Moving to France: What to Think About Before You Go
- A New Life
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
A practical guide with a complete checklist for planning your move
Moving to France is an exciting life decision. Whether you’re drawn by the lifestyle, climate, culture, food, healthcare, or the chance to own property, a successful move depends on careful planning well before you arrive.
This guide is designed to be both informative and practical. You can read it as an overview of the key considerations—and use the checklists as a working document to track your progress from first idea to settled life in France.
1. Clarify Your Reasons for Moving
Before paperwork or property searches begin, it’s essential to define why you want to move to France.
Ask yourself:
Is this a permanent relocation, a semi-retirement, or a part-year lifestyle?
Will you work, retire, study, or run a business?
Are you moving alone, as a couple, or with family?
Do you plan to integrate locally or live mainly within an expat community?
Your answers will directly affect visa choice, healthcare access, tax status, and where you buy property.
Checklist – Personal Planning
☐ Define short-term and long-term goals
☐ Decide full-time vs part-time residence
☐ Confirm who is moving and when
☐ Consider language learning commitment
France offers extraordinary diversity—from rural countryside to vibrant cities and coastline to mountains.
Key location factors to consider
Climate: Mediterranean south, Atlantic west, cooler north, alpine regions
Access: Airports, train links, motorway connections
Healthcare: Proximity to hospitals and doctors
Community: Local French villages vs established expat areas
Budget: Prices vary hugely by region
Many people rent first to test an area before buying.
Checklist – Choosing a Location
☐ Identify preferred regions or departments
☐ Visit at different times of year
☐ Check access to shops, healthcare, and transport
☐ Compare property prices and running costs
☐ Assess long-term suitability (aging, services, isolation)
3. Finding and Buying a Property in France
Buying property in France is generally straightforward, but the process, costs, and legal framework differ from other countries.
What to think about
Type of property: village house, farmhouse, apartment, new build
Renovation needs: planning rules, budgets, timeframes
Running costs: taxe foncière, utilities, maintenance
Resale potential: even if you plan to stay long-term
French purchases are handled by a notaire (state-appointed legal official) who acts for both parties.
Checklist – Property Planning
☐ Define budget including fees (approx. 7–8% on resale property)
☐ Decide renovation vs ready-to-move-into
☐ Appoint a notaire
☐ Allow 3–4 months from offer to completion
☐ Organise surveys and diagnostics
☐ Insure property from exchange of contracts
4. Visas and Residency: A Critical Step
If you are not an EU citizen, you will need a long-stay visa to live in France for more than 90 days.
Since Brexit, this applies to UK nationals as well as Americans, Canadians, Australians, and others.
Common long-stay visa types include:
Visitor (non-working)
Retiree / financially independent
Work or self-employed
Family-based visas
Once in France, many long-stay visas must be validated or converted into a residency card (carte de séjour).
A detailed breakdown of visa types, requirements, income thresholds, healthcare rules, and renewals is covered in the official France visa and residency guidance.
Checklist – Visas & Residency
☐ Apply from your home country
☐ Gather income, healthcare, and accommodation proof
☐ Attend visa appointment
☐ Validate visa on arrival (if required)
☐ Track renewal dates and residency card rules
5. Healthcare and Health Insurance
Healthcare is one of France’s strongest attractions—but access depends on your status.
Key points
Initially, you may need private health insurance
Once resident, many people can join the French state healthcare system
Healthcare costs are usually reimbursed rather than free at point of use
Top-up insurance (mutuelle) is common
Checklist – Healthcare
☐ Arrange compliant private health insurance
☐ Understand eligibility for French healthcare
☐ Register with a local doctor (médecin traitant)
☐ Apply for health card when eligible
☐ Consider top-up insurance
6. Tax, Income, and Financial Planning
Moving to France almost always means becoming French tax resident, even if your income comes from abroad.
You may need to consider:
Income tax declarations
Social charges
Property taxes
Wealth and inheritance planning
Double taxation treaties
Checklist – Financial & Tax
☐ Determine likely tax residency
☐ Understand French income tax rules
☐ Review pensions and overseas income
☐ Plan currency exchange strategy
7. Practical Life Setup
Once in France, there are many everyday administrative steps to complete.
Checklist – Settling In
☐ Open utility accounts
☐ Set up internet and mobile
☐ Exchange or register driving licence (if required)
☐ Register vehicles
☐ Understand local taxes and bills
8. Integration and Long-Term Living
Life in France is deeply local. Integration improves quality of life and simplifies bureaucracy.
Checklist – Integration
☐ Understand cultural norms
☐ Register with mairie
☐ Build local support networks
Final Thoughts
Moving to France is not just about finding a beautiful property—it’s about planning a lifestyle, complying with residency rules, securing healthcare, and building a sustainable future.
Used properly, this guide can act as a master checklist, helping you move step-by-step from dream to reality—confident that nothing critical has been missed.