Bonjour lecteurs! Are you dreaming of living abroad and potentially making it to my birth country? Moving to France is a wonderful way to explore its culture, amazing scenery and its fameuse cuisine bien sûr! Whether you are making the move for business, school or leisure, settling in a foreign country can be as exciting and challenging. I did it back in 2008 the other way round and I never looked back! Here is for you my personnel Frenchie Guide To Moving To France and how to make l’experience as smooth as possible.
Preparing for the Move
Before you jump ship, c’est important that you take care of the logistics and paperwork. From obtaining visas to packing up your belongings, get ready. French administration is famously slow and can sometimes have a complicated way around it, so follow you guide now.
Visas and Residency Permits
Depending on your nationalité and the purpose of your move, you will require a visa or residency permit. Check out the requirements in advance, it might take a while to process. Par exemple, if you’re moving to work, your employer will probably have to sponsor your visa. France also provides long-stay visitor visas for retirees. You can find more info in their site officiel.
Learn The Language
Although most people in France, notably in the larger cities, know a little English.
But still it’s pays to study French. A little fluency in the language can enable you to go shopping, speak to your landlord, and use public transport. Before or shortly after your move, take a language course.
Budgeting
France is renowned for its high standard of living, but prices can vary significantly from region to region. Paris, par exemple, is one of the world’s most expensive cities, while smaller cities and the countryside are less costly. Establish your savings for rent, transportation, health care, and so much more.
Housing and Furniture Storage
Home hunting in France can be an arduous affair, especially in hot markets such as big cities like la capitale, Marseille and Nice. For an immediate move without an already locked-in home, you have beaucoup d’options.
Temporary Accommodation
Newcomers often begin in short-term accommodation, like serviced apartments or Airbnbs while looking for a permanent home. This lets you roam around neighbourhoods and see where you want to live.
Furniture Storage Solutions
If you aren’t bringing everything to France straight away or don’t know how much room you’ll have in your new home, then storage is une bonne solution. The bulk of the international movers provide storage facilities where you can store your goods until you’re ready to receive them. Or you can rent storage units in France that are located in most cities. This is especially useful when you’re moving out or have questions about how your new house will look.
Furnishing Your New Home
If you’re going without furniture, France is home to several options from low-cost stores such as IKEA to luxury shops. C’est très populaire there. Remember that many French rentals are non-furnished, so you might have to pay for beds, sofas, and cooking equipment.
Understanding French Bureaucracy
The French are infamously bureaucratic, so wait your turn. Whether you’re opening a bank account, signing up for health care or activating utilities, expect complicated forms and delays. To keep on the safe side, have multiple copies of crucial documents such as your passport, proof of residence, and job offer just in case!
Building a Social Network
Once in the country, make it more fun by meeting new people. It takes time to get to know a new country’s people and its culture, but go out and explore. You never know who you might meet. From joining a club membership, language meetings groups or expat groups, there are so many possibilités for you to make new friends. C’est facile, say ‘Bonjour‘ to initiate conversation et voilà!
Embracing French Culture
From long meals to outdoor markets, French culture is the land of good food and play. Allow yourself to slow down and soak up the local culture.
Health Insurance
France has the world’s best healthcare system, but you’ll need to sign up for health insurance. Until you qualify for the French system, private insurance is recommended. Once you are in, you are covered for pretty much everything. Also, if you work with a French company, make sure you signed up to their own health insurance. They are usually very good and will cover you with dentist appointments or eyecare.
Banking and Finances
Create a local bank account to make it easy to pay and receive your pay each month. Keep in mind you’ll be submitting a lot of paperwork because banks may ask for proof of residence and employment. So it might be a slow process at first, but it’s a must-have!
Enjoy the Adventure
To relocate to France means to take chances and try new things. Make the effort to travel around the nation, master the language and enjoy it.
Personnellement, I love la région of Lille. That’s where I studied at l’université and people from the North are famous for being friendly and welcoming. We also love Normandy for its beautiful coast, but France is huge and there is so much to discover. Also makes sure you stop by its numerous and amazing national parks. It’s worth le détour!
Conclusion
Going to France is a life-altering step that mixes the excitement of starting again with the discomfort of adapting to a new culture. You can prepare early, use furniture storage and start living the French life as you want it, and enjoy the transition and take advantage of this new chapter. If you are drinking coffee in un café parisien or spending time at the countryside, life in France is going to be an amazing experience. Bon voyage and have fun there!
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