If you’ve always dreamed of living in France or only recently caught the bug to move there, you should know that making the move to France is both exciting and challenging.
From understanding visa requirements to finding housing, employment, and healthcare, there’s a lot to learn and do when relocating.
EasyStart has helped and guided hundreds of expats who have gone through this experience, and we know that providing you with the best expat experience can make all the difference.
This guide gives you first-hand insights, expert tips, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about moving to France so you can confidently plan your move, navigate the paperwork, manage the logistics, and successfully settle into French life.
Ready to get started? Allons-y! 🇫🇷
Let’s start with the fun stuff, the French culture and lifestyle.
France is world-famous for fashion, cuisine, and cafe culture. But these are far from the only reasons expats choose to move here.
One of the biggest draws? Aside from the baguettes, of course, has to be the quality of life.
The country of 1,000 cheeses also offers excellent healthcare, a strong work-life balance, and a deep appreciation for leisure time, family, and community.
This slower pace and stronger separation between personal and professional life can be a bit surprising at first, especially if you’re coming from the US. But it’s also one of the things expats love the most about living in France.
The French know how to work hard while also making time for what matters: good food, good company, and soaking up everything their surroundings have to offer.
People-watching is a national pastime here, after all!
France offers an impressive range of landscapes, and thanks to generous vacation and PTO policies, its people have ample opportunities to explore the country’s rolling vineyards, alpine peaks, and everything in between.
Add to that France’s handy public transportation network and proximity to the rest of Europe, and it’s no wonder weekend getaways and spontaneous adventures are a big part of locals’ way of life.
But France isn’t just great for travel. It’s also a wonderful country to work in, with plenty of professional opportunities for foreigners.
Big cities like Paris, Lyon, and Toulouse boast many international companies and startups seeking English-speakers, while smaller towns are increasingly welcoming remote workers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs.
With a strong economy, growing tech sector, and government initiatives for innovation and self-employment, France is a great place to consider building your career and launching your life abroad.
Important note: travelers from countries with a Schengen visa waiver (including the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada), can stay in France without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
This rule covers short stays for tourism, family visits, or short business trips, but it doesn’t allow you to live, work, or study in France.
Starting at the end of 2026, visitors from visa-waiver countries will also need to complete the new ETIAS travel authorization before entering the EU for stays up to 90 days. It’s not a visa, but rather a quick online form similar to the US ESTA system.
=> If you’re not an EU resident and plan to stay in France for more than three months, you’ll need to apply for a Long-stay visa. Often granted as a VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour) for longer stays, this visa acts as both your entry visa and, once validated after arrival, your temporary residence permit.
There are several different types of long-stay visas in France, and the one you’ll need will depend on your situation. Are you coming to work for a French company, start your own business, join a family member, or retire in France?
Deciding which visa to apply for and gathering the necessary paperwork is one of the first and most important steps in your relocation process.
If you’re planning to live in France but don’t intend to work or run a business:
The Long-Stay Visitor Visa (visa de long sejour visiteur) is probably the one for you. It’s a popular choice for retirees and anyone with significant savings or investment income looking to enjoy France at a slower pace.To qualify, you’ll mainly need to show you can support yourself financially without working while in France.
You’ll also need, among other things, to purchase comprehensive international health insurance and provide proof of accommodation, such as a rental lease, property deed, or a formal attestation from the person hosting you.
The Talent Passport Visa (formerly Passport Talent) is one of France’s most flexible visas for skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, and artisans. It’s meant for you if your work, experience, or projects bring value to France through innovation, research, or other cultural contributions.
For highly qualified professionals with a French job offer who meet certain education and salary requirements, it is also possible (and recommended) to apply for a Talent - EU Blue Card visa.
There are indeed several categories within the Talent scheme, including:
To qualify, you’ll need proof of your professional activity or project, as well as sufficient income, health insurance (personal or from your employer), and accommodation in France.
This residence permit is typically valid for up to four (4) years, lets you live and work in France, and can be renewed if you continue to meet the requirements.
Your spouse and children can usually join you too thanks to the related Talent – Famille visa, which lets them live, work, and/or study in France as w
Are you planning to be self-employed or start a business in France?
The France Entrepreneur / Profession liberale visa is probably the one to choose. This long-stay visa is open to:
To qualify for the entrepreneur visa, you’ll need to submit a business plan outlining your activity, projected income, and relevant experience or qualifications. You’ll also need proof of funds, health insurance, and accommodation in France. The administration will also expect you to have established preliminary contacts with prospects, and that your profile and experience matches your project.
Normally valid for one year, this visa can be renewed as long as your business remains active and financially stable.
It’s a popular choice for independent workers who want to build a long-term life in France and can eventually lead to a multi-year residence permit.
If you’ve been offered a job in France, felicitations!
Your employer will usually start the visa process for you by getting authorization to hire you from the French Department of Labor. Once that’s approved, you can then submit your Employee Visa application (visa de long sejour salarie) in your home country. This visa is usually requested by employees that do not meet the salary/qualification criteria to get the Talent - EU Blue Card, as the EU Blue Card does not require to get an authorization.
The Employee (Work-Permit) Visa is generally valid for the length of your work contract, often one year to start, and can be renewed if you stay with the same employer. If you change jobs, you may need to update your residence permit (or maybe even get a new one) while in France depending on your situation.
Spouses and children can generally join you under a related family visa, letting them live, work, and study in France as well.
Once your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) expires, you’ll need to renew your status to keep living in France legally. You can renew your temporary visa by applying for a residence permit (Carte de Sejour) online through the ANEF platform or at your local prefecture, depending on the type of visa you were granted in the first place.
At the very least, you’ll need to provide:
We recommend starting the renewal process at least four to two months before your visa expires, as appointments and processing times can vary by region.After living in France for five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency or even French citizenship.
Let EasyStart manage the paperwork for you!
Contact usFinding a job in France as a foreigner is certainly doable, especially if you have in-demand skills, relevant experience, and some French language ability.
Whether you’re joining a French company, working for an international organization, or building your own business, it helps to learn how the French job market works and what to expect once you’re here.
Understanding how taxes work in France is an important part of preparing for your move, especially if you’ll be working or running a business here.
France may have a reputation for high taxes, but it undeniably offers strong government benefits, including socialized healthcare (or social security as it’s called here), free public education, affordable childcare, and paid medical leave.
Once you have the legal and financial sides sorted, it’s time to focus on the more practical parts of your move : finding a place to live, opening a bank account, and adjusting to life in France.
House hunting in France can take some time and patience, especially in Paris. But with a little preparation (and the right resources), you’ll find plenty of great options.
If you’re planning to rent, be ready for a bit of paperwork (a common theme here in France !).
French landlords and real estate agencies generally ask for proof of income, a French bank account, and a guarantor. Without friends or family in France, finding someone to be your “guarantor” can be tricky, but services like GarantMe or Visale can be a big help to expats.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, consider colocation (flatsharing, aka having roommates). It’s very common in bigger cities and can be a great way to meet people, improve your French, and save on rent and utilities while settling in.
If you’re planning to buy property in France, your best bet is to start with a short-term rental. That way you have time to explore different areas, get a feel for the local housing market, and find the best place to live in France for you and your family.
Buying in France involves a few extra steps, so it’s worth working with a notaire (a notary who handles the legal side of property transactions) and a trusted real estate agency.
Regardless of whether you’re buying or renting, websites like SeLoger, LeBonCoin, and PAP.fr are great places to start your search. You may also want to join local Facebook housing groups or Facebook expat groups; they can be surprisingly useful for finding hidden gems.
Having a French bank account is absolutely essential, especially if you’re from outside the Eurozone. You’ll generally need a local account in order to rent an apartment, set up utilities, and register for taxes or social security.
You can open an account with a traditional French bank like BNP Paribas, Societe, Generale, or Credit Agricole, or choose a digital bank like Revolut or N26, as they tend to be faster and more expat-friendly.
To open your account, you’ll need your passport or residence permit, proof of a French address, and sometimes proof of income.
For a step-by-step walkthrough of the process, check out our article: “Opening a French bank account”.
Once you’ve found a place to live in France and set up your bank account, the next big step is making sure you’re covered for healthcare. Luckily, France’s system is one of the best in the world.
One of the best things about living in France is its world-class healthcare system. France’s universal public healthcare, known as PUMA (Protection Universelle Maladie), offers residents access to excellent, affordable medical care.
For those not working (long-stay visitor visa holders), once you’ve lived in France for at least three months with proof that your stay is stable and legal (meaning you have a valid residence permit and plan to stay long-term), you can apply for the national healthcare coverage through your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie).
The French social security system reimburses a significant portion of your medical expenses, typically covering 70% of the cost of doctors visits and 80–100% of hospital care, depending on the treatment.
Most residents also subscribe to supplementary private health insurance, called a mutuelle, to cover what’s left over.If you’re employed, your company will usually take care of enrolling you in the French healthcare system. Freelancers and business owners will typically be affiliated to URSSAF (the body responsible for collecting social contributions) and benefit from the healthcare system through that affiliation.
We recommend applying as soon as you’re eligible, as it can sometimes takes months to receive your carte vitale (health insurance/social security card). Without it, getting reimbursed for doctor appointments and prescriptions gets much more difficult.For more details, see this guide to healthcare access and social security in France
Moving to France with kids definitely adds a few extra things to your to-do list, but the country is generally very family-oriented.
School in France is mandatory from age 3 to 16, and the public system is free and widely available. Most children start at their local ecole maternelle (preschool), then move on to ecole primaire (elementary school), college (middle school), and lycee (high school).
Attending French public schools is a great way to help your kids learn French quickly and make local friends. But if you’d prefer an English-language curriculum, there are plenty of private bilingual and international schools in major cities.
Compared with countries such as the US, childcare in France is generally very affordable and easy to find once you know where to look.
The most common types of childcare are daycare centers (creches) and private nannies, assistantes maternelles. Spots in public daycares can fill up fast, especially in big cities, so it’s smart to apply early through your city hall (mairie).
Families can also receive financial assistance from the government (allocations familiales) to help cover childcare and living expenses, based on income and the number of people in the household.
Moving to France is a big step, but it’s also one of the most rewarding adventures you can have.
Oui, there’s paperwork to handle and plenty of details to figure out, but once you’re here, you’ll understand why so many people from around the world fall in love with life in France.
=> Let EasyStart handle every step of your move to France.
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