Housing certificate or host attestation: which one?

The 30-second answer:

• A host attestation (attestation d'hébergement) is written by an individual (family, friend) declaring that you will live at their home. It works if you genuinely have someone in France, backed by their ID and proof of address.
• A housing certificate (attestation de logement) is issued by a housing operator (residence, coliving). That is what Studhome issues: a real address in a Colonies residence, a signed document, a verifiable QR code.

If nobody can host you in France (the case for the vast majority of international students), the housing certificate is the fitting route: it is issued online in minutes.

Also don't confuse either with the attestation d'accueil, issued by town halls for short stays: it is not the right document for a student visa. The full picture of accepted housing proofs is in our proof of accommodation guide.