide?
Est-ce que mon dossier est complet ? — Is my application complete?
Comment puis-je suivre l’avancement de ma demande ? — How can I track my application?
👉 Clarifying a situation
J’ai reçu une demande de documents supplémentaires. — I received a request for additional documents.
Je n’ai pas encore reçu de réponse. — I haven’t received an answer yet.
👉 Wrapping up
Merci beaucoup pour votre aide. — Thank you very much for your help.
Bonne journée ! — Have a nice day!
🥗 Did you know? You could eat at the Crous for €1
Good news: until December 16 *, you can apply to benefit from the €1 meal in Crous restaurants and cafeterias... even if you are not a scholarship recipient, depending on your situation.
📌 🍽️ Who can benefit from the €1 meal?
💡 In case of refusal or a complex situation:
📅 Make an appointment with a Crous social worker: mesrdv.lescrous.fr/fr
📄 What documents should be provided?
✨ 🥗 Why this measure ?
Implemented since 2020, the €1 meal helps students with limited resources by guaranteeing them:
✓ a full meal
✓ balanced
✓ high quality
✓ at a very low price
This measure is entirely financed by the State. Every day, Crous teams prepare varied, homemade dishes accessible to everyone (€3.30 per meal for other students).
https://www.lescrous.fr/
🎄 Remember: you have until December 16 to submit your application! A valuable boost at the end of the year.* 😏
*After this deadline, you will be able to submit your application by making an appointment with a Crous social worker: mesrdv.lescrous.fr/fr
Paris is very well served: metro, bus, tram, RER... Here are the most advantageous options according to your situation.
🚇 The useful options :
📌 Main options :
💡 🎯 The great tip: : Solidarité 75 % :
75% off Navigo Weekly or Monthly passes (all zones).
How to use it? Load your entitlement hen purchase a Navigo pass with a 75% discount or half-price tickets.👉 Zone-free/De-zoned on weekends, public holidays, Zone C holidays, and during the summer (mid-July–mid-August).
🚨 Spoiler alert: come back tomorrow to participate in the 3rd calendar contest and try to win prizes that are 100% CiuP. 😏🎁
🎉 Niccolò F. wins the second Advent Calendar quiz! Congratulations to him, and thank you all for participating 🙌
🎉 Here we go again for a new session of the Acc&ss Paris Centre Advent Calendar!
It's time for Contest #3, open from December 15th to the 17th inclusive
The name of the winner of Contest #2 will be announced on this post after a random draw.
📌 👥 Who can participate?
💡 🎯 Selection & announcement:
• Draw on December 18th
• Winner announcement on December 20th
🎁 The prize for this session
✨ Perfect for writing down your projects, studying, traveling... or shining in the next quizzes 😉 😏🎁
Your resume (CV) is your first professional showcase. In just a few seconds, the recruiter must understand who you are and what you can do.
✨ The Golden Rules
📌 Page Layout Advice :
💡 Types of CVs:
• Chronological: Linear career path.
• Thematic (Functional): Focuses primarily on skills (ideal for recent graduates / career changers).
• Mixed: Skills + experience (the most versatile).
🌱 « Hobbies» :Prioritize 2–3 specific activities that demonstrate your soft skills (commitment, team spirit, creativity).
✨ A simple, sincere, and submitted CV is better than a perfect CV that is... never sent. 😏🎁
The holiday season can be a time of joy, but also a more vulnerable period for some people: isolation, stress, family tensions, and emotional fatigue.
👉 If you or someone around you needs it, support services are available. They are free and confidential.
🛑 Violence & Sensitive Situations
• Domestic Violence: 3919 (9 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
• All Victims of Violence: : 08 842 846 37 (9 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
🧠 Mental Health & Listening Services
• National Suicide Prevention Number : 3114 (24/7)
• Nightline Paris (Student listening service) : 01 88 32 12 32 (Every evening from 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.)📞 Essential Numbers to Know
🚑 SAMU (Medical Emergencies) : 15
🚓 Police / Gendarmerie : 17
🔥 Firefighters : 18
🌍 European Emergency Number: : 112
📱 Deaf / Hard of Hearing Emergencies (SMS or fax) : 114
💊 On-call Pharmacies: 3237
🤝 At the Cité internationale: The International Social Support remains mobilized
The Relais social international (RSI) at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris remains open throughout the year, except on the following days::
📌 December 25, December 26 et January 1st.
📧 Contact : relaissocial@ciup.fr
💡 A message, a call, or a request for help can change everything.
You are not alone, and you are never a bother when asking for support. 🤍
🔐 Important Update: To access CAF services, you must now use your Social Security number.
👉 Goal : To simplify procedures and better protect your personal data (in compliance with GDPR and under the supervision of the CNIL).
📌 👤 How to log into your CAF account?
💡 ⚠️ You do not have a Social Security number yet
You can still apply for APL (housing assistance). However, access to the online interface will be limited
➜ Your CAF file and history will be preserved.
✨ 🤝 Need help? Acc&ss supports you through your CAF procedures. 😏🎁
With the holiday season approaching, some services are adjusting their opening hours and reception methods.
Here is the essential information you need to continue your administrative procedures smoothly.
📌 🏢 Acc&ss Paris Centre Services
💡 Mandatory Registration :
📝Registration on our website is required before starting any procedures: :
Lien d'inscription
🏠 CAF and 🩺 CPAM :
**CAF du 13e :** 8:30 - 4:00 pm. Holidays Hours : 12/24 et 12/31 (12:00pm -4:00pm). Closed 12/25.
**CPAM (Plaisance) :** 19 rue Didot, 75014 Paris. Opening hours 9:00 am-04:00pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday), and 9:00am-12:00pm (Thursday).
✨ Even during the holidays, solutions are available. Don’t hesitate to use the contacts provided if you encounter any difficulties. 😏🎁
🎉 Congratulations to Sara!
Congratulations to Sara, the big winner of the previous Acc&ss Advent Calendar contest! 🥳 Thank you all for participating... and now, it's time for a new quiz! 👇
📌 🧠 How to play?
💡 👥 Who can participate ?
Contest open to CIUP residents only :
🎁 Prizes up for grabs
🎯 Prize draw: December 23, 2025. The winner will be contacted by email and announced on our platforms..
Good Luck ! 😏🎁
French is a beautiful language… but sometimes difficult to pronounce!
Today, we’re practicing with some very well-known words that are often mispronounced 👇
📌 Pronunciation Guide: :
💡 Pronunciation Tip :
In French, nasal sounds (an / on / in / ain) are essential. They are pronounced differently than in English or Spanish 😉
🌍 The Cité internationale Langage Space : Access the service
✨ The acc&ss selection for learning french : practical methods, reliable resources, and local tips to progress at your own pace.😏🎁
🎉 Nilsu wins the final Acc&ss Advent Calendar giveaway!
Congrats to her, and a huge thank you to everyone for participating throughout the Advent Calendar! 🙌✨
🎄 Final countdown... time for Contest #5!
📌 🧠How it works
💡 🎯 Selection & announcement:
• Prize draw: December 26
• Winner announcement: December 26
🎁The grand prize 🎄✨
✨ The perfect way to end the year on a high note... and start 2026 fully equipped! 😉🎁
