How to obtain a postal address

What's the difference between a postal address and a physical address? 

A postal address is nothing more or less than a letterbox. A physical address, on the other hand, is an address where you live. 

💡 So whether it's a P.O. box dedicated to company domiciliation or private domiciliation, the postal address is the one you need to declare to the authorities, so that they can communicate with you. 

Although it's not compulsory for private individuals to have a postal address, unlike companies, it is made mandatory by government departments. Without a postal address, it is impossible to access many administrative services.

What structures provide a postal address? 

There are several ways for individuals to have a private address: 

• CCAS (Centre Communal d'Action Sociale), 
• CADAs (Reception Centers for Asylum Seekers), 
• CAES (Centre d'accueil et d'examen de la situation administrative).

Whether or not you can use these structures depends on your personal situation. If you are a foreigner arriving on French territory, you can request a postal address from a CADA or CAES, or even a CCAS.

If you are not a foreigner, you can contact the CCAS of any commune in France. 

For companies, the structures offering a domiciliation address are : 

• Business incubators, 
• Coworking spaces, 
• Domiciliary companies. 

What are the procedures for a private domiciliation? 

For homeless people, also known as the "sans domicile stable", requests for domiciliation with a CCAS are subject to a link with the commune in which the request is made. This link is characterized by : 

• The exercise of a professional activity, 
• Social or medico-social follow-up, 
• Family ties with a resident of the commune,
• Theexercise of parental authority over a minor attending school in the commune. 

It should be noted that the production of an identity document is not compulsory, and that CCASs are not authorized to check the legality of a foreigner's stay in France. 

The request can be made in any way: 

• By mail, 
• By post, 
• Directly on site. 

In all cases, you will need to complete a form available here. 

For asylum seekers, things are more complex. To obtain a postal address, you have to go through a CADA (reception center for asylum seekers). However, not all CADAs can accommodate all asylum seekers. 

As a result, some will have to try their luck at SPADA (Structures de Premier Accueil pour Demandeurs d'Asile), or directly at Ofii (Office français de l'intégration et de l'immigration), or another approved association. 

What are the procedures to follow for a company domiciliation? 

There are 5 steps to registering a company in a business incubator : 

1. Find a business incubator.
2. Submit an application.
3. Present a project to the business incubator committee.
4. Issuing an approval.
5. The signing of a lease agreement. 

Domiciliation in a coworking space involves the following steps: 

1. Choosing your coworking space.
2. Visit the site or follow the online procedure on their website.
3. Send us your company information. 
4. Sign the contract.
5. Attach the contract to the company's registration file. 

Company domiciliation within a domiciliation company requires you to follow the 5 steps :

1. Visit the website of a domiciliation company (such as SeDomicilier), 
2. Choose an address from a list, 
3. Enter your company's legal form, 
4. Enter your contact details, 
5. An estimate will be sent to you. 

TOP CFE

Paris 1 - Saint-Honoré

Paris 1

229 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001, Paris, France

4.98

24 per month

TOP CFE

Paris 8 - Champs-Élysées

Paris 8

66 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris

5.0

29 per month

Saint-Mandé - Général de Gaulle

Saint-Mandé

14 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94160, Saint-Mandé, France

5.0

20 per month

TOP CFE

Paris 2 - Columns

Paris 2

9 rue des colonnes, 75002, Paris, France

4.99

23 per month

Can an individual be domiciled with a domiciliation company? 

Having a postal address in a domiciliation company is interesting when you :

• Owns several homes and therefore several addresses,
• Changes address regularly,
• Does not wish his physical address to be known.

The advantage of domiciliation companies over free domiciliation associations (CCAS) lies in the quality of their service. With domiciliation companies, there's no need to physically visit the postal address.

Mail can either be returned to your physical address, or scanned for you. If you're looking for discretion, a domiciliation company will offer a much better service. What's more, these companies often offer additional services such as telephone call handling, fax reception and dispatch, or even meeting rooms available for business appointments, which can be very useful for entrepreneurs and traveling professionals.

Developments in online direct debit procedures

With the rise of digital technology, domiciliation procedures for both individuals and companies have become increasingly digital. Today, it is possible to carry out most direct debit procedures directly online, without having to make a physical visit.

Specialized platforms offer intuitive interfaces for selecting an address, completing the necessary information and receiving confirmation documents electronically. This development greatly facilitates access to domiciliation, particularly for people with reduced mobility or companies seeking to simplify their administrative processes.

Impact of postal service reform

Recently, reforms have been introduced to improve the efficiency of postal services in France. These changes are aimed at modernizing infrastructures and optimizing mail delivery. For individuals and businesses using domiciliation addresses, these reforms bring significant benefits, including shorter delivery times and better traceability of mailings.

In addition, mail forwarding and digitization services have become more accessible and reliable, responding to users' growing need for mobility and discretion.