Moving to france

We moved to France from the US and here are the five emotional hurdles we faced

Homesickness, facing French bureaucracy and learning the language are common obstacles

See what €50,000, €250,000 and over €1m buys in Tarn

The rural department is relatively expensive despite its low population

Close-up of a France Schengen visa sticker in a passport.

What it is really like to apply for a French long-stay visa

Writer Matthew Jackson describes experience dealing with French bureaucracy

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How I moved to France and retrained as a tradesperson

Reader Ceri-Anne Malessa-Thompson, 43, moved to Normandy in 2022

Importing a car into France from the UK

Drivers must consider whether they need to pay import taxes

How a British entrepreneur built a new life at a French chateau

Newcastle woman manages a chateau alongside her businesses, hosting retreats in France and welcoming over 100 women from across Europe

Cost of living in France: how it compares with the UK and the US

A breakdown of the cost of utilities, property and everyday expenses in France compared to other countries

How do new language tests affect Americans moving to France?

Immigration bill changed requirements for several residency card types

French justice minister calls for three-year halt to legal immigration

‘We have reached the limits of our capacities for integration and assimilation’, Gérald Darmanin says

Young girl reaching up beside a painted cityscape mural on a wall

I moved to France and became a maths teacher and professional photographer

Reader Philipa Daria shares her passion for photography

Judy and Dave Kashoff, whose journey inspired her book Five, Ten, or Never

'I moved to France and wrote my first book'

These Connexion readers have put pen to paper since moving to France

Readers provide praise for French residency cards and visa processes

Steve Graham was 'delighted' with the experience on applying for a temporary long-stay card

Moving to France – what we wish we had known

Readers who have already made the move share their experiences

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I’m an estate agent and these are the five errors that newcomers make in France

'Many overestimate their DIY talents – and underestimate renovation costs'

Items that cannot (or should not) be transported by removal companies in France

Movers will not take certain goods for reasons of safety or value

A view of the commune of Sarlat in Dordogne

Hosting scheme in south-west France lets you sample lifestyle before you move

Households in nine Dordogne communes volunteer under Mes Nouveaux Voisins scheme

How many Americans live in Paris - and where else are they choosing in France?

Over a quarter of all US nationals in France live in the capital city

Americans moving to France are increasingly choosing Nice

Expat numbers are soaring alongside a boom in US tourism in the city

Experiences: Why I love living in Paris

Karen Bussen tells how she moved from New York to the French capital and found love

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Do you have the right personality to move to France?

Certain types of people will thrive as expats while others will struggle, say experts

‘Our €8,000 barge in France gives us an off-grid retirement’

A British couple talk through their DIY conversion of an old working boat into a cosy floating home on the Canal du Midi

Americans in France: 1 in 4 people born in US who move across live in Paris

In contrast less than 6% of British-born and German-born residents live in the capital

Education in France: Can children be enrolled part way through school year?

Older children are assessed on their skills before entering the education system

A view of a house with someone piling coins up next to it to suggest rent and money

When will ‘notaire fees’ for property purchases increase in France?

All departments are likely to vote in favour of raising fees

Buying property in France: Two key steps

Property lawyer Ronald Sokol explains the practical steps, taxes and rules of purchasing a home

Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens - to the great joy of this fervent fan from Canada

Emily MacKinnon, 29, moved to France to found a Notre-Dame dedicated tour-guide company. She collects everything she can about the cathedral - and even has six Notre-Dame related tattoos

Confusion as two websites must be used to get a French visa

We explain the process in obtaining a visa online

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Best places to live in France for over-60s, according to new ranking

Survey has ranked the best large, medium and small towns for older people

Trump win spikes interest in moving to France

More and more Americans are considering making the move following the results of the recent presidential election

Split image of French border and brexit withdrawal agreement card

Visa advice: Moving to France with adult children

Readers ask for advice on visas and residency card issues

How can I apply for a visa without finalising home purchase in France?

Short-term rental contracts may be an option

'How I moved from the US to France alone aged 70'

Janice Deerwester, 72, explains why she moved from France from Georgia in 2022 and how she is inspiring others through YouTube videos

A stock photo of a WA residency card and a red line drawn between the UK and the EU on a map

Wife’s struggle to join Brexit-card husband in France

She has only just received an acknowledgement slip for her application despite applying towards the beginning of the year

Family's belongings lost when relocating to France from Ireland

Move to France turned into a nightmare as possessions never got delivered, leaving family in a sparsely furnished home

Mortgage rates in France heading towards 3%

Interest rates have been falling since the start of the year, and the number of loans granted is increasing

‘It’s ok to be vibrant and confident’ – Moving to France after 50

We speak to a number of women who have made the move

Retiring age couple with a financial advisor

How to plan your long-term finances when moving to France

Christopher Davenport of Kentingtons financial firm explores the complexities of tax and investment changes when moving countries

Best places to retire in France (according to interests and budget)

From the sunniest weather to the best property bargains

Why France is a great place to bring up children

From its foodie culture to subsidised childcare options

Top tips for house hunting in France

What is essential to consider when buying in France? We ask the experts

Narrow street in a small French village with flowers

Tips for those wanting to move to France but blocked by doubt

How determination, planning and a positive attitude can overcome the barriers to living in France

People clinking wine glasses over a cheeseboard

Seven tips to help you integrate in France

From grappling with paperwork to channelling the French joie de vivre, we look at the best ways to fit into life in France

Retiring to Spain or France: what are the main differences?

France and Spain are two of the biggest retirement destinations in Europe. We look at how do they compare, from property prices and cost of living to healthcare and language learning

How do I bring my pet into France from the US?

There are strict rules which must be followed

A view of the commune Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

How to find out more about an area in France before you move there

Platforms abound on ways to tell if a town or neighbourhood might be suitable for you

How long is the wait for a French Ofii visa interview?

Validating your visa means you will be invited to a half-day at the French immigration agency - here is what to expect

I moved to France and became an English translator by accident

A letter to a magazine editor in 1997 complaining about its poor translation led to a job offer to do better

Two Americans moved to France 50 years apart - what has changed?

We speak to two US natives now living in Paris about their expatriate experience

Which French cities/areas have the best healthcare?

Areas with larger populations generally have better care and a wider variety of services

Career change: Africa safari guide to recycled art in France

We talk to Josie Easton about how wildlife still influences her ‘trash-to-treasure’ artwork in Limousin

Do you agree? American Dream overrated when compared to France

Columnist Nick Inman explores the existence of the French Dream and how it differs to its American counterpart

Peanut butter sales soar in France as Americans ‘crave’ taste of home

The number of US citizens moving to France has tripled since the pandemic and sales of peanut butter have followed

Number of Americans moving to France triples

Trump election, gun safety and healthcare cited by Americans choosing France over US

What Americans notice when they move to France

Four US citizens in France explain what they have discovered about life here (apart from struggles with bureaucracy)

‘I got a French master’s degree based on my professional experience’

A senior manager, originally from Italy, explains how he converted real-life experience into a recognised VAE qualification

Moving to France: six ways to deal with guilt over family back home

It is normal to feel guilty about leaving relatives but it does not have to cloud your new French life

How to fight off expat isolation in France

Feeling lonely in your new life in France? See our writer's tips on finding friends and feeling better about all

Career change: ‘What I learned at 54 working in a French vineyard’

We talk to Moira Tune about how exhausting vineyard work was the springboard to her new property career

Petition to save Girlguiding in France passes 16,000 signatures

A ‘lifeline’ to many British girls moving to France - we look at Girlguiding UK’s reasons for withdrawing overseas support

Can my British mother come live with us in France?

British residents with a withdrawal agreement card in France can bring over a parent to live with them in specific situations

Five musts when you fill out your French tax return

Partner article: Robert Kent of Kentingtons explains how to avoid paying a 'tax on ignorance'

Career change in France: Amsterdam charity to gîte guru in Dordogne

We talk to a successful gîte owner and consultant about why he quit a top fundraising job for a new life in France

Three women on how they forged their own French lives in Dordogne

We hear how the women broke the expatriate mould to lead independent lives in their adopted country

Moving to France post-Brexit: researcher wants to hear experiences

Study aims to find out how moves went and how newcomers feel about France and UK

Explainer: Common visa options for visiting and moving to France

We look at the main visas available and the formalites associated with them

How do you validate a VLS-TS visa when coming to France?

We look at what you must do if you intend to stay permanently in France

Are retirees asked to undergo a medical when moving to France?

We look at who the French Office for Integration and Immigration requires to take a medical and what happens if problems are found

French property watch: Why buy in Landes and what prices to expect

Coastal areas have developed into a holiday and retirement playground but you can still find bargains inland

Explainer: How to bring family to live with you in France post-Brexit

Non-EU citizens can move to France with family – we look at the visas and cartes de séjour that will be needed

Former schoolhouse makes quirky French home for US family

The family have yet to convert the old classroom but currently live in the adjacent former mayor’s office

Building a house in France solves wrong home, right location conundrum

A reader explains how a new-build on her existing plot has let her carry on living in the Dordogne village she loves

Eight tips to get retirement in France off to a flying financial start

Partner article: Rob Kay from Blevins Franks guides you through the tax, pensions, savings, investment and estate planning issues to tackle early on

Quirky French property brings history buffs knocking

How a 19th-Century steam pump house pulled at the heartstrings of a British couple – and attracts the attention of complete strangers too

Customs, paperwork: How can I get help relocating from UK to France?

Since Brexit, there have been significant changes to consider when moving between the two countries

‘We sailed to France on a barge and took our time house hunting’

Moving to France on their own boat took the pressure off finding a perfect home for this UK couple