How to Open a Bank Account in France as a Foreigner (2026 Guide): Documents, Your Legal Right and What to Do If a Bank Says No

Anyone residing in France can ask a bank to open an account. If the bank refuses, French law gives you a recourse: the Banque de France can designate a bank that must open an account for you, with free basic services. This guide covers who qualifies, which documents the official procedure requires, how long each step takes and what the account includes.

Who Can Open a Bank Account

Banks can decline an application, but they must give you a written refusal letter that states the reason, according to the French economy ministry. The legal right to an account, called the droit au compte, applies to anyone residing in France, to French nationals living abroad, and to people legally residing in another EU country, Service-Public says. You cannot use it if you already hold a deposit account in France.

Documents to Prepare

Each bank sets its own checklist for a standard account, so ask for the full list before you apply. Banks also have to verify the identity of new customers. For the official right-to-an-account procedure, Service-Public lists a valid identity document, French or foreign, and proof of address, such as a water or phone bill or a rent receipt less than three months old. It also requires the bank’s refusal letter and a declaration that you hold no other account, on a form the Banque de France provides. Keep copies of everything you submit.

If a Bank Refuses

When a bank refuses, it must give you a refusal letter and tell you that you can contact the Banque de France. If you applied in writing, the refusal must come by registered letter. If the bank does not answer within 15 days, Service-Public says that counts as a refusal. The 15 days run from the date on the acknowledgment of receipt, or from the date you handed in your request in person. The acknowledgment or proof of delivery can replace the letter in your file.

You can then submit your request to the Banque de France online through Service-Public, at a Banque de France branch or by post. The bank that refused you can also send it for you if you ask. The Banque de France designates a bank within one working day of receiving a complete file, and that bank must open the account within three working days of receiving the required documents. Opening the account and using the basic services are free. The Banque de France only designates the bank. It does not open the account itself.

What the Basic Account Includes

The designated bank may limit the account to basic banking services. Under the Monetary and Financial Code, these include opening, maintaining and closing the account, one change of address per year, bank account details (RIB) on request and a monthly statement. They also include cashing checks and transfers, SEPA direct debits and transfers, remote balance checks, and cash deposits and withdrawals. The account comes with a payment card that allows online payments and cash withdrawals in the European Union, and two bank checks per month.

The basic services remain available even to people who are barred from issuing checks, according to the French banking federation’s consumer site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner open a bank account in France? Yes. Anyone residing in France is entitled to an account with basic services under the right to an account.

What if my bank doesn’t reply? After 15 days of silence, Service-Public treats it as a refusal, and you can start the procedure.

How long does the procedure take? The Banque de France designates a bank within one working day of a complete file, and the bank has three working days to open the account.

Does the procedure cost anything? No. Opening the account and the basic services are free under the procedure.

Can I use it if I already have an account in France? No. You must not hold a deposit account in France.

For more practical guides, see our Paris Métro and RER guide and Can Foreigners Vote in France?

Read also: Paris Métro and RER: The practical guide nobody gives new residents, and Can Foreigners Vote in France? What EU and Non-EU Residents Need to Know.

Source: Service-Public, refusal to open an account; Service-Public, right-to-an-account application; Banque de France, right to an account; Légifrance, articles D312-5 to D312-5-1; Economie.gouv.fr; Les clés de la banque. Checked November 15, 2026.

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