You’ve accepted the job offer, booked your flight, and now you’re staring at your calendar wondering: how long will it actually take to find an apartment in Paris? It’s the question that keeps expats up at night, and for good reason. The Paris rental market has a reputation for being brutally competitive, and as a foreigner, you’re playing the game with a few extra hurdles.
The honest answer? Most expats find an apartment within 1 to 6 weeks. But that range is enormous, and where you land depends almost entirely on how prepared you are before you start searching. Let’s break down exactly what determines your timeline and how to land on the shorter end of it.
The short answer: 1-6 weeks (but it depends)
If you’re working with a relocation service and have your paperwork ready, you could be signing a lease within 1-2 weeks. If you’re searching independently as a foreigner with a complicated income situation, expect 3-6 weeks, and in some unlucky cases, even longer.
The difference isn’t luck. It’s preparation, flexibility, and knowing how the Paris market actually works.
Why Paris is different from other cities
If you’ve rented apartments in London, New York, or Berlin, forget everything you know. Paris operates by its own rules, and understanding them is the first step to a faster search.
Supply is critically low
The number of available rental properties in Paris dropped by more than 30% between 2022 and 2025. New regulations on short-term rentals and energy efficiency requirements have pushed many landlords out of the market entirely. The apartments that remain get snapped up fast, sometimes within 24 to 72 hours of being listed.
French law heavily favors tenants
This sounds like good news, but it creates a problem: landlords are extremely cautious about who they rent to. If a tenant stops paying rent or damages the property, eviction can take months and is completely prohibited between November and March (the “trêve hivernale”). As a result, landlords scrutinize applications obsessively and prefer candidates with bulletproof dossiers.
Foreigners face extra skepticism
Many landlords worry that foreign tenants might simply leave the country without paying rent. It’s not fair, but it’s the reality. Your challenge is proving you’re a reliable, long-term tenant despite having no French rental history, no French income, and possibly no French guarantor.
5 factors that determine your timeline
Your apartment search timeline isn’t random. These five factors will either accelerate your search or drag it out for weeks.
1. Your dossier strength
In Paris, your rental application is called a dossier, and it’s everything. A weak or incomplete dossier will get you rejected instantly, no matter how charming you are at the viewing. A strong dossier opens doors.
Your dossier needs to include identity documents, proof of income, employment contracts, bank statements, and proof of your current address. For a complete breakdown of exactly what you need, see our guide to documents needed to rent an apartment in Paris.
But here’s what most guides don’t tell you: having a guarantor is almost non-negotiable. French landlords want someone who will cover the rent if you can’t pay, and they strongly prefer a guarantor based in France with French income.
If you don’t have a French family member or friend willing to guarantee your lease (and most expats don’t), you’ll need a rental guarantee service:
- Visale: a free government-backed guarantee for eligible tenants (students, young workers, employees of certain companies)
- Garantme: a paid service that acts as your guarantor for a fee (typically 3-4% of annual rent)
- Smartgarant: another paid guarantee option popular with expats
Without one of these solutions, your search will take significantly longer or may not succeed at all. Get your guarantee sorted before you start visiting apartments.
2. Your budget vs. your requirements
The math is simple: the more you can spend relative to what you need, the faster you’ll find something. If you’re searching for a 2-bedroom in the Marais for under €1,800/month, you’ll be competing with hundreds of other applicants for a handful of listings. If your budget allows for €2,500+ in the same area, you’ll have more options and less competition.
Flexibility on features matters too. Requiring outdoor space, a bathtub, or a specific floor can add weeks to your search. Every non-negotiable requirement shrinks your pool of options.
To understand what you should budget for each neighborhood, check our guide to Paris rent prices by arrondissement.
3. The neighborhoods you’re targeting
Central arrondissements (1st through 6th) have the highest demand and the lowest turnover. The Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and the Latin Quarter are beautiful, but you’ll face fierce competition for every listing.
Eastern and northern neighborhoods (10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 20th) have more availability and faster turnover. They’re also where most young Parisians and expats actually live. Being flexible on location can cut your search time in half.
4. Furnished vs. unfurnished
This choice affects more than just whether you need to buy a sofa.
Furnished apartments (meublé) are more expat-friendly: shorter minimum lease terms (typically 1 year, renewable), faster turnover, and landlords who are used to dealing with international tenants. They cost more per month, but you can move in immediately.
Unfurnished apartments (non-meublé) require a 3-year minimum lease commitment, have slower turnover, and often come completely empty, including no kitchen appliances. The search typically takes longer, but monthly rent is lower.
For most expats on their first Paris apartment, furnished is the faster and safer choice.
5. Your availability and responsiveness
Good apartments in Paris don’t wait. When a desirable listing hits the market, it often receives dozens of applications within hours. If you can’t visit same-day or next-day, you’ll lose out to someone who can.
This is one of the biggest challenges for expats searching from abroad. If you’re not yet in Paris, you’re at a serious disadvantage. Many landlords won’t even consider applications from people who haven’t visited in person.
The solution? Either plan a dedicated apartment-hunting trip (budget at least 1-2 weeks in Paris with full availability), or work with a relocation service that can visit on your behalf.
The typical search timeline: week by week
Here’s what a realistic apartment search looks like, broken into phases.
Week 1-2: preparation phase
This is the most important phase, and most people rush through it. Don’t.
- Gather all documents for your dossier (ID, visa or residence permit, employment contract, pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns)
- Set up your guarantor solution (Visale, Garantme, or Smartgarant)
- Open a French bank account if you don’t have one
- Define your target neighborhoods and maximum budget
- Set up alerts on SeLoger, PAP, Leboncoin, and expat-friendly platforms
- Write a brief personal introduction letter explaining who you are and why you’re moving to Paris
If you complete this phase properly, everything else moves faster.
Week 2-4: active search phase
Now you’re in the trenches. This phase requires daily attention.
- Check listings at least twice daily (morning and evening)
- Respond to new listings within minutes, not hours
- Schedule viewings aggressively and aim for 4-7 total
- Bring your complete dossier to every viewing, printed and organized
- Submit applications immediately after viewings you like
- Follow up persistently (call every 1-2 days to check status)
Don’t be discouraged by rejection. It’s normal to apply to multiple apartments before one accepts you.
Week 3-6: decision and move-in
Once a landlord or agency accepts your dossier, things move quickly:
- Landlord decision typically takes 2-7 days after viewing
- Lease signing can happen within days of acceptance
- You’ll need to pay first month’s rent plus security deposit (usually 1-2 months) plus agency fees if applicable
- Key handover and move-in follow shortly after
Your first priorities after key handover will be setting up electricity, internet, and mandatory home insurance — tasks that go much faster when you know the system.
Why foreigners often take longer (and how to speed things up)
Let’s be honest about the extra obstacles expats face:
- Foreign income isn’t always accepted. Many landlords and agencies require French pay stubs (fiches de paie). If your income comes from abroad, some won’t even consider your application.
- No French rental history. Landlords want proof you’ve paid rent on time before. Without French quittances de loyer, you’re an unknown risk.
- Language barriers. Most agencies operate exclusively in French. Miscommunication slows everything down.
- Guarantor challenges. As mentioned above, this is often the biggest blocker for expats.
The solution to all of these? Preparation and professional support. A strong dossier with a guarantee service addresses most landlord concerns. And working with professionals who understand both the French system and expat challenges can eliminate the friction entirely.
Related: Moving to Paris from the US: the ultimate guide for American expats
The hidden time sinks: what eats up your search time
Even with perfect preparation, certain things can derail your timeline. Watch out for these:
Scam listings
Paris rental scams are rampant. Fake listings with suspiciously low prices, landlords who ask for deposits before you’ve seen the apartment, copied photos from other listings: they’re everywhere. Each scam you investigate is time wasted.
Learn to spot the red flags before you waste hours chasing fake apartments. Our guide to avoiding rental scams in Paris covers the most common tactics and how to protect yourself.
No-response from agencies
You’ll send dozens of inquiry emails. Many will never receive a response. Some agencies simply don’t work with foreigners. Others are overwhelmed with applications. Don’t take it personally, but do factor it into your timeline expectations.
Group viewings
For popular listings, agencies often schedule group viewings with 10, 20, or even 30 people at once. You’ll spend time traveling to the viewing, waiting your turn, and then competing against a crowd of other applicants. It’s exhausting and inefficient.
Repeated rejections
Even with a good dossier, you may be rejected multiple times. Landlords have their preferences, and being foreign is sometimes enough to lose out to a local candidate with similar qualifications. Each rejection means starting the search again.
How a relocation service changes the timeline
Working with a professional relocation service typically cuts the search timeline to 1-2 weeks, sometimes even faster. Here’s why:
- Access to off-market listings. Many apartments never hit public platforms. Relocation services have networks that give you access to properties you’d never find on your own.
- Pre-vetted apartments. No time wasted on scams or unsuitable listings. Every apartment you see has been screened.
- Dossier preparation support. Professionals know exactly what French landlords want to see and how to present foreign income and documents in a way that builds trust.
- Professional presentation to landlords. Agencies introducing you carry more weight than cold applications. Landlords trust recommendations from professionals they’ve worked with before.
- Negotiation and paperwork handling. From lease review to move-in coordination, everything moves faster when someone handles the details.
At Flatigo, we specialize in helping expats navigate the Paris rental market. We know what landlords worry about when renting to foreigners, and we know exactly how to address those concerns. Our clients typically secure apartments within 1-2 weeks, with significantly less stress than searching independently.
What you can do right now to shorten your search
Whether you’re months away from your move or arriving next week, these actions will speed up your timeline:
- Start your dossier immediately. Gather documents now, even if you’re not searching yet. The dossier takes longer to assemble than people expect.
- Set up your guarantee solution. Apply for Visale (if eligible) or sign up with Garantme or Smartgarant. Don’t wait until you need it.
- Have your budget ready. You’ll need first month’s rent plus 1-2 months security deposit plus potentially agency fees (up to one month’s rent). Have this money accessible in a French bank account.
- Be flexible on neighborhoods. The more areas you’re willing to consider, the more options you’ll have. Visit different arrondissements before committing to one.
- Consider temporary housing first. If you’re relocating from abroad, book an Airbnb or apart-hotel for your first 2-4 weeks. Searching from within Paris is dramatically easier than searching remotely.
- Get professional help if time is short. If you need an apartment quickly, a relocation service is worth the investment. The time and stress you save often outweighs the cost.
The bottom line
Finding an apartment in Paris takes most expats between 1 and 6 weeks. The difference between a quick search and a drawn-out ordeal comes down to preparation: having a bulletproof dossier, securing a guarantor solution, and being ready to move fast when you find the right place.
Yes, the Paris rental market is challenging. Yes, foreigners face extra obstacles. But thousands of expats find apartments here every year, and with the right approach, you will too.
If you’re relocating to Paris and want expert support to navigate the rental market, Flatigo is here to help. We specialize in finding apartments for international clients, building dossiers that landlords trust, and making the entire process as smooth as possible. Get in touch to learn how we can help you find your Paris home.
The key to finding an apartment in Paris isn’t luck, it’s preparation. Get your dossier ready, secure your guarantor, and be ready to act fast. The right apartment is out there. — Flatigo, Paris relocation experts
