Moving to France: 8 things to plan before you arrive

Visa, housing, healthcare, school… Moving to France requires some planning ahead. Here are the 8 key things to sort out before your big move.

Point 8 is critical and will help you greatly!

1. Visa : this is your first step. The type of visa you need depends on your objective (working, studying, just living, etc.) and your status (married, retired, talent, etc.). The processe can be quite lenghtly, so make sure to plan well ahead.
2. Housing: if you are not yet sure which region or city ou want to settle in, you can hop around on short-term rentals while you get a feel for the place. If you already know where your heart is leading you, you can reach out to real estate agents, relocation companies like Francely, or also browse listings on LebonCoin
3. Healthcare: you need to show three months of residency in France, or a proof of french employment, to register with the french social security. It’s always a good idea to complement it with the « mutuelle » (top-up health insurance plan)
4. Driving: make sure to bring an international driving licence and check whether you are eligible to drive in France. Depending on the country where you obtained your licence, you may then be able to shift it for a french one.
5. Banking: Before you leave, make sure that your current bank can be operated without excessive fees. You can then, if you have a long-term visa, open an online bank account, and then a traditionnal french bank account.
6. School: the french school year (up to and including high school) runs from September to end of June. Plan ahead to make sure your kids are enrolled in time.
7. Pets: if you are moving from outside the European Union, you’ll need to comply with several EU regulations for importing your pets. The process can take several months, make sure to plan ahead.
8. Birth certificate: Very critical. You will need an original copy, provided by your country’s administration less than 3 months ago, for several administrative processes. Make sure to get it before you move to France.

At Francely, we help you navigate all of these steps from A to Z, in your language, so you can focus on the excitement of your move rather than the paperwork.