Moving to Paris: Your First Month Checklist (Everything You Need to Settle In)

Your guide to the first steps of creating your new life in Paris — from housing and paperwork to transportation, healthcare, and finding your community.

Moving to Paris is exciting.

You imagine walking down beautiful streets, discovering your favorite cafés, learning French, and creating a life in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

But before the magic begins, there is something every newcomer has to face:

French administration.

The paperwork, the appointments, the documents, the confusing websites — it can feel overwhelming at first.

The good news?

You don’t have to figure everything out at once.

We created this first-month checklist to help you organize your priorities and start your Paris life with confidence.

Welcome to your new home.

Before You Arrive: Prepare Your Documents

Before moving to France, make sure you have copies of your important documents.

Keep both digital and physical copies of:

✓ Passport✓ Visa or residence permit documents✓ Birth certificate (and translated version if required)✓ Proof of accommodation✓ Proof of finances✓ Insurance documents✓ School or work documents

France loves paperwork — and having everything organized will save you many headaches.

Week 1: Find Your Home Base

Your first priority is having a stable place to live.

Make sure you have:

Housing Documents

Commonly requested documents include:

• ID/passport

• proof of income

• guarantor information

• visa/residence documents

• proof of enrollment or employment

Finding housing in Paris can be challenging, especially as a newcomer.

Don’t be discouraged if it takes time.

Week 1: Get Connected

Before anything else, make sure you can communicate.

Get a French Phone Number

A French phone number will make daily life much easier.

You’ll need it for:

• apartments

• banks

• appointments

• deliveries

• registrations

Popular providers include:

• Free Mobile

• Orange

• SFR

• Bouygues Telecom

Many newcomers choose prepaid plans or affordable monthly options while settling in.

Week 1–2: Set Up Transportation

The Paris metro will quickly become your best friend.

Get your:

Navigo Pass

The Navigo pass allows you to use:

• metro

• buses

• trams

• trains within Île-de-France

For many people living in Paris, a monthly Navigo pass becomes an essential part of daily life.

Week 2: Open a French Bank Account

A French bank account can make many parts of life easier.

You may need one for:

• receiving payments

• paying rent

• subscriptions

• administrative paperwork

Banks usually ask for:

✓ passport✓ visa/residence permit✓ proof of address✓ proof of income or student status

(We’ll cover French bank accounts in more detail in our next Paris Paperwork guide.)

Week 2–4: Understand Healthcare in France

Healthcare is one of the most important things to organize when moving to France.

Depending on your situation, you may need to look into:

• French health insurance

• Carte Vitale

• complementary insurance (mutuelle)

• finding a doctor

France has a strong healthcare system, but understanding how it works takes time.

Learn How Things Work

Living in France means learning a few new systems:

🇫🇷 How to make appointments🇫🇷 How French addresses work🇫🇷 How to communicate with administration🇫🇷 How to read official letters🇫🇷 How to navigate French websites

Don’t worry if it feels confusing at first.

Everyone has a learning curve.

Start Building Your Paris Life

Settling into Paris is not just paperwork.

It’s also creating a life.

Your first month is the perfect time to:

Find your favorite cafe, Explore your neighborhood, Practice French, Meet new people, Try activities, Create routines

A city becomes home through small moments.

Finding Community in Paris

One of the biggest challenges newcomers face is loneliness.

You can have the perfect apartment, a metro pass, and a French phone number — but still feel like something is missing.

The missing piece is often community.

Finding people who are also exploring Paris, learning French, and building a new life can make all the difference.

That’s why Paris Picnic Club exists.

We bring together girls and gays in their 20s to explore Paris, build friendships, and create memories together.

Because moving to Paris shouldn’t mean starting over alone.

Your First Month Paris Checklist

☐ Organize your documents☐ Secure housing☐ Get a French phone number☐ Set up transportation☐ Open a bank account☐ Understand healthcare☐ Explore your neighborhood☐ Meet new people☐ Start building your Paris routine