What is the VISALE guarantee?
The VISALE guarantee (Visa pour le Logement et l'Emploi) is a free rental guarantee provided by Action Logement, a French organisation that helps students, young workers and employees access housing more easily.
How does VISALE work?
When a student obtains the VISALE guarantee and the landlord accepts it, Action Logement effectively becomes the guarantor of the rental.
If the tenant can no longer pay the rent, the landlord can declare the unpaid rent directly on the VISALE platform.
After file verification, Action Logement can pay the amounts due to the landlord to secure the rental.
The landlord therefore keeps being paid even if the tenant faces temporary financial difficulties.
Why is VISALE important for students?
In France, it's often very hard to rent housing without a guarantor. Landlords generally ask for:
- stable income
- a strong rental file
- a deposit
- sometimes a guarantor living in France
For many students — especially international students — these conditions can become a real barrier. Some arrive in France without:
- French income
- a banking history
- a guarantor in France
- knowledge of the rental system
In some student cities such as Paris, Lyon or Bordeaux, having VISALE can clearly make the difference when booking a property.
Who can benefit from VISALE?
The VISALE guarantee is accessible to many profiles. It notably covers:
- students
- international students
- apprentices
- people under 30
- some young workers
The housing must generally:
- be located in France
- be the main residence
- comply with the programme's conditions
What types of housing are covered?
VISALE can be used for several types of housing:
- student studios
- apartments
- furnished housing
- student residences
- some flat-shares
The guarantee is today accepted by many landlords and student residences.
What are the rent caps to benefit from VISALE?
Monthly rent including charges must generally be:
- under €1,300 per month outside Île-de-France
- under €1,500 per month in Île-de-France
Coverage
In case of unpaid rent, VISALE can cover up to 36 months of unpaid rent under Action Logement's conditions.
Does VISALE pay the rent for the student?
No. VISALE advances the rent to the landlord, but the student remains responsible for the amounts due.
The tenant must then gradually repay Action Logement following a schedule adapted to their situation.
The aim of the scheme is mostly to avoid that a financial problem immediately leads to difficulties between landlord and student.
How to apply for VISALE
The application is entirely online on the official VISALE website. It's strongly recommended to apply before signing the lease — and even before starting viewings.
Create your account
The student creates a personal space with:
- email address
- personal information
- student or young-worker status
Upload documents
Several documents are generally required:
- a valid ID
- a school enrolment certificate
- sometimes proof of income
- details about the property
These documents are often the same as those used to build a housing file on CLOÉ. Students can therefore reuse their documents for various housing procedures.
File review
Action Logement then verifies the information submitted.
Receive the VISALE visa
If the file is accepted, the student receives a VISALE visa. This document can then be sent to the landlord to prove the property is covered by the guarantee.
Our tips
- prepare your documents in advance
- carefully check the information submitted
- start the procedure before the start of the academic year
VISALE for landlords
The VISALE guarantee also concerns landlords. To activate it, the landlord must:
- check that the tenant has a valid VISALE visa
- create a landlord space on the VISALE website
- fill in the property details
- sign the surety contract online
In case of unpaid rent, the landlord can declare the situation directly from their personal space.
This solution therefore secures student rentals while easing housing access for students without a physical guarantor.
The benefits of VISALE
A 100% free solution
VISALE is entirely free for both the tenant and the landlord.
No physical guarantor needed
Students can rent housing even without a family or French guarantor.
Reassuring for landlords
In case of unpaid rent, Action Logement can cover the rent under set conditions.
Very useful for international students
VISALE helps many foreign students who are discovering France's rental procedures.
A widely recognised guarantee
Today, many student residences, housing platforms and landlords accept VISALE.
Key figure
Over 1.9 million VISALE guarantees have already been issued in France.