Five mistakes people make when moving to France

Moving to France is an exciting adventure, but it can also bring stress and uncertainty.

This is where Yuval Bugajski steps in. He runs The French Way, a relocation agency based in Paris offering support on everything from visa applications and healthcare enrolment to finding housing.

Here are the five mistakes he encounters most often.

1. Underestimating costs

Many expatriates think they can live on a tight budget. Yet relocating to a foreign country such as France is costly.

Major expenses during your first year include: a scouting tour (see point 2), fees for visa applications, flights, private medical coverage, one to two months’ rent as a deposit, French lessons (see point 3), and possibly hiring an accountant for your first annual French tax declaration.

If you choose to live in the countryside for lower rents, you will quickly discover you need to purchase a car for daily commutes. In some cases, you will even need to attend driving school again. If you choose to live in a city for good access to public transport and medical services, rent can be high.

Your budget needs to account for both the upfront relocation costs and your monthly living expenses. Use online resources to compare the monthly cost of living in your target area and add 10% for unexpected expenses.

Be realistic, not optimistic. If your calculations show France exceeds your budget, consider more affordable European countries, such as Portugal, Spain or Greece.

2. Skipping a scouting trip

Do not choose your relocation destination based solely on online research or holiday memories. The regional differences in France are substantial – access to medical services, climate, and ease of integration can vary a great deal from area to area.

A scouting trip is essential. During your visit, explore local markets, talk to expatriates already living there, check public transport routes, and visit neighbourhoods beyond tourist areas to avoid costly mistakes and identify the right community for your needs.

3. Not prioritising language skills

Many newcomers underestimate how essential French is for daily life.

Even basic tasks – resolving administrative issues, dealing with landlords, or talking to the vendor at your local market – become significantly more difficult without French.

Despite years of emphasising this in consultations, new clients continue to underestimate the language barrier. Start learning before you move, not after.

4. Treating a visiteur visa as a digital nomad visa

The popular visiteur long-stay visa allows non-EU/EEA citizens to reside in France for leisure, family matters, or retirement – but it was not intended to be used for remote work, even for foreign employers or clients.

The French authorities can identify this through your annual tax declaration, where you must report worldwide income, including foreign work revenues.

Recent interior ministry comments suggest there is some flexibility around this, bu