Whether you`re strolling past cafes near the Eiffel Tower or sipping a glass of Bordeaux in a vineyard, it`s easy to see the appeal of the France. Moving from the U.S. to France to enjoy the country in the long run is a complicated process. You must apply for a visa, take inventory of your belongings and find an apartment before your arrival. If you can`t work remotely or don`t have a job yet, you`ll also need to find a job. Before you start making plans, spend some time researching the country. The France is more than Paris. It has wine regions, the French Alps and coastal towns with a Mediterranean climate. More than 31% of the country is made up of forests and about 17% of the country`s population lives in Paris. It`s no surprise that one part of the country offers a different lifestyle than another, and the cost of living in one region over another can also vary greatly. Due to the large number of expats who move to France every year, you shouldn`t have too much trouble finding accommodation once you arrive. The rental market in big cities is flourishing. The most common dwellings are apartments rented monthly or annually.
You can find furnished and unfurnished apartments and join a group of roommates or live alone. Once you`ve done some research and realized how much you love the sound of French life, your next step is to think about where you want to live. For some expats, this is decided by outside forces, such as family commitments or a job offer. However, if your options remain open, be sure to think carefully about where you want to settle. After all, this will be your next home. The France has so many exciting things to offer, and this can be an amazing place for an expat. However, you need to be prepared before you go. The more you prepare yourself before you move, the less stressful the experience will be. The France offers many incredible places for expats, from the city of Paris to the smallest continental region of the Grand Est. (Learn more about the best cities in France where expats can settle.) The ideal location for you depends on your own lifestyle and what you want to do as an expat in France. All possible criteria are important.
For example, where is your workplace? What is best for your family? Are you looking for an urban experience or a quieter life? Teresa Bitler has been involved in moving, real estate, DIY and interior design for over 15 years. She enjoys writing articles about moving to cities like Denver or Nashville and what to expect when you get there. She also enjoys writing about DIY enthusiasts and preparing your home for a move. As a real estate investor, she has written extensively for Personal Real Estate Investor. She has also written on topics related to home improvement for Su Casa, U.S. News & World Report and local publications. Bitler currently lives in Phoenix, and while she`s moved too many times to count, she plans to stay in place — at least for a while. View all posts by Teresa Bitler If you`ve already decided where to live in France, you may prefer to look at properties you can buy online before you move or right after you arrive. The biggest advantage of buying over renting is that you are actually making an investment and not paying rent to someone else.
Buying a property in France can be particularly attractive because, depending on where you buy, you can get a lot more value for your money than in other countries. And if you live in New York and decide to move to a village in southern France, your cost of living could be significantly lower. On the other hand, you may have a harder time finding properties to buy or rent in this village than in Paris. Jobs will probably be fewer too, and you`ll probably need to speak some French to live comfortably in this village, while most people in Paris speak English. Another option is the visitor visa. This visa allows you to live in France even if you do not have a French spouse, a job or study plans. You`ll need a letter explaining how you plan to spend your time France, proof that you can take care of yourself without work, and proof of health insurance. You can also apply for a spouse visa if you marry a French citizen, a student visa or an au pair visa. Do you dream of this holiday home in Provence? Or maybe a chalet in the mountains? Whatever your perfect French home is, chances are you`ll need to find short-term housing to fill it when you first move to France. Not only is it the easiest place to find accommodation, but it also gives you plenty of time to orient yourself and decide where you and your family want to live in France. Furnished and unfurnished apartments are readily available in France.
However, there is more to both categories than it seems. Unfurnished properties are yours for at least three years. You can cancel earlier if you want, but your landlord can`t ask you to move. However, furnished apartments have a maximum duration of one year each. While it`s often possible to extend your lease, landlords may refuse to renew it, especially if they think they can significantly increase the rent with a new tenant. Curious about how to live and work in France? If you wish to stay in France longer than three months (90 days) – usually for work, studies or family reunification – unless you are an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen or originally from Andorra or Monaco, you must apply for a long-stay visa at the French embassy or consulate in your country of origin, before you can enter France. Visa requirements for France depend on your current citizenship. You do not need to apply for a French visa or residence permit if you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. If you are a citizen of one of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) countries – i.e.
all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – or Switzerland, you do not need a visa or other authorisation to visit, live, work or study in France, but you can apply for an optional residence card for EU citizens. if you wish. For non-EU/EEA citizens, you must exchange your driver`s license for a French version during your first 12 months in the country. You may also need to attach an International Driving Permit that allows you to legally drive in France. In particular, these tend to be much easier to get in your home country, so be sure to apply ahead of time so you don`t get stuck in first gear. Don`t wait until you arrive in France to think about where you want to live. Most potential expats have a specific location in mind. But if you only know you want to move to France but haven`t chosen a location, do your research before you go to see where you might want to go. The easiest way to perfect your French is to make it the only language you speak! To get the most out of life as an expat, immerse yourself in the culture and live like the Frenchman. Learning French, even imperfectly, is far from essential if you want to live and work in France and integrate into French society. Unlike many other European countries, French schoolchildren do not automatically learn English at school. As such, it does not become the de facto language of science or business.
While many people in big cities (and especially those who work in the tourism industry) speak English, it`s not a big part of everyday life in France. The France has always been a favorite among former Pats fans looking to take the plunge overseas. The France also enjoys an enviable climate with reliable summers and a varied landscape that offers the opportunity to enjoy both snowy winter excursions and warm beaches on the sparkling south coast. For those moving to France from the United States, the best places to live in France are: The OFII will stick a sticker in your passport to prove that you are legally living in France. If your visa bears the mention “residence permit to be requested”, you must contact the prefecture within two months to apply for a residence permit. Find out which French visa or permit you need to visit, live, work or study in France.