What is CPF in France and Why It Matters: A Guide for Indian Expats in France & the EU

Imagine this scenario:

Anita Mehra, a 35-year-old software engineer from Pune, moved to Lyon, France, on a dependent visa with her husband who works under the Talent Passport scheme. She wants to take a French language course and a data analytics certification. Her friend told her she could use something called the “CPF” to fund these trainings. But when she tried registering, she hit a roadblock—she couldn’t access her CPF account due to something called “FranceConnect+.” Frustrated and confused, she reached out to L’Association Frehindi for help.

Her situation isn’t unique. Many Indian and South Asian expats in France—whether new arrivals or those already settled—face similar difficulties in understanding and accessing government-funded training programs like CPF.

🌍 What is CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation)?

The Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) is France’s personal training account. Every working individual in France accumulates training credits (euros) annually. These credits can be used to finance:

• Professional certifications

• Language courses

• Digital skills training

• Business management and entrepreneurship programs

CPF is part of France’s lifelong learning system and aims to help people remain employable, upskill, and even transition to new careers.

✅ Who Can Use CPF?

• Employees

• Jobseekers

• Entrepreneurs

• Civil servants

Even expats working legally in France under certain visa categories (like Talent Passport) can access CPF once they have a social security number.

🆚 Does India Have Anything Similar?

India has taken steps toward skilling with programs like:

• Skill India Mission (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana)

• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

• SWAYAM (free MOOCs and e-learning)

• State-level skill development schemes

But the key difference is:
In India, these are government-led or employer-driven, and funding often depends on the scheme’s availability or employer participation.

In France, CPF is individual-owned and credits accumulate regardless of employer.

So for someone like Anita, this is a big opportunity—but only if she can unlock her CPF account.

🔐 The Role of FranceConnect+ in Accessing CPF

Since October 21, 2022, you need a FranceConnect+ account to register for training via CPF.

What is FranceConnect+?

It’s a secure digital identity verification system by the French government, connected to La Poste’s Digital Identity Service.

With FranceConnect+, you can:

• Register for CPF-funded training

• Modify official records

• Apply for state aid (like MaPrimeRénov’)

• Modify business registration on Guichet Unique

🧾 Eligibility for FranceConnect+:

You must:

• Be over 18

• Have a French ID or a residence permit valid for at least 5 years

• Own a smartphone to install La Poste’s digital identity app

📉 The Problem for Many Indian Expats

Let’s take another case:

Ravi Nair, from Kerala, recently got his Talent Passport – ICT visa and joined a French firm in Lille. He wanted to do a certified DevOps training using CPF. But Ravi’s residence permit was valid for just one year. He couldn’t verify his identity via FranceConnect+.

So, like many others, Ravi had to follow the manual process.

📬 Manual Process to Access CPF When FranceConnect+ Fails

If you’re ineligible for FranceConnect+, follow these steps:

Step-by-Step:

1. Download & fill out the form: “Identity Verification Request for CPF Training”

2. Prepare these documents:

   • Passport and valid residence permit (for non-EU citizens)

   • Latest Social Security attestation from your Ameli account

3. Send everything to:

   CopyEdit

   MCF
Service de demande de vérification d’identité
Libre Réponse 78788
59889 LILLE CEDEX 9


4. Wait 4 weeks. A registered letter will be sent to:

   • Your home, OR

   • The nearest post office

5. Your identity is verified when you receive the registered letter.

6. Within 10 days, you’ll receive an email to proceed with CPF training registration.

📌 Note:

• No stamp or registered mail needed.

• Incomplete forms = no processing.

• If you don’t receive the letter, check your local post office regularly.

🛡️ How L’Association Frehindi Helps

At L’Association Frehindi, we’ve seen many Indian and South Asian expats lose precious time—and sometimes even job opportunities—because of delays in accessing CPF or misunderstanding eligibility.

We’ve helped people like:

• Anita, who didn’t know how to begin

• Ravi, who needed guidance on the manual route

• Meera & Vikas, who used CPF to learn French and eventually secure full-time jobs

We provide:

• Step-by-step guidance

• Help with social security setup (Ameli)

• Translation and form-filling assistance

• Support if your CPF identity verification is delayed

And we do this under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Paris and other Indian Embassies in the EU, ensuring reliable, multilingual, and free support to expats.

📝 Summary: What You Should Do

🌟 Final Thought: Empower Your Future with the Right Guidance

For Indian and South Asian expats in France, the CPF system is more than just a government benefit—it’s a powerful tool to shape your career, adapt to life in a new country, and secure a better future. Whether you’re looking to upskill, learn French, or pursue a career shift, CPF can help you do it—often at no personal cost.

But let’s be honest: navigating administrative systems in a foreign language, understanding eligibility criteria, and dealing with technical roadblocks like FranceConnect+ can feel overwhelming—especially when your dreams and deadlines are on the line.

That’s where L’Association Frehindi steps in.

With our dedicated support—offered under the patronage of the Indian Embassy in Paris and other Indian Embassies in the EU—we help you overcome barriers, one step at a time. We turn confusion into clarity and empower you with the right information, in your language, at the right time.

So, whether you’re like Anita, starting fresh in France, or like Ravi, facing unexpected obstacles, know that you’re not alone. Reach out to us. Let’s unlock the CPF together—and more importantly, unlock the future you came here to build.

L’Association Frehindi is here for you—every form, every question, every goal.

📲Let’s Stay in Touch