Practical Life

In this section, you will find useful and practical information to help you prepare for your arrival at the University Paris Nanterre (UPN) and in France.

Transportation in Île-de-France

Île-de-France has an excellent public transportation network; you can get around by bus, metro, or RER.

Which transportation pass should you choose?

• If you are under 26, you can sign up for the ImagineR pass for students for €392,30 per year (one-year commitment required, but more economical than the Navigo Mois pass for stays of 5 months or more). The ImagineR pass allows you to travel anywhere in Paris and the Paris region, whether by bus, metro, or RER. As soon as you have an address in France, apply online or at an RATP ticket office.
   
• If you are over 26 (or if your stay is less than or equal to 4 months), you can subscribe to the Navigo Mois pass for €88,80 per month. This pass allows you to travel anywhere in Paris and the Paris region, whether by bus, metro, or RER. You can also order a Navigo card on which you can load daily, weekly, or monthly passes.
   
• The Navigo Liberté+ pass may be right for you if you don't use public transportation very often. You pay for each journey individually with your phone or Navigo pass, starting at €1,60 per journey. This pass allows you to travel throughout the Île-de-France region.

Note: you can purchase and validate your journeys directly with your smartphone for Navigo Month, Week, Day, or Liberté + passes by downloading the “Île-de-France Mobilités” or “Bonjour RATP” app, available on Google Play and Apple Store.

For information, the following lines serve University Paris Nanterre:

RER A                                 LIGNE L

Opening a bank account in France

If you are a European Union citizen and have a bank account in a SEPA country, it is not essential to open a bank account in France.
If you are not a citizen of a European Union country and do not have a bank account in a SEPA zone country, you will need to open a bank account with a French bank as soon as you arrive in France in order to complete administrative procedures (social security registration, residence permit renewal, etc.).

Which bank should you choose?

To make it easier for you to open a bank account, University Paris Nanterre has established a partnership with SBE Banque Populaire. If you would like to open an account with this bank, please write to the Welcome Desk for more information.
You can also choose another bank of your choice, such as BNP Parisbas, La Banque Postale, Société Générale, etc., which have physical branches, or online banks (Revolut, Boursobank, Nickel, Fortuneo, etc.).
We advise you to compare the different banking offers and assess them in relation to your needs. For example, the costs of debit cards, international transfers, or cash withdrawals abroad can vary significantly from one institution to another.

How do I open a bank account in France?

If you do not have a bank account in a SEPA country, you will need to go to the bank of your choice in person to apply for an account and provide the necessary documents.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the documents that are generally required:

• proof of identity: valid passport. If applicable: residence permit OR visa and visa validation;
• proof of address in France dated within the last 3 months: rental agreement OR electricity bill in your name OR rent receipt;
• certificate of enrollment (or student card). If you are a researcher or doctoral student, you will be asked to provide proof of activity (letter of acceptance from the university or hosting agreement).

Nickel account: if you have a French phone number and an address in France, you can open a Nickel account online very quickly. Fill out the form here and go to a point of sale to finalize the procedure and collect your bank card.

When you open your bank account, you will receive your account details, also known as your RIB. This is your account identification number, which allows you to receive bank transfers and set up direct debits.

Housing assistance

Whether you live alone in private accommodation, in a shared apartment, or in a residence, you may be eligible for housing assistance (also known as APL: Aide Personnalisée au Logement). The amount you receive will depend on your situation: your income, the amount of your rent, etc.

How do I apply?

You can apply online on the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) website.
There are two steps:
1) Create an account. You can create an account even if you do not have a French Social Security number. You will then receive a temporary ID starting with the letter “P.”
2) Apply for housing assistance. Be sure to apply, not just run a simulation.
→ Our detailed tutorial will show you exactly what steps to follow to apply.

List of supporting documents to provide:

• certificate of enrollment from University Paris Nanterre,
• birth certificate translated into French by a certified translator,
• bank details in your name for a bank account in a SEPA country (complete list of countries),
• passport,
• rental agreement or rent certificate,
• if applicable: visa and visa validation OR valid residence permit.

Important: you will not receive housing assistance for the days of the month in which you move into your accommodation. For example, if you move into your accommodation on September 8, you will not receive housing assistance for that month. You will only receive your first payment in November for the month of October.

Income tax

Does this apply to you?

If you are over 18 and stay in France for more than 6 months per year, or if you have your center of economic interests there (studies, main residence, or professional activities), then you are considered a French tax resident. This means that even if you do not have French nationality, you are subject to tax in France on all your income, whether earned in France or abroad. In this case, you are therefore required to declare your income from your first year in France.
Income tax is payable on all income (salaries, alimony, etc.) that you received between January 1 and December 31, this period being referred to as the tax year.

How do you declare your income?

The declaration is usually made online at impots.gouv.fr using your tax identification number (NIF). If you are filing for the first time (i.e., you were not previously attached to a French tax household), your first return must be filed on paper. From your second return onwards, once you have obtained your tax reference number, you can file your income tax return online. More information.

There are two ways to obtain this number:
1) Contact the Public Finance Center in your place of residence.
2) Fill out the form available in the box on the right (leaving the following box blank: “Tax number if one of the declarants already has one”). In the last section, “Comments or additional information,” you can indicate that you have just moved to France and that, as your main activity takes place in France, you are requesting a tax identification number.

Find a student job

At the university, the Career Services Office (BAIP) can help you find a student job, internship, or work-study program. You can find all the information you need on their web page and view job offers on Job Teaser.

Important: you must be registered with the French health insurance system in order to work legally in France. You do not need to have a definitive Social Security number to sign an employment contract. However, you must have already applied for health insurance and provide at least a non-certified Social Security number (NIA).

♦ Students who are not citizens of the European Union/European Economic Area/Switzerland:

• the long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) “student” allows you to work a maximum of 964 hours per year (approximately 60% of full-time).
• for work-study contracts (apprenticeships or professional training), working hours may exceed this limit. However, the employer must apply for a specific work permit.

♦ European students (EU/EEA/Switzerland): you do not need a residence permit or work permit to work in France and there are no restrictions.