Opening a bank account in France: what the bank asks for, by law
The anti-money-laundering rules set it. Before opening an account, the bank records your name, first names, date and place of birth, and checks them on the original of a valid official paper with your photo, of which it takes a copy. You also tell it where you are resident for tax. What else it asks, to know you and the account (address, work, income), follows a list the texts call indicative and adapt to the risk, so each bank sets its own. If it refuses, it gives you its reasons for free. You can then ask the Banque de France to name a bank that must open an account for you, with a closed list of papers.
What the official texts say, for information; not legal advice.
Who you are
Recorded
- name and first names, date and place of birth
le recueil de ses nom et prénoms, ainsi que de ses date et lieu de naissance
Checked · one of
- in person: the original of a valid official paper with your photo, of which the bank takes a copy
la présentation de l’original d’un document officiel en cours de validité comportant sa photographie et par la prise d’une copie de ce document
- an electronic ID certified by France's cybersecurity agency (ANSSI), or notified by an EU state, at a substantial or high level
- an electronic identification means presumed reliable under French law
Otherwise · at least two of
- a copy of such a paper
- that copy checked and certified by an independent third party
- a first payment from or to an account in your name in the EU or the EEA, or a country with equal rules
Exiger que le premier paiement des opérations soit effectué en provenance ou à destination d’un compte ouvert au nom du client
- a confirmation of your identity straight from a regulated third party
- an identity check by a service certified by ANSSI
- an advanced or qualified electronic signature
Knowing you and the account
May be collected · an indicative list, adapted to the risk
- the amount and nature of the operations you plan
- where the money comes from and where it goes
- the reason you give for the account, or how you plan to use it
- proof of your current home address; the anti-money-laundering rules do not require it
Le recueil d’un tel justificatif n’est donc pas indispensable
- the work you do now
- your income, or anything that shows your other resources
- anything that helps assess your assets
- for a politically exposed person: the office held, or the ties with such a person
Tax
You give
- your countries of tax residence and, where relevant, your tax numbers
les informations nécessaires à l’identification de leurs résidences fiscales et, le cas échéant, de leurs numéros d’identification fiscale
If banks refuse: the right to an account, through the Banque de France
Identity · a copy of both sides, valid, with a photo, for example one of
- ID card, French or foreign
- passport, French or foreign
- driving licence, French or foreign
- a veteran's card, or an ID or travel card from the French military authorities
- the receipt of an application for a residence permit
- a temporary residence card, a resident card, or an EU or EEA national's card
Home address · a copy of one, in your name
- a rent receipt under three months old
- a water, gas, electricity, internet or phone bill under three months old
- a home insurance certificate under three months old
- a certificate of postal address from an approved body
- your host's sworn statement, with the host's ID and proof of address under three months old
- a valid travel booklet (livret de circulation)
- the last income tax notice
- the title deed of your main home
Also
- the bank's refusal letter, or proof that you asked over fifteen days ago (a registered letter's receipt or proof of delivery by hand)
- a sworn statement that you have no deposit account, personal or professional
- only if you act as a professional: a register extract, the INSEE certificate or the professional card
What the bank may not do
- use these data for other purposes without your consent
- ask without telling you why, how the data will be used and what happens if you do not answer
- accept an expired ID
Les organismes financiers n’acceptent pas la présentation de documents périmés
- refuse the account without giving you its reasons, free of charge and on paper
il fournit au demandeur gratuitement, sur support papier, … les motifs de ce refus
Sources
- Code monétaire et financier, article R561-5 (identification) · in force since 14 February 2020
- Code monétaire et financier, article R561-5-1 (vérification de l’identité) · in force since 5 April 2021
- Code monétaire et financier, article R561-5-2 (mesures complémentaires) · in force since 14 February 2020
- Code monétaire et financier, article R561-12 (connaissance du client, adaptée au risque) · in force since 14 February 2020
- Arrêté du 2 septembre 2009 (éléments d’information liés à la connaissance du client) · in force since 5 September 2009, never amended since
- Code général des impôts, article 1649 AC (résidence fiscale) · in force since 1 January 2023
- Code monétaire et financier, article L312-1 (droit au compte) · in force since 27 December 2021
- Arrêté du 31 juillet 2015 fixant la liste des pièces justificatives (droit au compte) · article 1 in force since 13 June 2022
- Service-public.gouv.fr, « Compte bancaire individuel » · page checked on 22 May 2026
- Service-public.gouv.fr, « Droit au compte » · page checked on 19 October 2026
- CNIL, « Quelles informations personnelles ma banque peut-elle me demander ? » · no date shown
- ACPR, Lignes directrices relatives à l’identification, la vérification de l’identité et la connaissance de la clientèle · 16 December 2021, an explanatory document
Checked on 20 October 2026.
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