Admin & Aid
Navigating French administration step by step: from visa validation to health insurance, bank accounts, and student financial aid.
Step-by-step roadmap
Your Administrative Timeline
Follow these five essential steps in order after arriving in France to set up your student life smoothly.
CVEC & School Registration
Pay the CVEC fee on cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr to get your certificate, then complete registration at TSP or IMT-BS to obtain your official Certificat de Scolarité.
French Bank Account
Open your bank account with Société Générale (official partner of BDE and WELCOM') to obtain your French IBAN (RIB).
Visa Validation (ANEF)
Validate your VLS-TS student visa online on the ANEF portal to secure your legal stay and right to work.
Social Security (Ameli)
Register for free French Social Security on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr to receive your Carte Vitale and cover your healthcare costs.
CAF Housing Subsidies
Submit your APL or ALS application on caf.fr to receive monthly housing aid towards your Maisel rent.
Step 1: Academic Registration
CVEC & School Certificate
Before finalizing your enrollment at Télécom SudParis or IMT Business School, you must obtain your CVEC payment receipt.
What is the CVEC?
The CVEC (Contribution Vie Étudiante et de Campus) is a mandatory annual contribution (~103 €) collected by the French government to fund student life, sports, health, and cultural initiatives.
How to complete this step:
- Visit the official portal cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr and create your account.
- Pay the CVEC fee online by credit card (or download your exemption certificate if you are a scholarship holder).
- Download your Attestation de paiement CVEC (CVEC Certificate).
- Submit your CVEC certificate to the school registrar (Scolarité) during administrative registration.
- Receive your official Certificat de Scolarité (School Certificate) and your student badge.
Keep your Certificat de Scolarité safe: You will need this document for your bank account, CAF, Navigo pass, and visa validation!
Step 2: Managing Money
Opening a French Bank Account
A French bank account with a RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire / IBAN) is essential for receiving CAF aid, setting up phone plans, paying rent, and managing daily expenses.
Société Générale: Official Partner of BDE & WELCOM'
Through this partnership, students receive exclusive advantages: a welcome cash bonus, credit card perks, discounts for the WEI (integration weekend) and association memberships, and streamlined account opening procedures tailored for campus students.
Required Documents for Account Opening:
- Valid Passport with your student visa (VLS-TS).
- Proof of Address in France (Attestation de Logement from Maisel or lease agreement).
- School Enrollment Certificate (Certificat de Scolarité) or student card.
What is a RIB? In France, a RIB contains your IBAN and BIC. You will share your RIB with CAF for housing subsidies, with Maisel for rent direct debit, and with phone operators.
Step 3: Legal Stay
Visa Validation & Titre de Séjour (ANEF)
If you arrived in France with a Long-Stay Visa valid as a Residence Permit (VLS-TS), you MUST validate it online within 3 months of your arrival date.
Online Validation Process on ANEF:
- Go to the official ANEF portal: administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr.
- Click on Validate your VLS-TS.
- Enter your visa number, date of entry into France, French address, and contact details.
- Pay the residence tax stamp (Taxe de Séjour, approx. 50 €) online using a payment card.
- Download and print your Attestation de validation du VLS-TS.
Step 4: Healthcare
French Social Security & Health Insurance
France offers universal healthcare. As an international student, registering for French Social Security (CPAM) is completely free of charge.
1. Social Security Registration (Ameli)
Register online at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr. Upload your passport, visa, VLS-TS validation certificate, school certificate, birth certificate, and French RIB. You will receive a temporary Social Security number, then your permanent number and your green Carte Vitale.
2. Complementary Health Insurance (Mutuelle)
French Social Security reimburses about 70% of standard medical costs. To cover the remaining 30% (prescription drugs, specialist visits, hospital fees, dental and optical care), taking out a student Mutuelle (such as Heyme or LMDE) is strongly recommended.
3. On-Campus Medical Consultations
Visiting medical services regularly come to campus to offer free consultations (STI screening, dental care, ophthalmology, and more).
4. Booking Appointments with Doctolib
To find a general practitioner or specialist near Évry and book online appointments, use the Doctolib website or app.
Step 5: Financial Assistance
CAF Housing Subsidies (APL & ALS)
International students residing in France are eligible for monthly housing subsidies paid by the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales).
Be sure to submit your application on caf.fr before the last day of your arrival month. For a detailed guide on Maisel residence eligibility, APL vs ALS, and step-by-step instructions, view our Housing Guide.
Need Help?
Come Visit Us at the Foyer!
Administrative portals and paperwork in a foreign language can be daunting. The WELCOM' team is available at our office in the Foyer to assist you step-by-step with your online applications.