THE EXPAT’S GUIDE TO...FRANCE

Welcome to France and Angloinfo! This guide will act as your starting point, your reference and your handbook to being an expat in France.

With its unique combination of alpine towns, metropolitan cities and beautiful beaches, its famed culinary excellence and its stylish laid back lifestyle, it’s clear why France is such a popular place for English-speaking expats to settle. France has long been a centre of culture, boasting some of the most famous art galleries and historical sites in the world. It’s among these accolades that you’re choosing to build your home.

It’s an exciting time, full of new possibilities, new challenges and new opportunities, but we understand that it’s also daunting and often stressful. Our job is to give you the information and the con-fidence you need to plan your move and make the most out of this incredible place, once you’re there.

Over the past 10 years, Angloinfo have helped thousands of people on their expat journey, and in that time we’ve discovered that there are certain essential things that you need to know. You’ll find them all here in this pack.

Whether your career has taken you overseas, you’re retiring abroad, or you’re moving with a family in tow, here’s what you need to know about moving to and making a home in France.

I hope you find it useful - and good luck!

Will Miller, COO

CONTENTS

Want to find something specific?Skip to the page most relevant to you.

Part 1: MOVING

Part 2: EDUCATION

Part 3: HEALTH

Part 4: WORKING

Part 5: MONEY

1. Relocation Checklist2. Moving Services3. French Residency & EU Citizens 4. Non-EU Citizens Moving to France5. Buying a property in France

8. Schooling9. French Phrases 10. Language help

11. Health12. Health Cover13. Emergency Contact Numbers

14. Employment15. Starting a Business & Public Holidays

16. Banking17. Currency18. Currency Exchange19. Doing Your Taxes

Part 1: MOVING

YOUR RELOCATION

CHECKLISTMake sure that everything is taken care of before

leaving for your new life in France…TICK OFF AS YOU GO

Visas Vaccines for family membersRestrictions or taxes on shipped household itemsTaxes involved in shipping your carVaccines and quarantines for petsInsuranceInternational Driving PermitFile Applications for Passports, Visas and PermitsPurchase necessary prescription drugs

Make sure you remember...

Birth and marriage certificatesNaturalisation, passport, green card, proof of citizenship, etc.Social security cardsVaccination, medical and dental recordsInsurance policiesAcademic records and diplomasEmployment recordsProof of residency (utility bill, statement, etc.)Living will and testament

Gather important documents…

International moving and shipping companies to obtain quotes for transportation of belongings. Organise vehicle insuranceOrganise property insuranceOrganise health insuranceReview accounts and notify banks of the relocation.Flight and hotel reservationsConsider VOIP phone serviceCancel subscriptions and forward mail

Companies to contact...

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Becoming a French ResidentWant to become a French resident? Here are the rules and regulations...• Non-European Union citizens staying longer than three months: You’ll need a residence permit called a ‘Carte de Séjour’, also known as a ‘Titre de Séjour’. You also must apply for a long stay visa (‘Visa Long Séjour’) prior to leaving your home country. Read More about non-EU citizens residency in France.

• European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) citizens: All EU citizens and EEA citizens and their family members have the right to live and work in France and do not require a work or residence permit (with the exception of Croatian nationals).

• Non-EU/EEA spouses and dependent family members of an EU citizen in France: You’re entitled to the same rights as an EU citizen, however within two months of arrival, you must apply for a residence permit (‘Carte de Séjour’) and will not be entitled to all rights afforded EU/EEA citizens in France

Find out exactly what to expect in your particular circumstances.

EU Member State Citizens Moving to France• Any EU or EEA citizen moving to France must carry a valid passport or Identity Document, and after three months they are required to declare/register themselves as resident.

• On the basis of the EC Treaty, residence permits are not required for EU citizens who wish to move from one EU member state to another; however, they may be required to register their presence with the local authorities.

• The following rules affecting the registration of newly arrived EU citizens in France is be-ing introduced and is already in effect in some départements. The ‘Mairie’ will help you find out if this is required.

• The non-EU spouse and children under 21 of an EU citizen in France are entitled to live and work in the country but require a residence permit (Carte de Séjour). These rights ex-tended to dependent parents too, but the requirements to demonstrate dependency are complex (seek information from the French Embassy before departure)

If you’re an EU member state citizen, moving to France, then find out more here.

Non-EU Citizens Moving to France• There are many factors for non-EU citizens to consider when applying for residency in France. The purpose for stay (employment, study or retirement), duration of planned stay, available finances and many other variables will be considered, and you can get more information from the French Embassy.

• Non-EU individuals and families intending to move to France must apply for a long stay visa (visa long séjour) pri-or to leaving their home country. This is issued for a stay exceeding three months in France and it is mandatory to have this visa in order to apply for the first temporary or res-idence card.

• There are four types of residence card:

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- Temporary residence permit (Carte de Séjour temporaire) valid for a maximum of one year (renewable)

- Residence permit “skills and talents” (Carte de Séjour “compétences et talents”) valid three years (renewable)

- Resident permit (Carte de Résident) valid for ten years (renewable)

-Residence permit “retired” (Carte de Séjour “retraité”) valid ten years, renewable

Find out more information about these types of permits and how you can gain residency if you’re not an EU-Citizen.

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Buying a Property in France

The French property purchase process may be different to what you’re used to, but it isn’t usually too complicated. As with anything, once you understand how it works, it becomes less daunting. Here’s are the six main steps from Leggett Immobilier, experts in helping expats buy and sell their dream home, to get you started.

1. Define your search - Clarify your budget and lay out your search criteria, visiting the regions and towns you’re interested in to make sure you’re clear on what matters to you.

2. Financing your purchase - If you wish to get a mortgage you can contact a French bank directly, use a French bank who specialise in mortgages for expats or use a mortgage broker.

3. Make an offer - Have your finances and mortgage sorted prior to submitting your offer. Leggett can negotiate the deal for you and start gathering the info and documents you’ll need

4. Compromis de Vente’ (Initial document signing) - This the first legally binding document which makes up the French property purchasing process. It includes information you’d find on a Deed of Sale in England, such as full names, marital status etc.

5. Dossier Diagnostics - Prior to the sale, the vendor is obliged to have a series of tests carried out by an approved expert called the ‘Dossier Technique Immobilier’. They include lead and asbestos, gas and electricity and sewerage tests.

6. ‘Acte De Vente’ (Final document signing) - Signing this document will take place in France, at the notaire’s office. Once this final document is signed, you will be the owner of the property and will take the keys away from the meeting with you. Congratulations!

Here’s where you can find out more and get all the details you need to buy a property in France with confidence.

SIX STEPS Need advice to navigate the ups and downs of buying a property in France?Leggett Immobilier are a family run, award winning Estate Agency ded-icated to helping expats find what they’re looking for.• Choose from a huge portfolio of properties to suit every budget

• Chat to an English-speaking, friendly team

• Receive advice on the entire sales process, so you’re not in the dark.

Find out more about Leggett and how they can help you find your home in France.

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SchoolingEducation in France is compulsory for children aged six to sixteen. Home-schooling is legal if children are registered as being educated at home. State (public) education is free and secular, with mixed-sex classes. Educa-tion is also available in private, fee-paying schools (which include most reli-gion-based and international schools).

Both international and French schools may offer schooling in English:

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS:

• Monolingual schools which follow the home country syllabus and where teaching is en-tirely in English.

• Bilingual schools which follow an adapted international curriculum based on both the French and English education systems and where teaching is in both English and French.

FRENCH SCHOOLS:

• French Schools with an International Section hold a percentage of classes in English by a native English-language teacher, within the French Curriculum. The student is qualified to take the OIB exam, the English equivalent of the French Bac.

• In french Schools with a high level of English students, a high percentage of teaching is given in English by native English-language teachers.

The school year starts in early September, dates are set by the region (and in the case of private schools, by the school itself) and finishes for the long sum-mer holidays in July.

In primary schools the school week is 24 hours long. Some schools opt for a four day week with six hours of classes per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thurs-day and Friday; others adopt a four and a half day week (Monday to Friday, with Wednesday afternoon off).

The school day hours vary between regions but is generally 08:30-16:30 with two breaks.

Lunch hours vary from school to school and in general last one and a half to two hours. Children may either stay at school and eat at the canteen or return home for lunch.

Find all the information you need on the schooling and education process in the French Riviera.

Part 2: EDUCATION8

Not ready to buy just yet? Here are our top tips to keep in mind…

• Check out some of the best rental properties on the market in France here, to start your search.

• French property rental advertisements typically do not state the number and type of rooms (example: sitting room, 3 bed, 2 bath), rather the total number of rooms (excluding kitchen and bathrooms).

• Generally “T” denotes rooms of an apartment and “F” those of a house (F).

• When you’re ready to move in, remember to sign an inventory and condition report (état des lieux), with the lessor, to accompany the lease agreement.

• For unfurnished apartments, the amount of the refundable deposit (caution or dépôt de garantie) cannot be higher than the value of one month’s rent. This amount isn’t fixed for furnished apartments.

• At the end of tenancy and on the return of the keys, the landlord/agent has up to two months to reimburse the deposit

• The tenant is required by law to have a comprehensive household insurance certificate, which your landlord can ask you for at any time.

• French occupier’s tax (taxe d’habitation) is paid annually by the occupier of a property on 1 January of the year.

Discover more about your rights and obligations as a French tenant.

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LANGUAGEIt will come as no surprise that in France, the local language

spoken is French.

To help you get started we’ve included the top 10 most helpful phrases you may need in your day-to-day life as an expat...

S’il vous plaîtPlease

(Seal-voo-play)

Merci beaucoupThank you very much

(Mer-see bo-koo)

Je chercheI’m looking for...

(zhe(r) share-she)

Combien?How much is it?

(Cohm bee-e(n)?)

Parlez-vous anglais?Do you speak English?

(Par - lay vooz ah(n)-glay?)

Je suis perduI’m lost

(zhe(r) swee per-dew)

Pouvez-vous m’aider?Can you help?

(Poo-vay voo meh - day?)

Où sont les toilettes Where are the toilets?

(Oo soh(n) lay twa-let?)

Qu’est-ce que vous avez dit?What did you say?

kehs-kuh voo ah-vay dee

What’s your name?(koh-mawn voo zah-play voo)Comment vous appelez-vous?

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Part 3: HEALTH

All residents in France are obliged by law to have health insurance. Most residents qualify for the state health insurance (sécurité sociale), whether a French national or foreigner, salaried, working as an independent artisan or professional, unemployed or retired. In order to be covered by the public health system, you must register with CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie). Those who do not qualify will have to take out private health insurance.

The state healthcare system is complex with allowances and contributions varying, depending on a person’s status.

Find out what to expect from the French medical system if you’re moving there to live and work or to retire

HEALTH

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Discover what your health insurance options are.

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Medical help/SAMU: 15Police/Police Nationale (Gendarmerie): 17Fire & accident/Sapeurs Pompiers: 18SOS - all services (recommended when calling from a mobile): 112SOS - all services (hearing assisted): 114Emergency Shelter: 115Child in danger (child protection): 119Missing Child: 116 000Out-of-hours doctors:116 117Emergency: Sea & Lake (calling from land): 112 or 196Emergency at Sea (calling from sea): VHF Channel 16 (Tel: 112)Terror/Kidnapping Hotline: 197

Emergency Contact Numbers:

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Part 4: WORKING

EmploymentFrench employment contracts should stipulate the following:

• Employee’s job title and professional qualification• Salary and bonus• Convention Collective relative to the employment (an agreement between employers’ associations and trades unions regarding work conditions and agreements)• Notice period in case of resignation (unless otherwise stipulated in the Convention Collective)• Place of work• Holidays• Duration of the contract• Trial period• Notice period

Job contracts often include:

• Clause de mobilité: A mobility clause which states that the employee agrees to accept any future job transfer. Not agreeing to do so at the time of transfer can be cause for dismissal.

• Clause de non-concurrence: This clause, a non-compete agreement, states that an employee cannot work for a competitor or a company in the same sector for a limited time-period following dismissal or resignation.

• The contract must be in French; however, a foreigner has the right to have the con-tract translated into his or her language.

Take the next step in your career and check out our latest job postings in France on our Jobs Section.

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Starting a BusinessAny for-profit activity in France - regardless of the amount of revenue generated - requires a legal structure, with the business either registered as an individual operator, or registered as a company/corporation.

The most-seen legal structures are:

• Self-Employed/Sole Trader: Entreprise Individuelle (EI).

• Limited liability single shareholder corporation: Entreprise Unipersonelle à Responsibilité Limitée (EURL).

• Limited liability joint stock corporations, including:

- Société à Responsibilité Limitée (SARL) - Société Anonyme (SA) - Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS)

Discover more information on setting up your own business, from tax implications to invoicing.

Public HolidaysThe French for bank holiday/public holiday/legal holiday is un jour férié.

• French organisations and businesses close on public holidays.

• Although some shopping centres and grocers open for part of the day, the majority of shops do not.

• Police stations and hospitals do not close.

Public Holidays 2017:

14th July - National Day15th August - Assumption Day1st November - All Saints’ Day11th November - Armistice Day25th December - Christmas Day26th December - St Stephen’s Day (Alsace and Moselle only)

1st January - New Year’s Day14th April - Good Friday (Alsace and Moselle only)17th April - Easter Monday1st May - Labour Day8th May - Victory Day25th May - Ascension Day5th June - Whit Monday

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Banking

A foreigner who is (or is going to be) a resident in France for more than three months may open a French bank account (compte bancaire). A foreigner who is not (nor is planning to be) resident in France may open a non-resident’s account (compte non-résident).

French banks offer current accounts (Comptes Cou-rants), instant access savings accounts, (Comptes sur Livret), and fixed term deposits, offering better inter-est rates for over one month (Comptes à Terme). For large amounts a Certificat de Dépôt Négotiable can offer slightly improved interest and a shorter term if necessary.

For French residents, there are also various tax-free bank deposit accounts. The most common are the Livret A and the Livret de Développement Durable (LDD).

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Part 5: MONEY

CURRENCYThe currency used in France is the Euro. The notes are is-sued in €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10, €5, and the coins in €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c denominations.

When making a currency transfer the amount you ultimately end up with largely depends on the exchange rate you se-cure, and this value can fluctuate significantly within a matter of days, or even hours. Exchange rates react to all manner of things, from political and economic news to environmen-tal disasters, meaning it’s extremely difficult to predict how they might move. As even a small discrepancy in the rate can make a significant difference to how much currency you re-ceive, it’s important to keep track of the latest currency news if you want to plan your transfer effectively.

Many people use their banks to transfer money overseas because they aren’t aware of the options available to them. But using a currency transfer specialist to manage your inter-national money transfers could prove both more convenient and more cost-effective, due to competitive exchange rates.

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16

Doing Your TaxesUnder French domestic rules, you become a French tax resident the day after you arrive in France with the intention of staying indefinitely. Otherwise it will be from the date you can be seen to fulfil one of the following...

• France is the location of your main home. If your spouse and children live in France, you will also probably be considered a resident even if you work abroad.

• France is your principal abode. This usually means you spend more than 183 days in France in a calendar year, or more time in France than any other country.

• Your principal activity is in France – for example, your occupation or main income is in France (whether salaried or not).

• France is the location of your most substantial assets (your ‘centre of economic interests’).

Income tax is paid in the year after the income is earned. The normal tax return deadline is in May and can be paid either in three equal instalments, or by ten monthly instalments from January to October in the following year.

However, in your first year of residency in France, your income tax is usually not due until the September of the year following your arrival.

Social charges are an additional tax levied on income and cap-ital gains. They are effectively another form of income tax in France, payable on all forms of income received by French res-idents, including investment and pension income.

Find out all you need to know about paying tax in France.

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Angloinfo is made by expats for expats. This guide is a great starter pack for your new life but when you’ve settled in you’ll want to know more. Luckily we’ve got the stuff you need...

• Local directories of English-speaking businesses

• How To guides, answering every question you might have

• Classified lists where you can buy or sell almost anything locally!

• Events and weekly guides to movies in English that are being shown in your town

• Forums to meet fellow expats in your local community

• Blogs and articles giving you local and global news and updates

...and loads more.

Get Started.

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ANGLOINFO

FRENCH REGIONSFind your Angloinfo French Region

SELECT FROM THE INTERACTIVE MAP

BRITTANY

NORMANDY

PAYS DE LA LOIRE

PARIS & ILE DE FRANCE

CENTRE

POITOU CHARENTES LIMOUSIN

DORDOGNE

SOUTH AQUITAINE

MIDI-PYRENEES SOUTH

MIDI-PYRENEES NORTH

LYON

FRENCH ALPS

STRASBOURG

LANGUEDOC - R

FRENCH RIVIERA

PROVENCE

BURGUNDY