Everything about housing aid for students. Amounts, CROUS, shared housing, procedures and simulation.
Free simulation based on CAF 2026 rates
The Aide Personnalisée au Logement (APL) is a valuable aid for students. Nearly 800,000 students benefit from it every year in France. It significantly reduces housing costs, whether in university residences, private apartments or shared housing.
Contrary to popular belief, student APL does not depend on your parents' income but solely on your own resources. Even with a student job, you may be eligible.
Approved housing = guaranteed APL. Moderate rents (between €150 and €400/month). Simplified procedures, the CROUS assists you.
The housing must be decent and approved. The lease must be in your name. APL depends on the actual rent (capped by zone).
Each flatmate applies individually. APL is calculated on your share of the rent. You must be named on the lease.
Use our free simulator to estimate your APL amount
Go to caf.fr with your social security number
Fill in the "Housing aid application" form
Lease, bank details (RIB), rent certificate, school enrollment certificate
Yes, students can receive APL as long as they rent housing in their own name and are not listed as dependents on their parents' tax return for housing aid calculation purposes. The amount depends on rent, geographic zone and income.
Yes, CROUS university residences are APL-approved. You can therefore receive APL for your CROUS room or studio. The amount is often advantageous because CROUS rents are moderate.
No, APL is calculated based on your own income (student jobs, paid internships, etc.) and not on your parents' income. However, if your parents claim you as a dependent for tax purposes, they lose the corresponding tax benefit.
The amount varies depending on the zone (1, 2 or 3), rent and your income. On average, a student can receive between 100 and 250 euros per month. In Paris (zone 1), the amount is generally higher than in the provinces.
Apply as soon as you sign your lease and move in. APL is not retroactive: it is paid from the month following your application. Don't wait to submit your application on caf.fr.
In shared housing, each flatmate submits their own APL application. The amount is calculated individually based on your share of the rent (total rent divided by the number of flatmates). Each flatmate must be named on the lease.
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