Practical

Drivers will need new equipment soon to visit Spain from France

The ‘breakdown warning triangle’ required in France will no longer be permitted for this purpose in Spain

How do I deal with my sciatica and back pain in France?

Around 150,000 cases of sciatica are recorded each year in France

Is it possible to apply for compensation after power cut at French home?

Compensation is sometimes given automatically

practical

What is the role of an estate against when buying a property in France?

Some properties are advertised with multiple agencies

Is it possible to use different passports to enter and leave France and the UK?

Border security rules are coming into force across Europe and UK which will see non-citizens registering to enter countries

Can drivers have a personalised car number plate in France?

France changed its number plate system in 2009

Can a mobile home remain parked in French home garden?

Sarah Bright-Thomas of Bright Avocats answers a reader query

Is it possible to transfer property share of French home?

Transfer may be subject to gift tax

Will stricter language tests for some French residency cards start in July 2025?

New immigration bill may affect rollout

Interest on popular ‘Livret A’ French savings accounts to drop to 2.4%

The regulated and tax-free account has not seen such a large fall in rates since 2009

Millions to receive payment from French tax service today

It relates to tax credits for certain expenses in the 2024 year

Crit’Air air pollution car stickers: can you get these by post in France?

Dozens of new low-emissions zones were introduced earlier this month

Could France follow Spain’s plan for 100% tax on non-EU buyers of second homes?

Spanish prime minister says country must act to combat rising housing shortage

How should garden waste be disposed of in France if bonfires are not allowed?

Some areas have also banned disposing of green waste at waste centres

How to check if your email was stolen in mass French data leaks

Millions of addresses were stolen by hackers in 2024

MAP: How much can you negotiate off a property purchase in France in 2025?

Chances of a successful offer vary considerably depending on the region

Chimney sweeping rules in France: Can you do this yourself - and how often is required by law?

Insurance companies have their own requirements

Do foreign people living in France get free entry to museums?

France’s ‘national museums’ are run by the state with certain people able to access them for free

How to pay French free-flow motorway fee in rental car without toll badge?

There is a limited amount of time in which the tolls must be paid

Are shingles vaccines free for people in the French health system?

A new vaccine was recommended by health authorities last year

Month by month: What are key tax dates in France in 2025?

Spring will see annual income tax declarations made

Batteries used in solar panels in France recalled due to fire hazard

Companies nationwide used the batteries in domestic installations

Instant money transfers to be available for free in France from this week

Warning that the changes may see an increase in attempted bank scams

Price of water for homes in Lyon now depends on how much you use

The system aims to reduce consumption but is not without issues

French resident loses €28,000 as savings account is inexplicably shut

He tried to withdraw money to be told account had closed nine years ago

France’s most popular regulated savings account to lower its interest rate

Lower inflation levels contribute to upcoming reduction

Why your carte Vitale health card may have stopped working in France

We look at possible reasons and solutions if you have difficulties this January

French court orders withdrawal of Linky smart meter in home after health complaints

Homeowners who do not install a meter now face annual surcharge on electricity bill

Guerrilla gardeners are greening France's urban areas

Paris influencer shares tips to reclaim run-down public plots through the 'universal language' of gardening

A guide to renting a flat or house in France: 14 questions

We look at some vital questions to help new and existing tenants find their way on the French rental market

New formality for homeowners selling a property in France

The new regulations also apply to those who let a property

How do tax credits work for hiring a gardener in France?

Some homeowners can benefit from a 50% tax credit on gardening work

Are electric vehicle grants applicable for hybrid vehicles in France?

The system for electric vehicle grants has recently changed

Is it possible to leave French second home to nephews and not spouse?

John Kitching, a director of French Law Consultancy Limited, answers a reader query

Instant money transfers now possible between French banks with just a phone number

‘Wero’ launched in France in October and states transfers will take only 10 seconds

How to reclaim charges on parcels delivered to France from abroad

Payment for import VAT or admin costs may be levied on deliveries from outside the EU

2025 MAP: France’s new clean air driving zones and their rules

All areas with a population of 150,000 or more now have rules in place restricting certain vehicles from entering, and require all vehicles to have 'Crit'Air' stickers on their windscreen

Not yet received interest from your French savings account? This may be why

Interest on savings accounts such as the Livret A is calculated twice a month

Five things they don't tell you about wood fires in France

There are various types of logs you can purchase, but you must be careful about sourcing your own from woodlands

Cost of living in France: five things that have changed

Pension payments, interest rates, and funeral costs have all seen significant changes

Buying property in France: Two key steps

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

Is French wealth tax when leaving France pro-rata?

Tax rates may be different depending on assets held abroad

Can télépéage motorway toll badges be used in French hire cars?

Badges are the quickest way to pass through barriers

Which UK bank account number should be declared on French tax return?

Information can be updated during each tax return

What is the process for obtaining a French pet passport for animal from UK?

Pets moving to France must be registered on pet database within one week of arrival

Must French residency permit holders get a traveller’s visa to go through UK airport?

Digital border security systems in the UK will come into force more widely in 2025

Do low-humidity areas exist in France? Where can information about them be found?

High humidity can be uncomfortable, particularly in the summer

How are pensions worked out if employment split between France and UK?

The UK and France coordinate on pensions

Commune to use drones to enforce planning rules in south of France

The drones will be able to assess expansions to private properties as well as larger constructions by companies

Strikes in France in January 2025 and how you may be impacted

Education and regional public transport sectors are set to see protest action

How much do doctors earn in France?

Self-employed doctors are the highest paid of all ‘liberal’ professions in the country

Five questions on plan for proposed change to US taxation of Americans living abroad

We answer queries about when it may come into effect, to whom it applies, and possible departure taxes

Change to printed information leaflets for several medicines used in France

QR codes will allow details to be updated and include videos of how to take medicine

New rules aim to ease lack of dentists in many rural parts of France

Practices opening in areas with an existing high number of dentists will not receive state reimbursement

15 changes in France from January 1, 2025

Pensions, gardens, boilers, registering cars and postal costs are just some of the areas which change

French ‘Brexit’ residency cards up for renewal in 2025: is process known yet?

Holders will be able to upgrade to a ten-year version of the card

The trees in your French garden have a worth - here is how to value them online

Owners of properties can see values rise thanks to trees, similarly to garages or barns

Revaluation of property data used to set local taxes delayed in France but concerns continue

A reform of the valeurs locatives cadastrales, a theoretical annual rental value assigned to every property, has been planned for several years

Recycling in France: Ideas to give your Christmas tree a second life

Old trees can be turned into compost, used to help fight coastal erosion or even make animal feed

Carrefour announces change to loyalty card for shoppers in France

The supermarket chain’s Carte PASS programme is to be modified in January 2025

Why money may be taken by French tax office from your bank account today

If you look at your bank statement it will appear as a debit by the ‘direction générale des Finances publiques’

Today is an EDF ‘red day’ in France: what does it change and when are next ones?

Hundreds of thousands of households could see their electricity costs soar

Improve your French: Our pick of the best language learning apps for 2025

Take your time to find one that suits your language level and goals for writing, listening and speaking

Culture, sport and events: What's news in France in 2025

From Nantes Cathedral's reopening to the Tour de France, explore the major cultural and sporting events shaping France this year.

French visas, EU citizenship case, pension contacts: Updates in brief

Find out about the latest news on Britons living in France attempting to regain their EU citizenship and whether the British pension number has changed

No snow tyre fines in France this winter – but insurers may require them

Tyres are required in mountainous communes, but non-compliance will not be sanctioned

Films and series to watch to improve your French in the New Year

Improving your French can be as easy as settling down in front of the small screen

How are patients affected by the new rise in doctors’ fees in France?

The changes affect GP visits as well as specialist consultations

Money, inheritance, tax, pensions: What's new in France in 2025

European Commission set to decide on French law affecting the wills of resident non-EU nationals including, for example, those from the UK and US, potentially altering inheritance plans