Moving to France - UK Version

Use the contents list to access topics of interest. Alternatively, use the ‘next’ and ‘previous’ options at the bottom of each page to read the guide in sequence. If you have questions on this topic that are not answered in the guide, please email questions@connexionfrance.com and we will do our best to address them in future updates. The guide will be updated as key changes arise - we will notify you when this happens.

Thank you for buying this guide, and welcome to what may be one of the biggest changes of your life.

In recent years, a growing number of Britons have been looking across the Channel and asking a simple question: could life be better in France? For some, the answer is driven by lifestyle - healthcare, work-life balance, food, culture, or a slower pace of life. For others, it is practical: family ties, retirement, study, or professional opportunities. And for many, it is a combination of all of the above.

Whatever your motivation, you are far from alone. Since Brexit, applications from UK nationals for long-stay visas and French residency permits have become a routine part of the moving process. While British citizens once had freedom of movement within the EU, they must now navigate France’s visa and residency systems like other non-EU nationals. At the same time, improved transport links, remote working possibilities, and a continued affection for France as both a holiday destination and a place to settle mean interest remains strong. France, in particular, continues to attract Britons with its diversity of regions, relatively affordable healthcare, strong infrastructure, and quality of life.

However, while France can be a welcoming country, it is also a highly administrative one. Rules are precise, paperwork matters, and assumptions based on UK systems do not always translate easily. From visas and taxation to healthcare, housing, banking and inheritance law, the reality of settling in France can be both rewarding and complex.

This publication has been designed to guide you through the process of moving to France step by step - before you arrive, during your first months, and as you begin to put down roots. It brings together practical advice, legal context, cultural insight and an overview of the regions of France.

You do not need to read this guide from cover to cover in one go. Some sections will be immediately relevant; others may only become important months or even years down the line.

Moving country is never just an administrative exercise - it is a personal journey. We hope this guide helps you approach it with confidence, clarity and realistic expectations.

We would also welcome your feedback on your experience of moving to France, or on the guide itself. Please contact us via feedback@connexionfrance.com if you would like to share your thoughts.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this guide at the time of publication, it is intended to provide general information only. Rules, thresholds and procedures in France - particularly around visas, taxation, healthcare and property - can change, and individual circumstances vary widely. Nothing in this guide should be taken as legal, tax, financial or professional advice. The Connexion cannot accept responsibility or liability for decisions made on the basis of this information, and readers are strongly advised to seek independent, qualified advice tailored to their specific situation.

The Connexion team