Settling in · I1

Open a bank account

You need your address, your passport and often a French phone number.

Right to a bank account: procedure deadlinesA bank is designated within 1 working day, the account opened within 3 working daysIf the bank has not answered 15 days after your request, the refusal stands and you can apply to the Banque de France.
Verified on 08/10/2026 · Service-public F2417Source
Cash to declare when arriving in France10,000 €From €10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies). Above €50,000, proof of origin is mandatory. The declaration is free: online (Dalia), by post or at the border.
Verified on 08/10/2026 · Service-public F801Source

How to do it

  1. 1Get your file ready before going to a branch: photo ID (passport or residence permit) and proof of address in your name.
  2. 2Compare offers from several banks (in branch or online) and book an appointment with the one that suits you.
  3. 3At the appointment, show your documents and register your signature: this is required to open the account.
  4. 4If a bank refuses to open an account for you, ask it for a written refusal letter.
  5. 5With that letter, apply to the Banque de France (online from your personal space, at a branch counter or by post): this is the droit au compte, and it will designate a bank that must open an account with basic banking services for you.
  6. 6Once the account is open, get your RIB and send it to the health insurance (ameli), the CAF and your employer if you work.

What you need

  • Passport or residence permit (official photo ID)
  • Proof of address (rent receipt, utility bill, or a hosting certificate if you are staying with someone)
  • Your French phone number and your email address
  • If refused: the bank's refusal letter and the droit au compte application form

Tips

  • The droit au compte is free: opening the account and the basic banking services cost you nothing.
  • You cannot use the droit au compte if you already have a deposit account in France: it is only for people who have none.
  • Keep a digital copy of your RIB on your phone: ameli and the CAF will ask for it to pay you.
Official sources
Money

Receiving money in France from your family in Cameroon

Never give out your bank codes, passwords or login details: your bank will never ask for them. If someone asks you to send money or change bank details urgently, call the person on their usual number. If you have paid to a fake RIB, tell your bank straight away and ask for the funds to be recalled.

  1. 1Open your bank account in France as soon as you have proof of address; if a bank refuses, use the droit au compte through the Banque de France.
  2. 2Send your RIB (IBAN and BIC) to your family through a safe channel, then confirm it by phone.
  3. 3Also send your family your student card and enrolment certificate: for family support to a student, these are the documents CEMAC exchange regulations require above a certain monthly amount.
  4. 4Choose the sending method with your family: a transfer from a bank in Cameroon, or a money transfer or mobile money service, as long as it is licensed for international transfers.
  5. 5Before each transfer, get the total cost worked out: sending fees, exchange commission and any receiving fees charged by your bank in France.
  6. 6If you carry cash when you arrive in France, declare it to customs above the official threshold: online with the Dalia service, by post or at the border, free of charge.

What you need

  • Your French RIB (IBAN and BIC)
  • Copy of your student card
  • Enrolment certificate for the current year
  • ID of the person sending the money
  • Proof of where the sender's money comes from

Tips

  • The CFA franc to euro rate is fixed: from one sending method to another, the difference comes mainly from fees and the exchange commission. Always ask for the exact amount that will arrive in euros.
  • Send your family your new enrolment certificate at the start of each academic year, so transfers are not blocked for lack of documents.
  • Keep the receipts for every transfer: they show your regular resources, which helps when you renew your residence permit.
Official sources
Money

Receiving money in France from your family in Senegal

Never give out your codes, passwords or bank login details: your bank will never ask for them. If someone urgently asks you to send money or change bank details, call the person on their usual number.

  1. 1Open your bank account in France as soon as you have proof of address; if a bank refuses, use the right to an account with the Banque de France.
  2. 2Send your bank details (IBAN and BIC) to your family through a safe channel, then confirm them by phone.
  3. 3Also send your family your residence permit and proof of your expenses (rent, tuition fees): these are the « family support » documents the bank may ask for above 1,000,000 FCFA per transfer.
  4. 4Choose the transfer method with your family: a transfer from a bank in Senegal, or a fast money transfer service tied to an approved bank. Mobile money can't send to France.
  5. 5Before each transfer, have the total cost worked out: sending fees, exchange commission and any receiving fees from your bank in France.
  6. 6If you carry cash, respect Senegal's exit limits, and declare it to customs on arrival in France from €10,000.

What you need

  • Your French bank details (IBAN and BIC)
  • Copy of your residence permit
  • Proof of your expenses (lease or rent receipt, tuition fees)
  • ID of the person sending the money

Tips

  • The CFA franc is pegged to the euro: from one method to another, the difference mostly comes from fees and the exchange commission.
  • In cash, leaving Senegal: 500,000 FCFA at most in CFA franc notes, and 3,500,000 FCFA at most in foreign currency, to declare above 3,000,000 FCFA.
  • Keep the receipt for every transfer: they show your regular funds, useful when renewing your residence permit.
Official sources

A question about this step?

“Open a bank account”: ask Mbeng, the answer comes from the guides and official sources.

In the journey

BeforeA5 · Get stable accommodation and proof of addressBeforeA2 · Get a French phone numberUnlocksI2 · Register for health insuranceUnlocksI6 · Apply for housing benefit (APL)
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