The blog
France, from the inside.
Paperwork, daily life, neighbourhoods, budget, culture: everything we wish we had known before unpacking.
Tax residency in France: who is taxed, how much and the impatriate regime
Tax residency in France: the three legal criteria, 2026 income tax bands, withholding at source, tax treaties and the impatriate regime.
7 min readFamily and workSelf-employed in France: how the micro-entrepreneur status works
Self-employed in France with the micro-entrepreneur status: free online registration, 2026 contribution rates, thresholds and common mistakes.
6 min readFamily and workSchools in France for expat children: state, private and international
Schools in France for expat children: free state school from age 3, how to enrol, CASNAV and UPE2A, canteens, childcare and international sections.
6 min readPaperworkResidence card in France for EU citizens: do you need one?
Residence card France for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: optional and free, the three-month rule, resources for non-workers, permanent residence.
6 min readPaperworkRenting in France: leases, deposit, rent caps and your rights
Renting in France as a newcomer: the file landlords may ask for, Visale, deposit limits, notice periods, rent caps and how to dodge scams.
6 min readPaperworkOpening a bank account in France: papers, fees and your right to an account
Bank account in France for newcomers: documents, online banks, your RIB, what to do after a refusal and the Banque de France right to an account.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to France: the complete checklist, step by step
Moving to France made simple: the order of the paperwork, from residence and health to tax, bank, school and driving licence, with the official sites.
6 min readPaperworkMoving to France from the UK after Brexit: visas, residence and health
Moving to France from the UK since Brexit: long-stay visa, residence permit, S1 and GHIC, driving licence, work and the Withdrawal Agreement.
6 min readWhere to liveLiving in the French overseas departments: Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion and more
French overseas departments for expats: the 30 or 40% income tax cut, VAT, local health funds, Smic in Mayotte and what to check before moving.
6 min readFamily and workHow to retire in France: S1 form, pension tax and healthcare
Retire in France from another EU country, Switzerland or the UK: foreign pension, S1 form for healthcare, tax treaties and the retirement age.
6 min readHealthHealthcare in France for expats: carte Vitale, PUMa and the S1 form
Healthcare in France for expats: social security number, carte Vitale, PUMa for non-workers, S1 and EHIC, and what a mutuelle adds.
6 min readPaperworkFrench tax number: how to get your numéro fiscal
French tax number explained: when the 13-digit numéro fiscal is issued, how your first tax return works, paper or online, and what it is not.
6 min readPaperworkDriving in France: your licence, your car and the ANTS
Driving in France as a newcomer: when an EU licence needs exchanging, deadlines for Swiss and UK licences, the €40 stamp and car registration.
6 min readCultureDaily life in France: manners, timetables, language and holidays
Daily life in France for newcomers: the golden rule of bonjour, tu or vous, meal times, Sunday closing, restaurant manners, holidays and emergency numbers.
5 min readBudgetCost of living in France: what a household really spends
Cost of living in France with official figures: share of income spent on housing, the 2026 Smic, family costs and Paris versus the regions.
6 min readPaperworkBuying property in France as a foreigner: costs, taxes and steps
Buying property in France as a foreigner: notary role, compromis de vente, the 10-day cooling-off, the real costs, mortgage limits and taxes.
6 min readWhere to liveBest places to live in France for expats, region by region
Best places to live in France for expats: Paris, the south, the west, the Alps, border regions and Corsica, and what to check before choosing.
6 min readYour move, one step at a time.
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