Moving to France from UK

Last updated October 2022

Since Brexit when the UK left the European Union on 31st December 2020, our clients have been asking us for information about buying property in France and moving to this beautiful country full-time. Set out below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions - visa requirements, type of visa such as 12-month visa or visitor visa. All information is provided in good faith and subject to change. We recommend that you visit the official UK Government website before your move https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-france

Moving to France - guide to types of visas and residency

Here is our step-by-step guide to visas and residency.

You must inform the UK Government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax before you move. This means contacting your local council and giving them a forwarding address as well as contacting your relevant benefits or pension centre. You must also tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), filling in form P85.

If you are moving to France after 31 December 2020, you will be required to obtain a long-term visa, as you will be staying over 90 days, before going to your local Prefecture and filing your application for a residency permit. You can make your application (in English) with the French Government at www.france-visas.gouv.fr The correct visa will depend upon your individual circumstances.

Applying for residency

Depending upon the type of Carte de Séjour or residence card you are applying for you could also be asked to provide things such as proof of financial resources, certificate or proof of health insurance or a work contract.

Once your online application has been submitted you will be invited for an interview at your local Prefecture and you will be warned of any additional documentation needed. Our advice is to also take copies of documentation already submitted. Having a complete "dossier" is the secret to a smooth application. You should have one master file that you always keep intact, and make copies to give out to third parties. It pays to include documentation in this "dossier" that you haven't been asked for (birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of address, proof of income, bank statements, financial guarantees, international health insurance etc).

After your interview you should be given a Récepissé de Carte de Séjour which you should add to your "dossier". This serves as proof of residency until your card arrives. The card itself can take a few weeks or months to arrive, depending upon your individual Prefecture.

Moving to France - guide to healthcare

One of the most frequent reasons that clients say they want to move to France is that the healthcare system is so good. Understanding the system can seem daunting but here is an easy guide to the French healthcare system.

France has a top quality, highly regulated, healthcare system. Residents are covered through mandatory health insurance contributions - you are also able to take out private "top-up" insurance if you so wish. The reason you may want to take out this added top-up is that the state system pays for between 70-100% of costs. For example, when you visit the doctor, you will pay him a flat fee of 25 euros at the end of your visit but will be reimbursed 70% of the cost. However, if you are suffering from a long-term illness then you will usually be reimbursed 100% for all treatment.

You should be able to access the system after three months of residency, before this you should get private health cover if you are not covered by your EHIC.

Registering for healthcare in France

Once your registration is completed you will receive your Carte Vitale - welcome to the system. This is an important card, and you will need to take it to the pharmacy when collecting prescriptions and to all doctor/hospital visits.

you can apply once you have been living in France for three months. You register with your local Caisse Primaire Assurance Maladie (CPAM). You can find your local CPAM office via www.ameli.fr

For those of you employed in France, you will automatically be entered into the French social security system by your employer. If you are self-employed then you will need to register via the Regime Social des Indépendants (RSI). If you are a retiree, then you fill in a "demande d'ouverture des droits" which can be found on the Ameli website. This is sent to your local CPAM. Your social security contributions will either be taken from your pension income or will be covered by an S1 form which states that the UK will cover the cost. You apply for an S1 form via the NHS Overseas Healthcare Service who will tell you if you are eligible.

Visiting doctors, dentists and other specialists

One of the first things you should do upon arrival in France is to register with a local GP (or médecin traitant). You can get a list of local GPs at www.annuairesante.ameli.fr or why not ask your new neighbours for a recommendation. The good news is that many GP's have a decent level of English, but you should be aware that some rural villages have a shortage of GP's and local practices can be full, which will mean hunting around in nearby towns for a practice that can take you. Your local Mairie may be able to advise, and you can always ask to be added to a waiting list.

Registering is easy. You simply make an appointment, explaining that it is your first. You will be asked to show your Carte Vitale, details of any "top up" insurance you have with a mutuelle, and proof of your address. Take along any records you have of pre-existing conditions and a list of your vaccination dates - as usual in France, the fuller your dossier the better! You will be asked to pay for your appointment (25 euros at time of writing) so take some cash. Most doctors take cards but not all, so be prepared.

It is likely that your doctor will give you a prescription (ordinance) that you will need to collect from the chemist (pharmacie). You can't miss them as they usually have illuminated green + signs. The staff are usually well trained and offer expert advice. However, don't expect to buy sandwiches or sweets as you may in a UK chemists. Pharmacies are focussed on your healthcare and strictly places to buy medicine, painkillers, vitamins, muscle rubs etc. There are 23,000 pharmacies across France, so if your village doesn't have one you won't be far from help.

You will, once again, need your Carte Vitale to collect it. You will usually be asked to pay for the drugs, with some or all of the cost reimbursed to you later.

Opening a bank account in France

Ideally you will have done this before moving to France. Managing your finances from an overseas account can prove difficult and costly. Having a French account makes paying and receiving money easy, with lower charges.

There are three types of account :

• Current account (compte courant)
• Savings account (Livret)
• Long term savings account (Compte d'Epargne)

Many French banks also allow you to open offshore accounts.

International banks, with names you will recognise, include HSBC, Barclays, Axa and Citibank. Major French banks include BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole. The use of online banks is booming and many will allow you to hold funds in euros, sterling and dollars. These include Revolut, N26 and Hello Bank.

It is worthwhile thinking about whether you want to physically visit your branch (then choose a bank with a branch in your nearest town) or not (then investigate the online banks, which usually have lower fees).

When opening an account you will need proof of ID, proof of address, proof of residency and sometimes proof of a job or student status. It is possible to open a non-resident account before you move.

Driving in France

For drivers with less than three years' experience the alcohol limit is 0.2 grams per litre, with more than three years' experience it rises to 0.5 grams per litre. Please note that both are considerably stricter than the 0.8 grams per litre allowed in England, Wales and NI (Scotland is 0.5). You have been warned.

By law you must carry a reflective jacket for each passenger in the car. Similarly, you will need a warning triangle, headlamp reflectors if driving a British car and snow chains if driving in the mountains during winter.

Paris has a low emission zone similar to London. You will also need a clean air "crit'air" sticker in Paris and some other cities.

The speed limit is 130 km/h on motorways in dry weather, reduced to 110 km/h in the wet. On dual carriageways it is 110 km/h and on A and B roads it is either 80 or 90 km/h. Every time you enter a town it automatically reduces to 50 km/h or lower if marked. Holders of an EU driving licence, exceeding the speed limit by over 40 km/h, will have their licence confiscated on the spot. Fines range from 11 - 750 euros, although reductions are to be had if paid promptly. Even if you have British number plates you will still be tracked down if you have committed an offence, thanks to the EU cross border directive.

In an emergency you can dial 112 to call the emergency service and be towed to a safe area.