The apport personnel is the money you contribute from your own funds. Non-residents typically put down 20–30% of the price if they live in the UK, Ireland, the EU or Switzerland, and 30–50% if they live elsewhere. Purchase costs of 7–8.5% on an existing home, the guarantee and the arrangement fee come on top, because banks rarely finance them for non-residents. The bank and the notaire will both ask you to prove where the money comes from.
What counts as apport
The apport personnel (personal contribution) is everything you pay from your own money rather than the loan: the part of the price the bank does not finance, the purchase costs and the costs of the loan itself. Savings, the proceeds of a property sale, investments you sell and documented gifts can all make it up.
The deposit you pay when you sign the compromis, the dépôt de garantie, usually 5–10% of the price and held by the notaire, is part of your apport, not an extra cost. It counts towards the price at completion.
How much non-residents need
The main factor is where you live. Typical financing from lenders that accept non-residents:
- UK, Ireland, EU and Switzerland: 70–80% of the price for strong files, so a deposit of 20–30%.
- Elsewhere, including the US, Canada, the Gulf, Asia and Australia: 50–70%, so a deposit of 30–50%. Some lenders cap financing at 50% for borrowers such as Americans and Australians, and fewer banks lend to US persons because of FATCA reporting.
For comparison, French residents put down around 20% of the price on average, the bottom of the non-resident range. The Banque de France put the average apport at close to €40,000 in July 2026, and loans to resident buyers averaged 79.9% of the property's value in 2025, according to the ACPR.
Within those ranges, the bank looks at your income currency, your age, the property and how much business you bring it. A larger apport can also improve the rate, since a loan at 60% of the price is priced better than one at 80%.
Why fees come from your own funds
French banks lend against the value of the property, and purchase costs add nothing to that value. For non-residents, they rarely finance them. Budget from your own money for:
- Purchase costs (frais de notaire): 7–8.5% of the price on an existing home, 2–3% on a new build. Most of it is transfer tax.
- The guarantee: around 1–2% of the loan.
- The arrangement fee: several hundred to a few thousand euros.
- A broker fee, if any, agreed in writing before work starts.
Some banks also want savings left after the purchase, or a few months of repayments held in your French account.
Worked example: own funds on a €400,000 house
Assumptions: an existing house at €400,000, purchase costs at 7.5% (€30,000), a guarantee at 1.5% of the loan and a €1,000 arrangement fee.
| Item | UK resident, 75% loan | US resident, 60% loan |
|---|---|---|
| Loan | €300,000 | €240,000 |
| Deposit towards the price | €100,000 | €160,000 |
| Purchase costs | €30,000 | €30,000 |
| Guarantee | €4,500 | €3,600 |
| Arrangement fee | €1,000 | €1,000 |
| Own funds needed | €135,500 | €194,600 |
The UK buyer needs about 34% of the price in cash, not 25%. The US buyer needs nearly half, and a €240,000 loan is below the €250,000 minimum some lenders set for buyers from outside the UK and EU, so the choice of lenders narrows. If your savings are in pounds or dollars, a forward contract can fix the exchange rate for the transfer, and the calculator runs the same sum with your own figures.
Proving where the money comes from
Banks and notaires must run anti-money-laundering checks, and both will ask for evidence of the source of your apport. Expect to provide:
- Statements for the accounts holding the funds, for the last three to six months
- For savings built up over time, older statements or investment valuations showing the history
- For a property sale, the completion statement or sale deed
- For a gift, a signed letter from the donor and statements showing the transfer
- For an inheritance, the estate documents showing what you received
Move the money in clear steps between accounts in your name, and keep every statement. Large deposits with no paper trail slow the file down at the bank and again at the notaire.
Next step
Work out your own funds, costs included, before you make an offer. The eligibility check asks for your savings and deposit, and the broker we introduce you to will tell you what financing to expect from the banks lending in your country this quarter.
Questions
How much deposit do I need for a French mortgage as a non-resident?
Typically 20–30% of the price if you live in the UK, Ireland, the EU or Switzerland, and 30–50% elsewhere, plus purchase costs paid from your own funds.
Can a French bank finance the notary fees?
Rarely for non-residents. Plan to pay purchase costs of 7–8.5% on an existing home, or 2–3% on a new build, from your own money.
Does the compromis deposit count towards my apport?
Yes. The deposit of usually 5–10% paid on signing the compromis is held by the notaire and counts towards the price at completion.
Why do French banks ask where my deposit comes from?
Banks and notaires must run anti-money-laundering checks, so they ask for statements and documents showing how you built up or received the funds.