Last updated: September 2026.
You have found the apartment, your income is solid, and then the agency asks for a French guarantor (garant). For many expats, this is where the search stops. The good news: there are several legal ways around it. Here is what works in Paris today, and what each option really costs.
Why French landlords ask for a guarantor
A French guarantor is a person, usually living in France, who signs a commitment to pay your rent if you don’t. Landlords and agencies typically expect your net monthly income to be about three times the rent, and many also want a guarantor on top of that. French tenant protection makes eviction slow, so landlords look for as much security as possible upfront. If you have just arrived, you have neither French payslips nor a French guarantor, which puts your file at the bottom of the pile.
Option 1: Visale, the free state-backed guarantee
Visale is a free guarantee provided by Action Logement. It covers unpaid rent and charges, and it was reformed in January 2026. It is open to:
- anyone aged 18 to 30, whatever their situation;
- over 30, mainly: employees hired less than six months ago (excluding a confirmed permanent contract), employees transferred for their job within the last six months, people with a job offer starting within three months, and employees earning up to €1,710 net per month.
In Île-de-France, the maximum rent covered is €1,940 per month, charges included, and the rent cannot exceed 50% of your income. Since 2026, the guarantee covers the first three years of the lease. Visale only applies to a primary residence lease under the French law of 6 July 1989, so it cannot be used with a Civil Code lease. The landlord must also agree to accept it.
Option 2: A paid guarantee company
Private companies such as Garantme, Cautioneo or SmartGarant act as your guarantor in exchange for an annual fee paid by you. Garantme’s own website states a price starting at 4.5% of the annual rent, charges included. They accept profiles that Visale excludes, including many expats and freelancers. This is the solution that has changed the game for my clients: thanks to these guarantees, I have been able to get many expat files accepted. And things have really shifted in recent years, since many agencies now actually require them. Still, a few landlords remain reluctant, so always ask before applying.
Option 3: Paying rent in advance
A few years ago, landlords frequently asked international tenants to pay several months of rent upfront. This is only possible with a Civil Code lease. Under a standard lease governed by the law of 6 July 1989, the landlord cannot impose it: you can always ask to pay monthly (article 7), and if more than two months are paid in advance, no security deposit can be required (article 22).
This solution has become much less common. A bank guarantee (caution bancaire), another traditional option, is so slow and tedious to set up that many agencies no longer want to deal with it.
I have also come across landlords who wanted both: rent paid in advance and a paid guarantee. That is belt and braces, and I find it excessive. I only advise my clients to accept if they really want the apartment.
What about a Civil Code lease?
For clients who are not yet French tax residents, a Civil Code lease (bail Code civil), often for a secondary residence, is sometimes the most suitable type of lease. But it does not solve the guarantor question: even with this type of lease, landlords and agencies very often require a paid guarantee such as Garantme. Terms are freely negotiated, so also expect a higher deposit, in some cases three months’ rent.
The real obstacle: rent default insurance (GLI)
Many landlords take out rent default insurance (garantie loyers impayés, or GLI). Insurers only cover tenants who meet strict criteria: net income usually at least 2.85 to 3 times the rent, and a stable job, typically a French permanent contract past its trial period. And by law, a landlord with a GLI cannot also require a guarantor, except for students and apprentices (article 22-1 of the law of 6 July 1989). So a paid guarantee company will not help you there.
For me, GLI is a real poison for expats: a newly arrived tenant, still on a trial period or paid from abroad, rarely fits the insurer’s criteria. One of the biggest hurdles for my clients is the French tax notice (avis d’imposition) that many GLI policies expect. I find it borderline discriminatory, all the more so since the law allows tenants to provide the equivalent tax notice from the country where they were taxed (decree no. 2015-1437 of 5 November 2015). It cuts them off from a large part of the market, especially outside Paris, where many franchised agencies sell this insurance to their landlords and therefore use it widely.
How I can help
Choosing the right option depends on your age, your contract, your tax situation and the type of lease. I help my clients pick the right solution before they start visiting, prepare a file that answers the landlord’s concerns, and focus only on listings that will accept their profile.
👉 Book a free 30-minute consultation.
FAQ
Can I rent in Paris without a guarantor?
Yes. In practice, a paid guarantee company is today the most effective solution for expats, and many agencies now require it. If you are eligible, Visale is a free alternative.
Is Visale available to expats over 30?
Only in specific cases: a new job (less than six months), a job transfer, a job offer starting within three months, or income up to €1,710 net per month. Many expats over 30 do not qualify.
Can a landlord ask for several months of rent in advance?
Under a standard lease (law of 6 July 1989), no: you can always ask to pay monthly. Advance payments are now rare and mostly found with Civil Code leases.
Sources
Service-public.fr: rent payment · BailFacile: GLI tenant criteria · Service-public.fr: Garantie Visale · Visale.fr · Garantme: pricing · Law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, articles 7, 22 and 22-1 · ANIL: documents a landlord may request.