Visale — Free Rent Guaranty for Students Under 30
Free, 15 minutes online, covers 36 months of unpaid rent — replaces the need for a physical guarantor
Visale is a free electronic rent guaranty from Action Logement for students under 30. It is one of the most important tools for international students who do not have a physical guarantor in France.
Why Visale is essential for international students
French landlords almost always require a guarantor (caution) — a person who guarantees to pay if the tenant cannot. Without a French guarantor:
- Landlords may refuse to rent to you
- You may have to resort to expensive agencies
- You may miss out on better apartments
Visale replaces the physical guarantor with an electronic guarantee from Action Logement — much more reassuring for landlords (they deal with a public institution, not an individual).
Key figures
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free for both tenant and landlord |
| Eligible age | Under 30 |
| Maximum coverage | 36 months of unpaid rent + 2 months of charges |
| Application | visale.fr — 15 minutes online |
| Certificate validity | 3 months (renewable) |
| Processing time | Immediate (or within 24 hours) |
How to get your Visale certificate
- Go to https://www.visale.fr
- Click 'Je suis etudiant' (I am a student)
- Create an account with your email
- Enter your personal details and student status
- Upload: identity document (passport) + enrollment certificate
- Submit — Visale certificate generated immediately
- Download your certificate and present it to landlords when visiting apartments
What happens if you can't pay rent?
If you have a temporary financial difficulty:
- Contact Action Logement before missing a payment
- Action Logement pays the landlord directly (you owe Action Logement, not the landlord)
- Repayment arrangement is negotiated directly with Action Logement
- Your tenancy continues — the landlord is protected and has no reason to start eviction proceedings
Combine Visale + Loca-Pass
For maximum security for both you and the landlord:
- Visale: ongoing rent guaranty (replaces physical guarantor)
- Loca-Pass: security deposit advance (zero-interest loan for initial deposit)
This combination makes you an ideal tenant from a landlord's perspective.