Using your foreign SIM card in France for calls and roaming can be quite expensive hence it is advisable to have a french sim card. Having a french telephone number is also important in making reservations, booking appointments and in many bureaucratic procedures during your stay.The major cell network providers include Orange, Free Mobile, SFR and Bouygues Telecom.
You can get these sim cards by ordering online, in the mobile provider’s boutique shops, electronic stores, tabacs and some select supermarkets. The payment plans for the sim cards can either be prepaid, pay-as-you-go and monthly subscription, monthly subscription being the cheapest option but with a requirement of having a current bank account and proof of stay (house address) in France.
Setting up and operating the sim cards is fairly straightforward but you can also seek assistance from the salesperson at the store.
Major french banks that offer accounts suitable for foreigners include:
When opening a bank account in France, you will need to shop around and weigh several factors that may be important to you and these may include cost, ease of access, variety of services, other benefits as well as English-speaking services for those not conversant in the French language.
You can inquire about opening an account at any branch. Even at large banks in major cities, it’s possible that the staff won’t speak English, so it could be a good idea to bring a translator with you or request to take the documents with you so that you have time to understand it. Typically, branches are open from Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, closing only for lunch while some are open half day on Saturday.
The usual requirements for opening a French bank account as a foreigner include:
If you plan to visit a bank branch, it is important to check and book an appointment as most banks are not open on Sunday, Monday and public holidays.
In France, finding accommodation sometimes means you have to be ready to fight. Start looking as soon as possible and learn the required administrative procedures ahead of time so you don’t waste time once you’re in France.
If you have the student status (as a doctoral student), you can ask for accommodation in a student residence .
You can ask family, friends or workmates if they have a house to rent or if they know someone renting. For those doing exchange programes you can request your referent teacher for assistance.
Before moving in, you must sign a lease – a rental contract- with the owner of the house or with their legal representative (such as an estate agent). The lease is mandatory and constitutes proof of your location of residence. It establishes the conditions for the rental: duration, amount of rent and utility charges and terms of renewal or cancellation of the lease.
The renter pays the sign-up fees for electricity and natural gas. Contact a provider as soon as you move into the accommodation. Along with the two traditional providers, EDF and Engie, there are many newer operators on the market, so don’t hesitate to compare pricing on the site UFC – Que choisir.
Depending on your income and the type of lodging you have, you may have the right to one of the following forms of housing benefits: the “allocation de logement sociale” (social housing benefit) or the “aide au logement personnalisée” (personalised housing assistance). To find out, do a simulation or contact the Caisse d’allocations familiales (Family assistance fund) nearest you.
Comprehensive household insurance is mandatory. It covers damage that your home may suffer (theft, water and fire damage) as well as third-party liability. Contact an insurance company to obtain coverage as soon as you know the day you will be moving in. You will almost always be asked to provide proof of insurance when you sign the lease.
As soon as you arrive in France, you must validate your long-stay visa. The process is entirely digital. You can do everything remotely at home on your computer. You must validate your visa within 3 months of arriving in France at the very latest for you to be issued with a resident permit.
To do so, visit the following website: https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr
Done! Your visa is validated.
It is recommended to register with your home country’s embassy in France in case of emergencies.
For Kenyans in France, you can register with the Kenyan Embassy in Paris through this link. https://kenyaembassyparis.fr/register
