Everything you need to know about VISALE, the free security deposit service for students

Étudiants

VISALE is a no-cost solution to the problem of student security deposits. With VISALE, students find housing more quickly and property owners are assured that rent will be paid.

Finding a guarantor

A guarantor is someone who provides security on your behalf, that is, someone who agrees to pay your rent in the event you can no longer do so. In France, nearly everyone seeking to rent an apartment, whether French or foreign, is asked to name a guarantor.

Your guarantor must be French. If you don’t have one, other solutions are possible, thanks to the VISALE system, which provides rental guarantees if you are renting an apartment or room in a university residence. We advise you to begin the VISALE process as soon as possible—even before arriving in France. You don’t have to know your address in France to obtain a certificate of eligibility for VISALE (known as a “VISALE visa”).

You have applied for accommodation a in public hostel managed by CROUS or in a private hostel run by other agencies.
You are asked to provide a guarantor before you can secure the room.
Do not think to far, VISALE can be the solution to your problem
First of all, find out from the housing agency where you are applying for the accommodation if they accept VISALE
Should their response be yes, use the guide below or contact us

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Campus France assist you with your visale application

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1. VISALE can be used by international students

To be eligible, students must be between 18 and 30 years of age.
Students who require a visa for study in France must have obtained a long-stay visa with residency permit (VLS-TS) marked "étudiant" or "passeport talent".

Students who are citizens of a member country of the European Union need only a student ID card and a valid passport.

2. VISALE can be used for private rentals or for space in student residences

The VISALE security deposit is the perfect solution for students seeking to rent a room or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, from a private or public property owner. Owners have the option of accepting or rejecting prospective tenants who wish to use VISALE to guarantee their payment of rent and other charges.

GOOD TO KNOW: CROUS, the French student housing agency, has signed an agreement with VISALE. Under the agreement, international students may use VISALE as their security deposit when renting a room in a student residence managed by CROUS.

3. You don’t have to know your address in France before applying to VISALE

Arrangements may be made before you arrive in France. In fact, it is important to make arrangements in advance since you will have to obtain your VISALE eligibility certificate, known as a “visa,” before signing your lease.

4. The VISALE “visa” is distinct from the visa granted by the consulate

In order to study in France, some international students need a visa, a document issued by the French consulate in the student’s home country that confers the right to enter and reside in France for a certain period.

The VISALE visa is a certificate that entitles the bearer to a security deposit. It confers no right to enter or reside in France.

5. You can apply for VISALE online

Here are the steps to get VISALE in a few clicks:

Go to visale.fr and create an account.
Complete the questionnaire, download the required documents, and confirm your application.
Receive a certificate of VISALE eligibility, called a "visa," within 2 to 15 days.
Verify the period of validity of your certificate and the amount of rent that will be guaranteed.
Print your certificate and present it to the property owner, if he or she accepts VISALE, before the lease is signed.
The property owner will then visit visale.fr to obtain a security deposit certificate.
Et voilà, the lease or rental contract can now be signed!