One of the biggest sources of stress for people moving to France isn’t the visa itself, it’s doing things in the wrong order. Bank won’t open an account. Healthcare application stalls. Admin portals loop you in circles asking for documents you don’t yet have.
The reason is simple: French administration is sequential. Each step unlocks the next, and skipping ahead almost always leads to delays. If you’re an American (or British, Canadian, Australian) planning a long-term move, here is the correct, realistic order to move to France, without getting stuck.
Table of Contents
Big picture: The order France expects you to follow
For most long-stay movers, the robust sequence is:
- Arrive and validate your long-stay visa (if applicable)
- Secure an accepted French address (proof of domicile)
- Open a French bank account and obtain a RIB
- Put compliant health cover in place and register for state healthcare
- Handle follow-on admin (tax, driving, schools, car, utilities, etc.)
Why this order matters: 👉 Proof of address and a RIB are requested constantly, by banks, healthcare, utilities, and many prefecture processes.
Step 0: Validate your long-stay visa (if you have one)
If you arrive on a VLS-TS (long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit), this step comes first.
- You must validate the visa online within 3 months of arrival
- This is a legal obligation
- Many downstream admin steps go more smoothly once it’s validated
If you skip this, you may find banks, CPAM (healthcare), or online portals refusing to proceed.
Step 1: Secure a real French address (justificatif de domicile)
In France, address comes before everything else.
You will usually need one of the following:
- A signed rental contract
- A property deed (if you own)
- An attestation d’hébergement (hosted by someone), plus:
- Copy of the host’s ID
- The host’s proof of address (utility bill, tax notice)
Different administrations accept slightly different proofs, but the safest options are:
- A lease or deed
- Or a full hosted-by file with supporting documents
Without an accepted proof of address, most banks, CPAM, schools, and many prefecture procedures simply won’t move.
Step 2: Open a French bank account (get your RIB)
Once you have an address, you can open a French bank account and obtain a RIB (bank identity slip).
The RIB is used everywhere in France, including for:
- Social security reimbursements
- Taxes
- Utilities and subscriptions
- Many government portals
Most banks request proof of address and ID.
If a bank refuses, France has a legal safeguard: the “droit au compte”. Through the Banque de France, a designated bank must open a basic account once you provide the required documents.
👉 This means lack of cooperation from one bank does not mean you’re stuck but it does mean the address step is critical.
Step 3: Healthcare
If you work or are self-employed
You usually gain access to French healthcare immediately via your activity.
If you do not work
You apply under PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie) after 3 months of stable, legal residence in France
During the initial period, you must hold visa-compliant private insurance, unless you have an S1 form or another qualifying arrangement.
When applying to CPAM, documents commonly requested include:
- Proof of identity and legal stay
- Proof of residence in France
- Civil status documents (often translated)
- A RIB for reimbursements
CPAM commonly requests a RIB when opening rights, even though exact document lists can vary by situation.
Step 4: The rest of the admin (now things flow)
Once you have:
- A validated visa (if applicable)
- Proof of address
- A French bank account (RIB)
- Healthcare underway
You can handle the remaining admin far more smoothly:
- Tax registration and household foyer fiscal
- Updating your address across government services
- Driving licence exchange and vehicle registration
- School enrolment
- CAF family benefits
- Business registration or professional activity
These processes frequently request the same core trio:
ID + proof of address + RIB.
The “no-jam” version (at a glance)
Step 0: Arrive and validate your VLS-TS (if applicable)
Step 1: Secure an accepted proof of address
Step 2: Open a French bank account and get a RIB
Step 3: Working → healthcare via employment or Not working → PUMa after 3 months of residence
Step 4: Complete tax, car, school, and long-term admin
Final notes
France is not impossible but it is procedural.
Most people don’t get stuck because they did something wrong. They get stuck because they did it too early.
Follow the sequence France expects, and the system starts working with you instead of against you.
Planning a move to France or just thinking about it?
Book a free 30-minute call with our team for personalised guidance on relocating to France. 👉 Schedule your call here
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Wherever you are in your France journey, we’re here to help.
