Utilities, Phone, and Internet in France: A Setup Guide for Your First Weeks

Nobody tells you that getting electricity, internet, and a working French number are three separate bureaucratic tasks, each with their own documents, providers, and traps. But once you know the sequence, it takes about two afternoons. This guide walks you through it.

When you move into a French apartment, you are rarely handed a working setup. Electricity may technically be active from a previous tenant, but the contract is not in your name. Internet takes 10 to 14 days to provision after you order it. And your Indian SIM will drain your savings in roaming charges within a week. Getting these basics sorted is not glamorous, but it is the foundation on which everything else - CAF applications, job contracts, Ameli registrations depends. They all ask for proof of address, and utility bills are your fastest route to one.

Electricity: EDF and the Linky Meter

France's default electricity provider is EDF (Électricité de France), but since the market was liberalised, you can also choose Engie, TotalEnergies, Octopus Energy France, or smaller providers. For a student staying 1 to 3 years, EDF or Engie are the safest choices. They have the most stable customer service and the least friction if something goes wrong.

By 2026, nearly all French apartments have a Linky smart meter, which means opening a contract is faster than it used to be. The meter can be activated remotely; in most cases you will not need a technician visit.

To open an electricity contract, you will need:

• Passport or titre de séjour (your residence permit)
• Bail (rental lease) or landlord attestation confirming your address
• RIB (French bank account details, essential for direct debit)
• PDL number (Point de Livraison), this is the meter reference number, which your landlord or the previous tenant's contract should have

Tip: If you do not have your RIB yet when you move in, ask your landlord whether electricity is already active from the previous tenant. Many landlords maintain a brief transition period. Use this window to get your bank account open first, then activate the electricity contract.

The regulated Tarif Bleu from EDF is the default option and is fine for most student apartments. Always verify the current rate on the EDF website before signing, as tariffs change periodically.

Internet: Box vs Mobile Data

France has excellent broadband infrastructure. The main fixed line providers are Free, Orange, SFR (including Red by SFR), and Bouygues Telecom. Free is popular among students because its entry level Freebox is among the cheapest boxes available.

Important: A fixed internet contract (box) takes 10 to 14 working days to activate after you sign up. Do not assume you will have internet on move in day.

To subscribe to a box, you will need:

• RIB (mandatory - all box subscriptions are on direct debit)
• Proof of address (rental lease or electricity bill)
• Your phone number (a temporary SIM number is fine for the application)

Warning: Signing a box contract binds you for a minimum commitment period, usually 12 months for subsidised offers. If you are in France for only one year, choose a no commitment (sans engagement) plan. Free, Red by SFR, and Bouygues all offer these, at slightly higher monthly rates.

While waiting for your box, your phone's mobile data is your internet. This is why sorting your SIM card first makes practical sense.

Phone: Getting a French Number

A French number is not just a convenience. It is required for two factor authentication on French government portals (CPAM, CAF, tax authority), Doctolib appointment booking, and most job applications. Your Indian number will not receive French authentication SMSes reliably.

Most French monthly plans require a RIB, which you won't have on Day 1. Here is the practical path.

Day 0: Before You Have a RIB

Option 1: Borne Free kiosk (recommended) Go to a Borne Free, the automated Free Mobile kiosk found in Fnac, Darty, or Free Centers. Select the €19.99/month forfait and choose the "Valide 1 mois" (valid 1 month) option. This bypasses the RIB requirement entirely.

• Accepts Indian Visa/Mastercard debit and credit cards
• Physical SIM or eSIM issued immediately
• 300 GB+ data included
• No French bank account needed

This is a proper monthly forfait, not a prepaid SIM, so you get significantly more data and a stable number from Day 1.

Option 2: Lebara Pass L (if you need to call Indian mobiles) Standard French plans include only Indian landlines. If you need to call Indian mobile numbers, buy a Lebara Pass L (€9.99) at any tabac or grocery store. No RIB required. It includes 120 minutes to Indian mobiles and landlines, valid 14 days.

Legal requirement: For Lebara and Lyca, anonymous SIMs are illegal under French law. You must upload your passport scan to their portal within 15 days of activation or your line will be permanently cut.

Mailbox warning: If you order any SIM online to temporary accommodation (Airbnb, a friend's place, a hotel), La Poste will only deliver if your name is printed on the mailbox. If it is not, the parcel is marked "Address Unknown" and returned. Use Poste Restante instead: have the SIM sent to the nearest post office in the format [Your Name], Poste Restante, [Post Office Address], collect it with your passport for ~€1.50.

Once You Have a RIB

Switch to a sans engagement (no commitment) plan. Sosh (Orange) and RED by SFR offer plans from €10 to €15/month, with more reliable data than prepaid MVNOs and no lock in.

To keep your existing number when switching, dial 3179 from your current SIM. An automated voice will give you your RIO code (number portability code) to provide to the new operator.

Comparison: 2026 newcomer plans

Indian students using forex cards (Niyo Global, HDFC Multicurrency, SBI Forex Card): These cards work for daily purchases but French operators will not accept them for recurring direct debits. Use an Indian Visa/Mastercard for the Borne Free kiosk purchase, then switch to a RIB based plan once your bank account is open.

Proof of Address: The Circular Problem

Here is the trap nobody warns you about. To open a bank account, many French banks ask for proof of address. To get a utility bill as proof of address, you need a bank account to set up the contract. To get a phone contract, some operators ask for proof of address.

The practical solution:

• Your rental lease (bail) is universally accepted as proof of address by banks, phone operators, and most government portals. Always use this first.
• If you are in a student residence (résidence universitaire or CROUS), your official accommodation confirmation letter serves the same purpose.
• If you are staying with a host, ask for a attestation d'hébergement, a signed letter from the host with a copy of their ID and their own proof of address. This is legally valid.

Water and Other Charges

In most French rental apartments, water is included in the rent charges (charges locatives) or billed collectively through the building. You will not typically set up a separate water contract. Check your lease. The charges section will specify what is included.

Home contents insurance (assurance habitation) is mandatory in France. Unlike India, where renters rarely insure contents, French law requires you to hold liability cover (responsabilité civile) at minimum. Your landlord will ask for proof before handing over keys. Providers like MAIF, Macif, AXA, and Luko all offer student plans starting around €5 to €8/month.

The Right Order

Most Indian students arrive without a permanent lease. Temporary accommodation (Airbnb, a friend's place, CROUS provisional booking) is the norm for the first few weeks. The sequence below reflects this reality.

1. Day 1, at CDG airport: Get a French SIM. Passport only, no lease, no RIB needed. Borne Free kiosk (Fnac/Darty) or any tabac after landing.
2. Week 1: Open a French bank account. Get your RIB. A CROUS letter, Airbnb confirmation, or attestation d'hébergement from your host all work as proof of address. You do not need a permanent lease.
3. Week 1 to 2: Once in a permanent apartment, open an electricity contract if not included in charges. Switch your phone plan to Sosh or RED by SFR using your RIB.
4. Week 2: Order your internet box. Use your electricity contract or lease as proof of address.
5. When you sign a permanent lease: Arrange assurance habitation before key collection day. Online providers (Luko, AXA, MAIF) issue proof of insurance instantly. No RIB needed, Indian card accepted.

Follow this order and you will not end up restarting any application halfway through because you are missing a document.

This guide was drafted from verified service-public.fr sources. Always confirm details on the official website before taking action.