So you’re finally ready to make your dream of moving to France a reality. Welcome to the club! I was in your shoes not too long ago, and I’m happy to report that moving to France is indeed possible — and it may not even be as difficult as you imagine! Naturally, everyone’s situation will be slightly different, but I hope that by sharing my own 10-step checklist for moving to France, it will feel more achievable for you.
Keep in mind that some of these steps will need to happen concurrently. It’s not always a straightforward process, and it can honestly be maddening at times. Patience and perseverance are crucial. Without further ado, on y va!
Step 1: Identify your why
Before you jump into the process of moving to France, I think it’s so important to pinpoint your motivation — identify your why. Why do you want to move to France? What are you hoping to get out of this experience? For me and my family, we found ourselves at a flexible point in our lives and felt the urge to stretch and challenge ourselves in a new, exciting way. We wanted to have the experience of learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. We also felt frustrated by many aspects of life in the U.S. and hoped that we could benefit from some distance in order to reflect on how we want the rest of our lives to look. We weren’t sure if it would be a gap year or a permanent move, but we felt sure we would figure it out and enjoy the process. Taking the time to reflect on our motivations and discussing them in depth helped us stay on track throughout the journey of moving to France. You can read more about that here.
Step 2: Decide where you want to live
France is an incredibly diverse country, and it can be overwhelming to consider all of the different experiences you could have while living there. You could choose to live in the vibrant, sometimes-chaotic (and pricey!) capital city of Paris, or in sunny, slow-paced Provence. There are incredible cities scattered along the borders of Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, each of them reflecting the influences of their neighbors. There are villages, mid-size towns, and the idyllic countryside. And then there’s beautiful Bordeaux, our personal favorite. I highly recommend making at least one scouting trip to France to spend time in different regions before making your choice, taking into account things like weather, geography, cost of living, and access to healthcare and schools. Here’s a post about how we made our decision.
Step 3: Figure out your finances
It’s not free to move to France, and it’s not cheap to live here. So what are you going to do to pay for it all? You will either need a steady job or proof of savings to cover your stay in order to secure a visa — you can’t just move to France and wing it. This can be the trickiest part of the equation for people whose jobs aren’t flexible, such as those who work in medical fields or industries where remote work isn’t possible. Many expats will either apply for positions in international branches of their company, apply to work remotely, or simply save up and take a gap year. Whatever you decide will determine the type of visa you’ll apply for.
Step 4: Consult the experts
My husband and I both work as freelancers, with a complicated tax situation, so we met with both an immigration attorney and an accountant specializing in French and American laws to ensure that we chose the proper visas and were prepared for the tax implications of moving to France. This is something I highly recommend if you are unsure of what path to take. Ask the experts — not random people on the internet!
Step 5: Find a place to live
After you’ve decided on where you want to live in France, you’ll need to find an apartment or house to rent. I say rent because I recommend doing this before you commit to buying! It’s tricky because renting can be very difficult for expats in France, especially as freelancers. But there are usually agencies that work specifically with expats, and if all else fails, you can start with an Airbnb for a few months. The reason this step falls before applying for your visa is because you’ll need proof of domicile as part of your visa application. That’s right — you’ll need to secure and probably pay for a home before you even know if you can legally move to France. Fun, right?
Step 6: Sort out schools
Obviously, this step only applies if you have kids. But again, your visa application will ask for proof that your child is enrolled in a school — so you will need to get this sorted before you apply for your visa. In our experience, this is where applying for a private school was much easier than public, though keep in mind that the international schools in particular can fill up quite quickly. We ended up opting for a small French private school that was recommended by a friend. You may also need to purchase school insurance as part of your school application.
Step 7: Purchase health insurance for France
Again, one of those things that you have to figure out before you even apply for your visa because it’s a necessary part of your application. Luckily, health insurance in France is shockingly affordable compared to the U.S. and you can opt in to the public health system after living here for three months. We purchased a plan through April International.
Step 8: Apply for your visa(s)
For a long-stay visa, you can’t apply more than three months ahead of your departure, but you should also give yourself plenty of wiggle room, as processing times can vary a lot based on demand. Review the list of required documents well in advance in case you need to track down birth certificates, your marriage license, or renew your passport. You will need to apply for separate visas for everyone in your family, including kids. You will also need to schedule an in-person appointment at a VFS Global processing center — there are only 10 in the U.S. You’ll find all the info you need here.
Step 9: Get stuff in order at home
Mixed up in all of these other steps, you’ll need to be getting everything in order at home. Are you renting out your home, or selling it? What are you doing with all of your stuff — storing it, taking it with you, selling it? Your car? If you have pets, are they coming along or not? You’ll probably need to cancel your health insurance, phone plan, and alert your kid’s school that you’re moving. Not to mention letting everyone know that you are moving to France!
Step 10: Buy plane tickets
Actually, you can purchase the tickets for your move whenever the prices are lowest. Be prepared for the rush of hitting “buy” on those one-way tickets. It’s a significant moment in your journey of moving to France!
Moving to France can seem overwhelming, whether you’re moving solo or with your family. In addition to the 10 steps above, you’ll need to study French, research your new hometown, and prepare yourself mentally for this massive life change. It’s not easy, but it is worth every ounce of effort if you have a true drive to start a new life in France. Bon courage!