French News and Views in English

Reminder: What to expect from nationwide French strike tomorrow

Dordogne homejacking: Shooter and accomplice escape jail time

Pre-Brexit free health mutuelle rights lost by UK pensioners in France

Four questions about Thursday’s ‘spending power’ strikes in France

French energy firms offer up to €120 discount to those who cut usage

20 hours ago

Money

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French energy firms offer up to €120 discount to those who cut usage

Reminder: What to expect from nationwide French strike tomorrow

Friday 30 September 2022

2,600 jobs lost as French clothing group Camaïeu in administration

15 minutes ago

French news

Should people in France work more to pay for ‘unique’ social model?

1 hour ago

Money

Eurostar hopes to start London - Bordeaux route 'in five years'

16 hours ago

Transport

French workers explain why they joined today’s general strike

16 hours ago

French news

Is it normal that whales are being beached along Brittany coastline?

17 hours ago

French news

Why was court ‘lenient’ in sentencing over Dordogne homejacking case?

18 hours ago

French news

€100,000 water bill, boundary rules: Five French property updates

20 hours ago

Property

Three, Sky, Vodafone: How have you handled the return of roaming fees?

21 hours ago

French news

Will our marriage regime affect the French property left in our will?

22 hours ago

Property

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How-to Articles

Practical articles on living in France

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How do we do customs declarations for goods for French second home?

22 hours ago

How to check when electricity usage is under strain in France

20 September 2022

How to find the price of a property that has sold near you in France

14 September 2022

Explainer: How to block hunters from using your land in France

12 September 2022

How to join a sports club in France: admin, medical and fees explained

6 September 2022

Explainer: How does France’s two-year guarantee on all products work?

2 September 2022

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The October 2022 edition of The Connexion is now out

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Property

See more Property news

€100,000 water bill, boundary rules: Five French property updates

20 hours ago

Property

Read the full story

€100,000 water bill, boundary rules: Five French property updates

Map: Where rural French house prices have risen (and fallen) the most

€1,000 energy audit to be needed for sales of millions of French homes

1 day ago

Case study: Upgrading an old stone barn conversion in France

1 day ago

French property: Fixed-price estate agent could save clients €16,000

1 day ago

Property HOW-TOS

Practical articles on living in France

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How to find the price of a property that has sold near you in France

14 September 2022

What to do if structural cracks appear in your French property

29 July 2022

Solar panels on French property: how to make your own electricity

12 July 2022

Explainer: how to get police to check on your home in France when away

6 July 2022

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Property Questions

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Q: Do we need permission to cut down a tree in our French garden?

A: It is always better to seek authorisation from your local mairie before cutting down a tree in your garden as it could be prohibited.

Q: Are above ground pools subject to the taxe foncière in France?

A: When thinking about installing a swimming pool on your French property, you should be aware of the taxes that could be involved.

Q: Can I still get an oil boiler in my French home if no other option?

A: Since July 1 it has no longer been possible to install a new oil-fired boiler (chaudière au fioul) in any French home due to them being considered too polluting.

Q: Can I have an outdoor fire pit or chiminea in my French garden?

A: It is permitted to have a chiminea (cheminée d'extérieur) or fire pit (brasero) in your garden for cooking, heating or simply for decoration.

See more Property questions

Fast-track your knowledge on living in France

with our in-depth Connexion Help Guides

Preview

Healthcare in France*

23 May 2022

- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.

Preview

Inheritance Law and Wills in France*

UPDATED 17 August 2022

Get to know the formalities around French succession rules and considerations for buying property

Covid-19

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France approves three vaccines adapted to Covid Omicron subvariants

1 day ago

Health

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France approves three vaccines adapted to Covid Omicron subvariants

Covid-19: Rules for travel to and from France

Coronavirus: Daily updates on the situation in France

23 hours ago

New Covid vaccine campaign to begin for at-risk groups in France

2 days ago

France Covid: Million-test-a-week marker hit again after summer lull

6 days ago

Covid-19 HOW-TOS

Practical articles on living in France

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How to get a Covid recovery certificate in France and as a tourist?

29 January 2022

US and other non-EU visitors to France: how to get a vaccine pass

27 January 2022

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Covid-19 Questions

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Q: Is Covid health pass still needed for hospital appointment in France?

A: When France’s vaccine pass system came to an end on March 14, health pass requirements remained in place for non-emergency visits to health and care settings.

Q: Can I get Covid booster jab while not yet in French healthcare system?

A: Everyone who is a resident in France has the right to get Covid vaccinations for free, whether they are in the healthcare system or not.

Q: France Covid: Must positive tests be confirmed by PCR for health pass?

A: First of all, if you have Covid symptoms and/or you have carried out a home test and it has come back positive, you should self isolate. You should confirm your result with a PCR test and list the people with whom you have had close contact here.

Q: What are the latest Covid rules for teenagers travelling to France?

A: My question is: does that one equate to her being vaccinated or unvaccinated?

See more Covid-19 questions

Explore our how-tos on living in France

Find the right information you need to help you navigate life in France

How do we do customs declarations for goods for French second home?

22 hours ago

Second Homes

We look at the procedure for declaring goods and paying VAT and customs duties when taking bedding, for example, to a second home

How to check when electricity usage is under strain in France

20 September 2022

Everyday Life

Online electricity monitoring service Ecowatt sends alerts. If everyone turned off just one light, it could save the equivalent of an entire power station

How to find the price of a property that has sold near you in France

14 September 2022

Property

A government platform allows you to see house sales from the past five years. You can also use the platform look at the French cadastral map

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Brexit

See more Brexit news

Campaign group ‘disappointed’ by French response to 90/180 rule issue

26 August 2022

Brexit

Read the full story

Campaign group ‘disappointed’ by French response to 90/180 rule issue

Explainer: How has Brexit changed UK passport checks at EU borders?

UK-France Eurostar capacity cut by a third due to post-Brexit checks

1 day ago

Pre-Brexit free health mutuelle rights lost by UK pensioners in France

2 days ago

Britons in France threaten to sue Aviva UK over life assurance losses

20 July 2022

Brexit HOW-TOS

Practical articles on living in France

See more Brexit how-tos

Brexit: How to reclaim overpaid French social charges

2 March 2022

Post-Brexit tax rules recap: How to send gifts between UK and France

6 December 2021

Visitor visa for France: How do we prove we own our second home?

9 December 2021

A guide to the temporary long-stay visa for France and how to apply

9 December 2021

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Brexit Questions

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Q: Is it viable to still use my French mobile in the UK post-Brexit?

A: Now that the UK has left the EU, if I go over to England for a short holiday, will I still be able to use my French Mobile (with a Leclerc SIM Card) in the UK and, if so, will I incur roaming charges? Alternatively, will my French-registered mobile accept a UK SIM card?

Q: Can I get a withdrawal agreement S1 when I turn 66 this year?

A: Reader Question: We're resident in France thanks to the withdrawal agreement with an S1 that covers us both because my husband was old enough for one and I came in under his as his wife.

Q: What happens if I cannot help but overstay my 90 days in France?

A: In general, non-EU citizens such as Britons and Americans without long-stay visas who remain in France – or other Schengen countries – for more than 90 days within any 180-day period are subject, in theory, to a €198 fine and may find it more difficult to enter the country or obtain a visa in the future.