🇿🇦 For South African arrivals
Guides
The paperwork explained step by step, with the parts specific to South Africa called out. Each guide links to the official French source so you can check it yourself.
8 guides
Banking & money
Opening a French bank account
What banks ask for, and what to do if you are refused.
Checked 10 September 2026
CAF & benefits
CAF: housing and family benefits
Who can claim, and why the file takes so long.
Checked 10 September 2026
Driving licence
Driving in France: the basics
Insurance, priority rules and the paperwork you must carry in the car.
Checked 10 September 2026
Healthcare
Getting into the French health system (PUMA)
Most new residents wait three months before applying for state health cover.
Checked 10 September 2026
Language
Learning French quickly (and cheaply)
Free and low-cost options for new arrivals.
Checked 27 October 2026
Visas & permits
Applying for your first carte de séjour
Request it on ANEF between 4 and 2 months before your visa or card expires; start gathering documents earlier.
Checked 27 October 2026
Visas & permits
Validating your VLS-TS visa on ANEF
Your long-stay visa must be validated online within three months of arriving in France.
Checked 10 September 2026
Visas & permits
Which long-stay visa applies to you
A plain-language map of the common French long-stay visa categories.
Checked 10 September 2026