Practical guide
Guarantor in France: your options when you don't have one
In Paris and Île-de-France, a rental application without a guarantor starts with a serious handicap, and a guarantor living abroad is often refused in practice. Good news: a French family guarantor is no longer the only option. Here are the solutions, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
Updated 22 July 2026
Option 1: Visale, the free public guarantee, always first
If you are aged 18 to 30, if you have just been hired, or if you are signing a mobility lease, the public Visale guarantee acts as your guarantor for free. It is the first option to try. See our full Visale guide for the conditions and the application steps.
Option 2: a personal guarantor (family, close friend)
The classic route: someone signs a guarantee deed (acte de cautionnement, usually a joint and several guarantee). In practice, landlords expect the guarantor to earn about 3 to 4 times the rent. A guarantor cannot be combined with the landlord's rent-default insurance, unless you are a student or an apprentice.
Option 3: paid guarantor services (GarantMe, Cautioneo, Unkle)
Private companies act as your guarantor for a fee, typically 3 to 5% of the annual rent, renewed every year. This is the usual solution for profiles not eligible for Visale and without a guarantor in France: self-employed workers, internationals outside the supported mobility schemes, atypical income. Their certificates are widely accepted by Paris agencies.
Compare carefully: the cost over several years becomes significant, and some landlords still prefer a personal guarantor.
Option 4: a bank guarantee
You block several months of rent (often 6 to 12) in a dedicated account, and the bank acts as your guarantor. It works, but it ties up a lot of cash and the bank charges for it: keep it for when nothing else does.
Strengthen your application beyond the guarantor
- Build a complete file with DossierFacile, the free public service: certified documents, tamper-proof watermark, one shareable link. Agencies love it.
- Request your Visale visa or your guarantor certificate BEFORE the viewings: a pre-validated application goes to the front of the queue.
- Never pay to visit a property, and never send money before the lease is signed: that is the most common rental scam in the Paris region.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a guarantor need to earn?
There is no legal rule, but in practice landlords expect the guarantor's income to reach 3 to 4 times the rent including charges.
Can a landlord require both a guarantor and rent-default insurance?
No, combining the two is prohibited, unless the tenant is a student or an apprentice.
How much does a paid guarantor service cost?
Generally 3 to 5% of the annual rent: for a €1,000 monthly rent, roughly €360 to €600 per year.
Is a guarantor living abroad accepted?
Legally possible, but many landlords refuse it in practice, because recovery would be difficult. Visale or a paid guarantor service are then your best alternatives.
Official sources
More guides in English: Visale: the free rent guarantor for renting in France DossierFacile: the state-certified rental file landlords trust Mobility lease: renting furnished for 1 to 10 months
En français : Garant de location : solutions et alternatives quand on n'en a pas