Le justificatif de domicile or Proving you live somewhere

The French expression for homeless is the acronym SDF which stands for sans domicile fixe (trans. "of no fixed address"). You can use it like an adjective i.e. "je suis SDF.

In order to get most things of an official nature done i.e. opening a bank account, applying for your carte de séjour (a residence permit required of any foreigner staying in France for more than 163 days), getting a public library card (which, by the way, is not free) you need to prove that you live somewhere, or have what is referred to as: un justificatif de domicile. This is relatively easy if you are living in student residence or with a family and have a copy of a lease with your name written on it.

If you are subletting, this requires different paperwork. The trick of mailing a blank piece of paper to yourself or bringing any mail that has your address and name on it does not work in France.

Subletting - L'attestation d'hébergement

One way to legalise an out-of-the-ordinary living situation is by having your roommate (or the official tenant) fill out an “Attestation d’hébergement” - a declaration that s/he is indeed housing you during your stay - which you will need for your application for the carte de séjour. A blank form can be picked up from the reception at the prefecture’s information centre located a few blocks away from the actual prefecture at: 14 bis Quai Général Sarrail.

Directions to the Prefecture centre d'information:

• Take the Tram T2 from the metro station Guillotière (the blue line) in the direction of IUT-Feyssine,
• get off at the stop Liberté,
• start walking in the same direction as the tram,
• at rue Vauban, turn left (toward the Quai)
• turn right onto the Quai Général Sarrail.