Are you moving soon and looking for a way to reduce the costs associated with your move? Did you know that there are a number of moving assistance schemes run by the CAF or MSA, Action Logement, the French government, Pôle Emploi or pension funds? Whether you're a student, employee, job-seeker or pensioner, you may be eligible for a grant or assistance to help finance your move. What are these social schemes, and how can you benefit from them? Here's a list of moving subsidies, and details of how to qualify.
Large families with 3 or more children (born or unborn) moving into a larger home are eligible for moving assistance from the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF).
Two conditions must be met to qualify for CAF moving assistance:
The amount of assistance granted varies according to the number of children, and the expenses incurred for the move, which are subject to a ceiling.
Please note that you must apply to the CAF within 6 months of moving house. To receive assistance, you must :
Moving assistance for large families (3 or more children) is also available from the Mutualité Sociale Agricole (MSA) for those insured in the agricultural sector.
MOBILI-PASS® is a mobility aid granted to private-sector employees working in a company with more than 10 employees (excluding the agricultural sector).
Granted by Action Logement, this assistance helps finance :
Two conditions must be met to qualify for MOBILI-PASS® assistance:
In practical terms, Action Logement relocation assistance consists of :
The amount of MOBILI-PASS® aid varies according to the geographical area concerned and the employee's family situation.
| Geographical area of new residence | MOBILI-PASS® assistance amounts (in euros) | ||
| Ceilings (grant and/or loan) |
Grant | Loan | |
| À, A Bis and B1 | 3 500 | 2 200 | Difference between ceiling amount and grant amount |
| B2 and C | 3 000 | 1 900 | |
To receive MOBILI-PASS® assistance you must :
Note thatsimilar moving assistance (called AGRI-MOBILITÉ®) is available to employees in the private agricultural sector who are not eligible for MOBILI-PASS® assistance.
This mobility subsidy from Pôle Emploi is aimed at jobseekers. It is designed to help the unemployed find a job and settle in while they are training for a position on a permanent or fixed-term contract of more than three consecutive months.
To qualify, jobseekers must live more than 60 km or a two-hour round trip from their training location or new company.
Pôle Emploi provides relocation assistance up to a maximum of 5,000 euros. To apply, jobseekers should contact their employment advisor, who will tell them which form to use and what formalities to complete.
Young people and students are also eligible for financial assistance if they are moving as part of their studies. Four moving aids are available to them These include the Loca-Pass advance, Parcoursup mobility aid, the bonus for Master's students and international mobility aid.
Granted by Action Logement, this installation aid is a 0% interest rate loan to help pay the deposit when signing a lease.
The LOCA-PASS® advance is intended for :
Whatever the amount of the security deposit required to rent the property, the loan cannot exceed €1,200. The LOCA-PASS® advance is paid when the lease is signed.
Loan repayment begins 3 months after payment, for a maximum of 25 months. At the end of the lease, the full amount outstanding must be paid within 3 months of vacating the property.
This is a mobility grant awarded to new baccalaureate holders with scholarships who are required to attend a higher education course outside their académie. Managed via the Parcoursup platform, the 500-euro grant is paid out by the CROUS at the start of the academic year to students who meet the eligibility criteria.
Like the Parcoursup mobility aid, this mobility aid is managed by the CROUS. Worth 1,000 euros, it is granted to scholarship students pursuing a Master's degree in an Academy other than the one where they obtained their bachelor's degree.
To apply, students must submit an online application at https://www.messervices.etudiant.gouv.fr/. Payment is made in the month following submission of the documents required to process the application.
Students can benefit from assistance for international mobility for :
This aid is available to students who receive a grant or specific annual aid, as well as to Erasmus+ students (subject to conditions).
Students must apply for assistance through their school's international relations department. If approved, the €400 per month grant is paid monthly by the school, for a period of 2 to 9 months maximum.
Depending on the pension fund (Carsat, Arrco...), a pensioner may also be eligible for assistance to cover moving costs. The amount and terms of assistance vary widely from one fund to another. To find out more about moving assistance for pensioners, consult our dedicated article.
Managed by your local Conseil Général, the Fonds de solidarité pour logement (FSL) can help you to finance a move if you are in difficulty. Eligible expenses include moving costs, agency fees and security deposits, etc., incurred when moving into a new home.
FSL assistance is means-tested and varies from one département to another. If you are a CAF recipient, you can apply directly to the CAF for FSL assistance. If not, you must apply directly to your local council.