Apply for housing benefit (APL)
Open to needs-based grant holders (CROUS), work-study students and students who work.
Housing benefit (APL) for non-EU/EEA/Swiss studentsNeeds-based grant holders only, with exceptionsThis means the needs-based grant (CROUS): an Eiffel or French government scholarship does not open APL. Exceptions: professional activity, apprentices, professionalisation contracts, refugees, stateless persons, spouses.
Verified on 07/10/2026 · Service-public A18981Source
How to do it
If you do not hold a means-tested scholarship and are not in any of the exceptions, you are not entitled to APL: your budget must work without it.
- 1First check whether you are in an eligible case: since 01/07/2026, a non-EU/EEA/Swiss student can only get APL if they hold a means-tested scholarship (bourse sur critères sociaux), unless they work, are an apprentice, on a contrat de professionnalisation, a refugee, stateless, or the spouse of a non-EU student.
- 2If you are in one of these cases, run a simulation on caf.fr to estimate your aid before applying.
- 3Wait until you have moved in, then apply for housing aid online on caf.fr.
- 4Send the supporting documents the CAF asks for at the end of your application.
- 5Activate your « Mon Compte » space on caf.fr or the Caf - Mon Compte app with your file number, to follow your application.
What you need
- A valid email address
- Your lease or rental contract
- Your RIB
- Your landlord's contact details and your rent amount
Tips
- There is no official threshold of work to keep APL: be wary of figures going around and check your situation with the simulation or your CAF.
- If you were already receiving APL before 01/07/2026 without meeting the new condition, you lose the aid: plan your budget accordingly.
- Do not build your budget on APL until the CAF has confirmed your entitlement.
A question about this step?
“Apply for housing benefit (APL)”: ask Mbeng, the answer comes from the guides and official sources.