Living in france

Robin Davis smiles at a café table in a warmly lit Parisian interior, wearing a black-and-white patterned dress.

‘France saved my life’: American moves to Paris - then survives breast cancer twice

As part of breast cancer awareness month, we talk to Robin Allison Davis about her journey of healing in France

What is deemed a ‘modest income’ when referring to grants and benefits in France?

The amount varies between schemes and with the location of the household

Increase in West Nile virus cases reported in south-east France

Native cases have more than doubled compared to 2025

living in france

Where in France is wood-fired heating banned?

Restrictions on wood-stoves are expanding in France

France hunting season: dates, signs and safety rules

What walkers and property owners should know during hunting season

Graphic: what is included in France’s 2027 budget

Several major changes to pensions, taxes, and spending as government seeks to reduce debt

A view of a processionary caterpillar nest in a pine tree

Pine processionary caterpillars soon expected in some areas of France: protect your garden and pets

Processions can occur from as early as mid-October across western France

Applying for French nationality: 200 readers share their experiences

Waiting times, unexpected hurdles and what readers wish they had known

Several changes come in for residents of France in October 2026

Gas price rises and a new leasing scheme for heat pumps are among updates

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for October 2026

Includes half term, the Paris Pride march and la Semaine du Goût

Saving Breton in France: 'The best way to help it is to learn it'

An American doctoral student in Brittany is using social media and everyday conversation to win over young speakers

Building a garden shed in France: what materials to use

Metal, plastic and timber sheds all have their advantages and drawbacks

Senior couple looking at paperwork in front of a laptop

French paperwork is making my life hell

Reader says every form seems to hide another form, certificate or photocopy

Joining a gym in France - and why it is different to the UK and US

Cultural differences and practical steps to know about before signing up for a gym membership

Marine Le Pen outlines ‘national preference’ policies for French housing sector

Far-right candidate wants citizens to have priority access to social housing and to exclude non-citizens from housing benefits

UK pension tax changes: what impact on residents of France

Unused funds will generally count towards taxable estates from 2027

Woman opening a cardboard parcel on a wooden table at home.

What are rules for sending or receiving small parcels between France and the UK or US?

Parcels can be subject to additional taxes or rules

France’s pension reform suspension begins: who is impacted and how?

The suspension is in place until January 1, 2028

Composite showing a commercial aircraft, an EDF building and a firefighter in protective gear

List of strike action expected in France in September 2026

Pilots, cabin crew, public services, firefighters, hospital staff and others have issued notices for protest action

Woman with folded arms sits apart as a man and mature woman stand behind her in a tense home setting.

Family conflict in France: should I cut off my cousin?

A reader considers ending a difficult family relationship

Instructor explaining something to 2 adults at a PC

France’s new e-billing rules: six questions answered

Staggered introduction, foreign companies, penalties: we review who is impacted and how

One million tonnes of rubbish dumped in France each year: street cameras used to catch offenders

More than 200 local authorities in France now use technology

Not your average tourist sites: 100 things to see and do in France

Suggestions for visitors and residents looking to do something a bit different

Why was my birth certificate rejected in France for being too old?

Some documents are subject to length or recency requirements

France school holidays 2026-27: Key dates for parents

The holidays are staggered between three academic zones

How many Britons are in France – and where do they live?

Britons are among largest non-EU citizenship group in France

A view of a beautiful old house in Brittany, France

I moved to France for a better life – so why do I feel like a failure?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman gives her tips to overcome house envy

France set for a partial lunar eclipse tonight

Second eclipse of month will bring spectacular colours to moon – but you will need to stay up late or wake up early to see

Digital radio arrives in French countryside

Most larger towns and cities have had DAB+ since 2024

A couple stands outside a Bordeaux estate agency looking at property listings in the window.

Can an American move to France on an income of $2,000 per month?

We review visa, housing, and living expenses on a budget

France’s Constitutional Court approves assisted dying bill, highlights reservations

The bill was approved in its entirety but three clarifications made

Calculator, British pound notes, notebook and pen used for household budgeting.

French bank charged €1,000 for UK transfer fees

Reader accrued fees over three years - before changing bank

August 15 bank holiday in France: what is celebrated and will shops be open?

Many workers in France will not benefit from an extra day off this year

Man arranges bottled water at a distribution point in Montsalvy during France’s 2022 drought.

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

Plus, worst-hit areas and authorities step up enforcement as water shortages increase

Middle-aged man holding a mobile looking stressed with hand over his head

New cold-calling laws in France: what if I have a foreign number?

Cold-callers still dodge new laws

How does France’s new ‘right to repair’ rule cover your purchases?

Certain electrical goods benefit from 10-year additional protection

French mayor issues bylaw banning barking dogs at night

Heatwave and open windows made incessant barking ‘unbearable’, with owners at risk of €135 fine

How many high-vis vests are you required to keep in your car in France?

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Fountain jets spray water in Courbevoie under bright sun during a heatwave near Paris.

France’s fifth heatwave sees temperatures climb: your questions answered

Driving rules, air conditioning, help for vulnerable residents covered

Family in the French Alps has lived in the same valley for 700 years

Meet the Suiffet family of Val-Cenis and their remarkable alpine history

Red no-swimming sign on a grassy riverbank beside calm water.

France increases fine for swimming in unauthorised zones

It comes as over 270 deaths by drowning already recorded this summer

Building a house in France: where to save money and where to spend

Expert tips on planning, budgets and getting it right first time

My experience of getting a pacemaker in France

Andy Hughes, 63, moved to France in 2003

Collage showing office documents, call centre staff, a gas stove being adjusted and a car refuelling at a Beyour petrol station.

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

Bills will change for millions of households, fuel scheme extends, and savings accounts see new rates

What it is really like for an American raising children and living in France

American expat Maya Dorsey shares her experiences raising children in France, from visas and bureaucracy to work, healthcare and family life

France's free citizens' handbook triples in size to help candidates prepare for new tests

Try our quiz based on the topics in the 2026 livret du citoyen

18 recent and upcoming changes in France in July 2026

Includes electricity bills, taxes, and an end to cold calls

La Poste stamps bought online will soon show expiration date

Stamps can be printed at home but will be subject to date limit to bring uniformity to system

'I love living in Verdun... the people around here are fantastic'

Tips from a local who moved over from Wales 20 years ago

Mosquito control operations across France: how this may impact your commune

More than a thousand operations were carried out in southern France last year

Four,Friends,Making,A,Toast,During,A,Meal,At,A

My friends in France are meeting without me – how do I handle feeling shut out?

Columnist Cynthia Spillman helps with a reader's dilemma

Doctor wearing a white coat with a stethoscope in a hospital.

Haemochromatosis in France: symptoms, diagnosis and one woman's experience

The genetic disorder causes the body to absorb too much iron

France approves social media ban for under-15s

Everyone in France would need to verify their age to use social media applications

New official app aims to make French admin easier

Several services available via one login

Water storage, pesticides: why France’s new farming bill is controversial

Emergency bill follows farmer protests at start of the year

France drought update: all but two departments facing restrictions or warnings on tap water use

Tap water usage limited in at least one commune of most departments

Three-panel collage of a fortress, city skyline with cathedral, and a riverside street with a tower.

Western France leads new ranking of nicest places to live in France

New study rates quality of life for residents

Close-up views of water pouring from taps and a hose into a pool.

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

We review rules for rainwater, wells, filling swimming pools, and penalties for infractions

Divorce dissected: custody, finances, common mistakes for residents of France

Lawyer Floriane Laruelle, a senior associate at Dawson Cornwell who specialises in international children’s law, highlights common issues for bi-national couples

Online simulator for French pension now works smoothly

Technical problems hit the launch of the system

Person wearing blue surgical gloves about to open a septic tank cover

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Properties with sub-standard sewerage systems can be sold with an official certificate of non-conformity

Meet the Lidl supervisor who also runs a French village as mayor

The 30-year-old mother of two is mayor of Berviller-en-Moselle

How running clubs help build community in France

'We wanted to create a safe space where women could connect', say organisers

Young couple on a sofa covering their ears in a bright living room.

Neighbours take man to French court for playing same song over and over

Noise complaints are not uncommon in French towns and villages.

A pupil holding a piece of paper and celebrating exam success

Standard of living in France is increasing, official data reveals

Low inflation contributes to higher median income but poverty remains high

Where to watch England’s World Cup game in France this Saturday?

Many bars will be open late and welcoming Three Lions fans

French peaches, nectarines and brugnons: how to tell these summer fruits apart

French markets are replete with fruit in July

Living in France: Five common questions readers ask

Queries range from healthcare and pensions to home renovations and citizenship

Antique chairs and table in a decorative room beside a wooden cabinet displaying plates.

Buy and care for French antiques with confidence

In her new book, Sharon Santoni reveals what to collect, how to select, and where to find the French antiques of your dreams

'The Bretons and the Irish are quite similar'

An Irish lecturer explains why she stayed in France after finishing her masters, and what life in Rennes is really like

EU-wide €3 tax on small parcels comes into force

France scraps own version of tax leading to equality across bloc

3D illustration of an air source heat pump beside a modern house.

What are different heat pump types and what is best for my French home?

Two main pumps exist, with different costs and benefits

Replacing water filter in French home became a two-month DIY nightmare

Columnist Nick Inman tells of his ordeal changing a dedicated filtered drinking water tap

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for July 2026

Early July will see difficult periods for those using French motorways

Check this before buying French property in a flood zone

One in four people – some 18 million – now live in an area at risk of flooding

Living in france

‘France saved my life’: American moves to Paris - then survives breast cancer twice

What is deemed a ‘modest income’ when referring to grants and benefits in France?

Increase in West Nile virus cases reported in south-east France

Where in France is wood-fired heating banned?

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Where in France is wood-fired heating banned?

UK e-gates to use facial recognition instead of passports

Phone at the wheel: drivers now face licence suspension anywhere in France

What to expect from October 6 protests in France

French court bans Airbnb-style letting after neighbour complaints

French town set to replace speed bump with ‘intelligent’ traffic lights

October 6, October 17: Is France set for a month of protests?

France hunting season: dates, signs and safety rules

Graphic: what is included in France’s 2027 budget

Pine processionary caterpillars soon expected in some areas of France: protect your garden and pets

Applying for French nationality: 200 readers share their experiences

Several changes come in for residents of France in October 2026

Key practical and cultural dates for your diary in France for October 2026

Saving Breton in France: 'The best way to help it is to learn it'

Building a garden shed in France: what materials to use

French paperwork is making my life hell

Joining a gym in France - and why it is different to the UK and US

'I really connect with him': Americans in Paris count down to Pope Leo's visit

French hunting season begins: can hunters enter your garden?

France outlines ambitious plans to 'electrify' more than 6,000 communes

Marine Le Pen outlines ‘national preference’ policies for French housing sector

Town in south-west France bans hanging laundry out to dry

France micro-entreprise: when is régime réel better?

What is the average number of pupils in a French state school class – and how does it compare with the UK and US?

Explained: taxes and legal residence in France and the UK

'We moved to Alsace for more space and better quality of life'

UK pension tax changes: what impact on residents of France

What are rules for sending or receiving small parcels between France and the UK or US?

France’s pension reform suspension begins: who is impacted and how?

List of strike action expected in France in September 2026

Family conflict in France: should I cut off my cousin?

France’s new e-billing rules: six questions answered

One million tonnes of rubbish dumped in France each year: street cameras used to catch offenders

Not your average tourist sites: 100 things to see and do in France

Why was my birth certificate rejected in France for being too old?

France school holidays 2026-27: Key dates for parents

How many Britons are in France – and where do they live?

I moved to France for a better life – so why do I feel like a failure?

France set for a partial lunar eclipse tonight

Digital radio arrives in French countryside

Can an American move to France on an income of $2,000 per month?

France’s Constitutional Court approves assisted dying bill, highlights reservations

French bank charged €1,000 for UK transfer fees

August 15 bank holiday in France: what is celebrated and will shops be open?

40,000 people in France see water cut off: what to do if it happens to you

New cold-calling laws in France: what if I have a foreign number?

How does France’s new ‘right to repair’ rule cover your purchases?

French mayor issues bylaw banning barking dogs at night

How many high-vis vests are you required to keep in your car in France?

France’s fifth heatwave sees temperatures climb: your questions answered

Family in the French Alps has lived in the same valley for 700 years

France increases fine for swimming in unauthorised zones

Building a house in France: where to save money and where to spend

My experience of getting a pacemaker in France

What changes for residents in France in August 2026

What it is really like for an American raising children and living in France

France's free citizens' handbook triples in size to help candidates prepare for new tests

18 recent and upcoming changes in France in July 2026

La Poste stamps bought online will soon show expiration date

'I love living in Verdun... the people around here are fantastic'

Mosquito control operations across France: how this may impact your commune

My friends in France are meeting without me – how do I handle feeling shut out?

Haemochromatosis in France: symptoms, diagnosis and one woman's experience

France approves social media ban for under-15s

New official app aims to make French admin easier

Water storage, pesticides: why France’s new farming bill is controversial

France drought update: all but two departments facing restrictions or warnings on tap water use

Western France leads new ranking of nicest places to live in France

France water restrictions: Five questions answered

Divorce dissected: custody, finances, common mistakes for residents of France

Online simulator for French pension now works smoothly

Warning over impact of sewerage systems on property prices in France

Meet the Lidl supervisor who also runs a French village as mayor

How running clubs help build community in France