Guide for Newcomers in Bordeaux

Specific Visa Application & Document Checklists

Primary Work & Official Documents : Arrêté de Nomination, Décision de Gratuité, Valid Indian Passport, School Admission
Legal & Civil Status Documents (From India): Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), Apostilled Birth Certificate
Visa & Travel Logistics (For VFS Global): Visa Application Form, Visa Photographs as per Schengen visa specifications, Flight Booking, Travel Insurance policy covering your first 3 to 6 months in France
Financial & Housing Proofs: Attestation de Logement, Bank Reference Letter, Proof of Initial Funds for Assistants, Proof of funds for the entire year for Students.

Guidance on Contacting Assigned Schools / Host Institutions for Assistants

Initiate Contact: As soon as you receive your Arrêté de Nomination, you must proactively email your assigned school’s administration.

Key Questions to Ask:

- Internal boarding options (Internat) or apartments available on-site?
- Pick up by référant at the local train station or bus stop when you arrive?
- Full class groups, or smaller sub-groups for oral practice?
- Contacts for previous assistants or local landlords who rent to foreign teachers?
- Best way to commute to the school (local bus routes, tram lines, or if carpooling with other teachers is common).
- Specific neighbourhoods near the school that they recommend for finding an apartment, or areas you should avoid?

Even if the holidays are going on here, try requesting your référant’s WhatsApp number or private email ID. Request that you may need to contact them.

Preparation Material: Start compiling authentic cultural props to bring to class (Indian coins, family recipes, traditional clothing, regional music, holiday items).

Financial Planning

Estimated Monthly Outlays: Rent (€350), Food (€150), Transit (€25–€70), Miscellaneous Utilities/Hobbies (€50–€70).

Food Security via Linkee Bordeaux: A great resource for young professionals looking to stretch their budget. Get free grocery and fresh produce baskets distributed weekly by using the Linkee mobile app.

Tuesdays: Info Jeunes Pey Berland (Bordeaux).

Wednesdays: Résidence Jean Zay (Talence).

Side Income: Assistants can supplement their earnings via English tutoring or babysitting or petsitting. Check your local supermarket billboards for ads.

Pass Éducation for Language Assistants: You are eligible for this! It gives you free or discounted access to national museums and historical landmarks across France. Ask your school principal for it.

Before coming to Bordeaux from India

Before moving to Bordeaux, make sure you have the following:

Valid passport
Obtain the correct French visa (student, work, family, visitor)
Arrange temporary accommodation for the first few weeks
Employment contract or university admission letter
Flight tickets and train tickets to Bordeaux
Vaccination records
Forex card during the initial days
Birth certificate, marriage certificate
Diplomas and transcripts
Purchase travel health insurance
Prepare passport-sized photos as per French standards
A reference letter from your bank
Driving license (optional, but useful)

Keep digital and printed copies of all documents. These steps will make your arrival and administrative processes smoother.

Apostilled birth certificates

Birth certificate in English, which needs to be Apostilled. Make sure the following data matches the one in your passport. Upload ASAP to Adele

Your name
Your parent’s names
Your date of birth
Your city of birth

Procedure: https://www.mea.gov.in/apostille-menu.htm

Why does it need to be apostilled? It is a way to authenticate and legalise documents. An apostille is a stamp affixed to a document to certify that it was issued by the state in question. If you are asked for an apostille on your birth certificate, it must be issued in the country of origin.

Translation of birth certificates

Many administrative procedures require certified French translations of birth certificates from authorised translators (traduction assermentée).

Website: https://www.annuaire-traducteur-assermente.fr/fr/3/annuaire-traduction-assermentee.html

Planning your bags/luggage

Carry your original documents alongside 1 physical copy and 5 photocopies of each
Medicines
Personal Items
Toiletries
Basic utensils
Food (Spices, Ready-to-Eat packets)
Regular Clothing
Winter clothing
Thermal innerwear
Socks and undergarments
Headwear
Jackets, windcheaters, Coats (either from India or you can buy in Bordeaux as well)
Rainwear/umbrella
Electronics / Tech: Extra pair of earphones, backup mobile phone for emergencies/Indian SIM, chargers, adapters)
Christmas Gifts
Smaller backpacks for travel
Financial Runway: Multi-currency Forex card alongside roughly €1,500 in cash. Your primary pay cycle triggers at the end of October, making initial self-funding critical. Make sure to request your October payment before 10 October

Immediately after arriving in Bordeaux

Within the first few days, you should:

Secure permanent accommodation
Validate your visa or residence permit VLS-TS
Open a French bank account
Apply for Social Security
Register for CAF benefits if eligible
Get a French SIM card
Assurance habitation
Register children in school if applicable

Validate your French visa

Most long-stay visas (VLS-TS) must be validated online via the official government portal. This procedure is mandatory to stay in France for more than 3 months. Failure to validate may cause issues with healthcare, housing, or renewals.

Websites: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R52684

https://administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr/particuliers/#/

You can check the steps to validate your VLS-TS over here: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/how-to-validate-your-long-stay-visa-visa-long-sejour-upon-your-arrival-in-france

Support system

Indians In Bordeaux Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/indiansinbordeaux/

Indians In Bordeaux Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/groups/indians.in.bordeaux/

Indians In Bordeaux WhatsApp account: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FjXQCAWP54K43bvetWJ9Sj

Language classes by Indians In Bordeaux. It is important to learn the language to understand the culture and better integrate yourself. It is always useful to navigate through different administrative processes. The university also sends an email to register for language classes, which they organise at a nominal fee based on your proficiency level. It starts in September. Look out for updates on their website.

ACCOMMODATION

Finding accommodation in Bordeaux (Students)

Students can explore:

CROUS student residences
University housing services
Private student residences
Shared apartments (colocation)
Estudines

Always be wary of scams, and never transfer money before signing a contract.

Finding accommodation in Bordeaux (Working professionals & families)

Working professionals and families typically rent:

Apartments (T1 to T4)
Houses in the suburbs around Bordeaux
Foyer de jeunes travailleurs

Websites useful for searching for accommodation

General rental websites

Room sharing (colocations)

La Carte des Colocs : https://www.lacartedescolocs.fr/
Appartager : https://www.appartager.com/

Student Accommodation in Bordeaux

Crous Bordeaux : https://www.crous-bordeaux.fr/se-loger/
Studapart: https://www.studapart.com/en/student-accommodation-bordeaux
Adele: https://www.adele.org/en/residence/urbanarea/bordeaux/student-housing
Study'O : https://www.studyoresidences.fr/en

Besides this, you can join local groups on Facebook, though you'll have to be careful about scams.

For more information: https://www.u-bordeaux.fr/en/campus/daily-life/finding-accommodation

Get a Proof of Address (Justificatif de domicile): A signed lease contract, a recent electricity/gas bill, or an Attestation d'hébergement (a signed letter from your landlord/school stating you live there, accompanied by a copy of their ID and their utility bill).

Or get a booking confirmation for visa : unpaid/free cancellation bookings from platforms like Booking.com are accepted for the visa check

Housing assistance (CAF)

You may be eligible for CAF housing benefits (APL) once you have:

A valid residence permit
Rental contract
French bank account

To apply: https://www.caf.fr/allocataires/aides-et-demarches

Documents required for renting an apartment

Documents usually required:

Proof of income or contract
ID and visa
Guarantor (sometimes)
Rental deposit

TRANSPORT

Bordeaux has an excellent public transport system:

Trams
Buses
Park-and-ride facilities (covoiturage)
Monthly and annual passes

Discounted fares exist for students, families, and low-income residents.

TBM: https://www.infotbm.com/fr

For checking if you're eligible for discounts: https://tarificationsolidaire.bordeaux-metropole.fr/

For checking transport options in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, check here: https://transports.nouvelle-aquitaine.fr/tarifs-et-achat/tarifs-ter

Carte Jeune ou Carte Adulte from SNCF for reduced fares.

Tips:

TBM tram or buses, please check your bus stop name and press the button labelled “arrêt demandé” when the next stop is yours. These buttons are usually visible everywhere on the bus.
TBM cycle .
Night services: Wave your hand for the bus to stop for you when you want to get on the bus (it may not stop otherwise assuming you are waiting for a different bus).

Personal vehicles

You don't necessarily need a personal vehicle if you live in Bordeaux city. Public transport and cycling routes are highly efficient. However, families living in suburbs or surrounding areas of Bordeaux may find a car useful.

HEALTHCARE

France has a public healthcare system funded by Social Security. Once registered, most medical expenses are reimbursed partially or fully.

French Social Security (CPAM)

You must apply online after arriving. Once approved, you receive:

A Social Security number
Health reimbursements
Access to healthcare services

CPAM reimburses 70% of fees.

Documents to submit:

Passport and Visa
Arrêté de Nomination
Procès-Verbal d'Installation (PV): Signed by your school headmaster.
Apostilled Birth Certificate
French RIB.
Proof of local address (Lease copy or utility bill).

To apply for healthcare, check here: https://www.ameli.fr/assure/remboursements/etre-bien-rembourse/carte-vitale/carte-vitale-application/demander-sa-carte-vitale-conditions-et-demarches

Complementary insurance (Mutuelle)

A Mutuelle is a private health insurance in France that complements the public healthcare system (Sécurité sociale). It reimburses ~30%.

It reimburses medical expenses that Social Security does not fully cover. It is optional but strongly recommended for students, families, and self-employed people. It is mandatory for employees if your employer offers a company Mutuelle.

A Mutuelle can cover:

Doctor and specialist consultations
Medicines
Dental care (very important in France)
Glasses and eye care
Hospital stays
Maternity expenses

Coverage depends on the plan you choose.

Here is a list of a few known Mutuelle groups:

Allianz: https://www.allianz.fr/
Axa: https://www.axa.fr/
Groupama: https://www.groupama.fr/
Macif: https://www.macif.fr/
Matmut: https://www.matmut.fr/
Thélem: https://www.thelem-assurances.fr/

Médecin Traitant is the general practitioner you formally declare to CPAM as your main physician.

App for booking appointments: Doctolib

Pregnancy and baby care

France offers:

Prenatal care
Maternity leave benefits
Pediatric follow-ups
Vaccinations
Child benefits via CAF

Expecting parents should register early to access full benefits.

If you're looking for support or wish to support others in areas like pregnancy, baby care, or parenting in Bordeaux, we invite you to join our WhatsApp group for open discussions, advice, and community sharing.

Emergency numbers

SAMU (medical emergencies): 15

Police emergency: 17

Fire brigade: 18

European emergency number: 112

3624: for a house-call doctor if you are too ill to travel. This service is available 24/7.

AMELI English number +33 974753646