Expatriating to France: Complete Guide to a Successful Relocation

Expatriating to France is a life project that requires careful preparation: visa selection, housing search, employment, healthcare, children's schooling, and cultural integration.

This complete guide accompanies you through all stages of your expatriation to ensure a successful relocation to France.

🇫🇷 Why Expatriate to France?

France attracts hundreds of thousands of expatriates each year for:

Quality of Life

Healthcare system of quality (ranked among the best in the world)
Social protection developed
Education free and of quality
Rich culture (museums, monuments, gastronomy)
Modern infrastructure (transportation, communications)

Professional Opportunities

Dynamic job market in certain sectors (tech, engineering, healthcare, luxury)
Attractive salaries in major cities
Protective labor law (35-hour week, paid vacation, job security)

Strategic Location

Center of Europe: easy access to Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium
TGV and low-cost flights to all of Europe
Diverse landscapes: mountains, sea, countryside, cities

📋 Step 1: Choose the Right Visa or Residence Permit

The first crucial step is to determine which residence permit corresponds to your situation.

For Work

Option 1: Employee residence permit

If you have a job offer from a French employer
Minimum salary: SMIC (approximately €1,801 gross/month)
Duration: 1 year (renewable to a 4-year card)
Procedure: work authorization via DREETS + permit at prefecture

Option 2: Skilled worker talent passport

If salary ≥ 2 times the SMIC (approximately €3,602 gross/month)
Master's degree recommended
Duration: 4 years directly
Advantages: immediate family reunification, simplified procedure

Option 3: Intra-company transfer (ICT)

If you are transferred by your company (international group) to France
Employment contract with the French entity of the group
Duration: up to 3 years

For Starting a Business

Option 1: Entrepreneur/self-employed permit

If you are creating a self-employed activity, business, or company
Business plan required
Duration: 4 years

Option 2: Entrepreneur talent passport

If innovative project or job creation
Recommended investment: ≥ €30,000
Duration: 4 years
Immediate family reunification

For Studying

Student visa (VLS-TS)

Enrollment in a French higher education institution
Resources: minimum €615/month
Campus France procedure (depending on country of origin)
Right to work: 964 hours/year

For Joining Family

Private and family life permit - French national's spouse

If married to a French citizen
Cohabitation required
Duration: 1 year then 4 years

Family reunification

If your spouse/parent has been legally residing in France for ≥ 18 months
Resource and housing requirements

For Living Off Investment Income / Retirement

Visitor permit

If you have resources ≥ SMIC without working
Retirement pension, annuities, income from assets
Duration: 4 years
Work prohibited

👉 Consult the articles dedicated to each type of permit for more details.

🏠 Step 2: Find Housing

Finding housing in France can be complex and expensive, especially in Paris and major cities.

Housing Budget by City

| City | Studio (30m²) | 2 rooms (50m²) | |-------|---------------|-----------------| | Paris | €800 - €1,200 | €1,300 - €2,000 | | Lyon | €600 - €900 | €900 - €1,400 | | Marseille | €500 - €800 | €800 - €1,200 | | Toulouse | €500 - €800 | €800 - €1,300 | | Bordeaux | €600 - €900 | €1,000 - €1,500 | | Nantes | €550 - €850 | €900 - €1,300 |

Where to Search?

Websites:

SeLoger, Leboncoin, PAP (Particulier à Particulier)
Logic-Immo, Bien'ici
Lodgis, Spotahome (for expatriates)

Real estate agencies:

Fees: generally 1 month's rent + charges
Advantages: pre-qualified selection, support

Expatriate residences:

Citadines, Séjours & Affaires, Adagio
More expensive but furnished and without guarantor

Documents to Provide (rental application)

ID document (passport)
Visa or residence permit
Employment contract or job offer
Last 3 pay slips (or proof of income)
Tax notice (French or from country of origin)
Proof of address current
Bank details (French bank account)
Guarantor: often required for expatriates without French history

⚠️ Many landlords require a joint guarantor residing in France. If you don't have one, use Visale (free state guarantee for certain profiles).

Installation Costs

Security deposit: 1 month's rent (excluding charges)
First rent + charges
Agency fees: 0 to 1 month's rent
Home insurance: €10 to €30/month

Total: expect 3 to 4 months' rent for installation.

💼 Step 3: Find Employment (if you don't have one yet)

If you don't have a job before arriving, here's how to search:

Job Sites

Indeed, LinkedIn, Welcome to the Jungle
Apec (executives), Pôle Emploi (all profiles)
Glassdoor (company reviews)

Recruiting Sectors

Tech / IT: developers, data scientists, cybersecurity
Engineering: construction, energy, aeronautics
Healthcare: doctors, nurses, nursing assistants
Finance: banking, insurance, audit
Luxury: fashion, cosmetics, jewelry
Tourism / Hospitality

French-Style CV and Cover Letter

CV:

1 page (except for very experienced profiles)
Professional photo (recommended in France)
Personal information: age, marital status (optional but common)
Sections: Education, Experience, Skills, Languages

Cover letter:

Mandatory for most applications
Structure: you (why this position), me (my skills), us (what I can bring)
Formal politeness formulas

Diploma Recognition

If you have foreign diplomas, have them recognized:

ENIC-NARIC: certificate of diploma comparability
Regulated professions (doctor, lawyer, architect, etc.): specific procedures with professional bodies

🏦 Step 4: Open a Bank Account

A French bank account is essential for:

Receiving your salary
Paying your rent
Setting up direct debits (water, electricity, internet)

Traditional Banks

BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, LCL
Fees: €2 to €10/month
Services: dedicated advisor, physical branches

Online Banks

Boursorama, Fortuneo, Hello Bank, N26
Fees: often free
Services: 100% online, mobile app

Documents to Provide

ID document (passport)
Proof of address (lease, bill)
Residence permit or visa
Proof of income (employment contract, pay slips)

⚠️ Some banks are reluctant with expatriates without history. Prefer online banks like N26 (easy opening) or Boursorama.

🏥 Step 5: Join Social Security

The French social security (PUMA - Universal Health Protection) covers all regular residents.

How to Join?

If you work:

Your employer automatically registers you with social security
You will receive your social security number and your Vitale card (3 to 6 months)

If you don't work (student, retiree, visitor):

Register on ameli.fr or make an appointment at CPAM (Primary Health Insurance Fund)
Documents: residence permit, proof of address, proof of income

Coverage

Reimbursement: 70% of medical consultations, 80% of hospitalizations
Co-payment: remaining charge (30% consultation, 20% hospital)

Supplementary Health Insurance (mutuelle)

To cover the remaining charge, subscribe to a mutuelle:

Employer: often provided and covered at least 50%
Individual mutuelle: €30 to €100/month depending on coverage

👶 Step 6: Enroll Your Children in School

The French education system is free and of quality.

French School System

| Level | Age | Institution | |--------|-----|---------------| | Preschool | 3-6 years | Preschool (optional) | | Elementary | 6-11 years | Elementary school (CP to CM2) | | Middle school | 11-15 years | Collège (6e to 3e) | | High school | 15-18 years | Lycée (2nde to Terminale) |

Enrollment

Public school:

Registration at town hall (your residential district)
Documents: family booklet, proof of address, health record
Free (except cafeteria and extracurricular activities)

Private school:

Registration directly with the institution
School fees: €500 to €5,000/year depending on institution

International schools:

For expatriates wanting an international curriculum (English, German, etc.)
Fees: €5,000 to €30,000/year
Examples: Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, American School of Paris

Language Support

If your children don't speak French:

UPEAA classes (Educational Unit for Newly Arrived Allophone Students): French support
FLE courses (French as a Foreign Language)

🚗 Step 7: Other Administrative Formalities

Driver's License

If you come from an EU/EEA country:

Your license is valid in France without exchange

If you come from a non-EU country:

You can drive for 1 year with your foreign license (+ certified translation if necessary)
After 1 year: license exchange (if bilateral agreement) or taking the French license (code + driving test)

Taxes

You are a French tax resident if:

Your home is in France
You reside in France more than 6 months per year
You exercise your main professional activity in France

Tax return:

To be done every year in May on impots.gouv.fr
Taxation on worldwide income (except tax treaties)

Tax Number

You will receive your tax number after your first tax return.

🌍 Step 8: Integrate and Learn French

Learn French

If you don't speak French, it's essential for:

Working
Communicating daily
Obtaining permanent residence or citizenship

French courses:

Municipal courses: often free or inexpensive (town halls)
Alliance Française: FLE courses for all levels
Apps: Duolingo, Babbel, TV5Monde

Republican Integration Contract (CIR)

If you obtain a first residence permit in France, you must sign a Republican Integration Contract (CIR) with OFII:

Civic training (4 days): values of the Republic, rights and duties
Language training (if level < A1): free French courses

Social Life

Expatriate associations: Internations, Meetup, Facebook groups by nationality
Cultural activities: sports clubs, associations, local events
Professional networking: LinkedIn, networking events, afterworks

💰 Cost of Living in France

Average Monthly Budget (single person)

| Item | Paris | Provinces | |-------|-------|----------| | Rent | €1,000 - €1,500 | €600 - €900 | | Food | €300 - €500 | €250 - €400 | | Transportation | €75 - €150 | €50 - €100 | | Insurance | €50 - €100 | €40 - €80 | | Leisure | €200 - €400 | €150 - €300 | | Internet/Phone | €50 - €80 | €50 - €80 | | Total | €1,675 - €2,730 | €1,140 - €1,860 |

Average Salary

SMIC: €1,801 gross/month (approximately €1,400 net)
Median salary: €2,000 - €2,500 net/month
Executives: €3,000 - €6,000 net/month (depending on sector and experience)

📅 Typical Expatriation Timeline

6 to 12 months before:

Job search or business creation
Visa application preparation
French learning (if necessary)

3 to 6 months before:

Visa application at consulate
Remote housing search
Moving organization

1 month before:

Housing validation
Flight booking
Notify administrations (bank, taxes, social security of country of origin)

First month in France:

VLS-TS validation on ANEF
Bank account opening
Social security affiliation
Children's school enrollment

First 3 months:

Social security number acquisition
CIR signing with OFII
Complete installation (furniture, car, etc.)

🤝 VisaPref Accompanies You

Expatriating to France is a complex project that requires coordinating numerous administrative procedures.

At VisaPref, we accompany you to:

Choose the right visa adapted to your situation
Build your complete file (documents, supporting documents)
Prepare your arrival (personalized checklist)
Obtain your residence permits (first application and renewals)
Guide you to the right administrations and services

👉 Contact us for personalized support in your expatriation project to France.

❓ FAQ – Expatriating to France

1. How long does it take to settle in France?

Allow 6 to 12 months of preparation (visa, employment, housing) and 3 to 6 months to be completely settled (bank account, social security, schooling).

2. What budget should I plan for expatriating to France?

Minimum recommended budget: €10,000 to €15,000 (visa, moving, housing installation, first months of living).

3. Can you expatriate without speaking French?

Yes, but it will greatly complicate your professional and social integration. It is strongly recommended to learn French, at least at a basic level (A2).

4. What are the most attractive cities for expatriates?

Paris: capital, professional opportunities, culture (but expensive and stressful)
Lyon: dynamic, quality of life, attractive salaries
Toulouse: aeronautics, tech, pleasant climate
Bordeaux: living environment, wine, proximity to the ocean
Nantes: green city, dynamic, reasonable cost of living

5. Can you obtain French nationality after expatriation?

Yes, after 5 years of regular residence in France, you can apply for naturalization (subject to integration conditions, B1 language level, and resources).