Handle all of the formalities you need to look after for your day-to-day life.
Getting a bank account
It can be very handy to get a bank account in France, in particular for paying bills (electricity, telephone, rent) and subscriptions (transportation, Internet). It is especially important to have a French account if you have a paid job or internship to allow your employer to pay you wages. It is also easier to be reimbursed for healthcare expenses.
Getting a bank account is a right recognised by French authorities. A foreign student can open a bank account in any bank in France. The different banks have branches in most cities; just open the door and make an appointment with an advisor.
Compare what the different banks offer. The costs of the bank card, international transfers and cash withdrawals abroad may vary noticeably from one bank to another.
Three documents are needed to open a bank account:
- identification,
- proof of residence (a rental receipt or a gas/electricity bill)
- and an enrolment certificate or a student card.
If you still don't have any accommodation, you may be able to use the address of the service of international relations of your institution.
After you open a bank account, you will have the right to a bank card and a cheque book. With your Relevé d’Identité Bancaire (RIB - bank account information slip), you will be able to easily make the different monthly payments you have.
If you face difficulties to open an account, a process called droit au compte (right to account) can help you. The Banque de France will appoint a bank and force it to open an account for you. Details of this process, documents to provide and associations offering help are available on the Banque de France website.
Connect to internet
Mobile phone
Before leaving your country, check with your operator whether your phone can be used in France.
Many operators offer deals of around €30 per month with free calls to all fixed telephones in France and several other countries, unlimited internet access and digital TV. The main operators are:
They have many offers, some including the handset, pre-paid or plan. A French bank account is needed for mobile phone plans but not for pre-paid cards. Have a look on the internet to get an updated plan or sim-card price comparison.
Another element to take into account is the network coverage. Currently, depending on where you are in France, some operators might offer better coverage than their competitors, whether for standard data (voice and text) or for internet data.
Warning: deals often require a year-long commitment and you will need to open a French bank account.
To call a French number from an Australian number, dial 0011 (international), then 33 (France), then the number. E.g; 07 1234 5678 = 0011 33 7 1234 5678
To call an Australian number from a French number, dial 0011 then 61 (Australia) then the number including the state code. E.g; 02 1234 5678 = 0011 61 2 1234 5678
Free WiFi
Many free WiFi hotspots are available in major French cities, train stations, parks or coffee shops. Additionally, it is often possible to use the Wi-Fi connection of the hotel you’re staying at.
Paris Wi-Fi is a service that allows you to connect for free throughout the city. To use this service, go to one of the 260 municipal sites equipped with Paris Wi-Fi access.
Important note: Since 2017, mobile roaming fees have been cancelled in Europe, so you will now be able to use your data without any additional costs during your trip to any other country of the EU. Be careful though, this law is only valid in the European Union and may not be applicable elsewhere, even in countries like Turkey, Switzerland or UK (which are situated in Europe but are not part of the European Union). Also, remember to be mindful of your data consumption: your data limit might be reduced while you’re abroad. For example, if you have a bundle with 20GB of internet data, you might only be able to use 5GB of data abroad and will be overcharged if you exceed the limit. This law is also applicable to prepaid SIM cards (check the conditions with your operator).