Practical

TotalEnergies petrol station with vehicles refuelling at multiple pumps

French government rules out further fuel aid: how much tax is in one litre of fuel?

Calls to cut VAT on fuel sales could cost billions

A view of someone using a SP95 petrol pump

France fuel crisis: one in ten service stations out of stock; depot blockaded in south

All-time record prices for petrol recorded at end of last week

French hunting season begins: can hunters enter your garden?

Hunting activity is strictly banned within a certain radius of homes

money

France fraud losses hit €1.24bn as ‘fake bank adviser’ scams soar

Increase in manipulation of individuals as modern technology fares well against scammers

France house sale cancelled over undisclosed wind farm project

Sellers claimed not to know of project

Fishing boats in a port surrounded by colourful buildings

Do I need licence to use a rowboat in France?

Motorised vehicles always require licence if engine is powerful enough

Yellow Renault SUV parked in a lot with other cars and trees behind it.

What happens to a car lease in France if the leaseholder dies?

Insurance policies can cover payments

What costs and taxes are involved in selling our second home in France?

Several fees affect the final bill when you sell a French second home

Tax declaration form, calculator and euro banknotes on a desk.

Is all pension pay declared ‘private’ in France?

Reader has a query about foreign retirement income

Why there are more flies in France this summer - and how to get rid of them

Hot weather and human activity responsible for explosion of flies

Can you pick fruit for free in France?

What to keep in mind before filling your basket with nature’s bounty this autumn

Hundreds of French communes impose maximum surcharge on second homes

More than 1,600 communes can levy housing shortage surcharge of up to 60%

Why French tax site is yet to fully implement two-factor authentication

Concerns as France has been hit by several cyberattacks this summer

A view of a Ryanair plane at Limoges airport

Ryanair does not owe customers going to and from France any favours

Company must take more than passenger wants into consideration

Drivers in France visiting Spain warned over new traffic light rules

Changes to flashing orange lights look to improve pedestrian safety

A view of a mother and her schoolgirl child

Why are school children’s bags so heavy in France?

The problem persists despite official weight recommendations

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

France’s declining population is helping to reduce average class sizes

Navigating La Rentrée: My daughter’s first week of school in France

From stationery lists to school insurance, there is a lot to learn about the French school system

A view of two parents cuddling their new baby

How to save money on having a baby in France

What parents need to know about support and childcare costs

Who is responsible for repairing the electrical system in a new house in France?

The seller must provide a dossier de diagnostic technique, including a diagnostic électricité for installations older than fifteen years

A view of a man holding a model house and a model question mark

Explained: taxes and legal residence in France and the UK

International lifestyles can make the matter more complex

New rules for French heat pump grants require device to be made in Europe

Updated criteria for heat pump installation aid came into force this month

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

A view of an unfinished window with a thick layer of insulation around it

Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Aids for both main and second homes are available

Are SCI property owners affected by France’s new e-billing rules?

E-billing changes impact millions across France, including many property owners

Explained: the rules for renting out a gîte in France

It remains a popular way to make extra income despite red tape

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

The suspension is in place until January 1, 2028

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

Principal residences are exempt from France’s main property tax under certain conditions

Girls,Sitting,At,Desk,In,Classroom,,Studying,Subjects,During,Lesson.

Schools in France: What is changing in 2026-27

Emphasis on 'three Rs', plus new phone rules and AI use

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

Owners of above-ground pools in France risk additional tax if it is left up too long

These pools can be assessed for tax in certain circumstances

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

Why are French car models most targeted for thefts of parts?

Stolen components feed a black market in France and abroad

A guide to starting school in France

From the signing up process to school insurance and financial aids

'It's my way of paying France back': the US retiree who embraced French fiscal fairness

Janice Wang's respect for the French approach to money led her to challenge a healthcare loophole benefiting fellow American retirees

France’s new e-billing rules can affect homeowners too

September deadline fast approaching for millions of businesses and self-employed traders

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

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

Can I obtain a visa to come to France and look after my elderly mother?

'Family regroupment' visas are not available for adult children

A view of ‘a Bitcoin’ resting on a traditional card machine

I was victim of crypto scam, but recovered my assets: will any gains be taxable in France?

A reader wonders about consequences of exchange into euros

What are the possible exemptions and reductions for France’s taxe foncière?

Exemptions exist for property owners based on several factors

Travellers to Paris warned of poor exchange rates at airport currency exchanges

We offer tips to get the most value when exchanging your money

Should Asian hornet traps be installed towards the end of the summer?

How to respond if you find Asian hornets nearby

Taxe foncière bills arrive for French property owners: how to check bill is correct

We also review how to claim a refund if you believe the bill is too high

La rentrée: 12 points to understand French schools

From food to bullying - some things may surprise you about the education system in France

When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

Health authorities track progress of mosquito-borne diseases

Close-up of a hand holding an American passport.

How Americans can stay in France beyond the EU's 90/180 days rule

US citizens are biggest beneficiaries of 'extended stays' in the EU

Brightly patterned seed bug perched on the edge of a green leaf against a blurred green background

Why ground bugs are invading French homes – and what to do about it

Thousands of small bugs are flocking to house fronts and even indoors. One road had to be closed due to their numbers reducing tyre grip

Why French people say next Friday and we say this Friday...

Speakers of the two languages have different interpretations of the word 'next' when it relates to dates

Visitor visas for ‘digital nomads’ in France – is this permitted now?

Issue resurfaced again after MP asked question to interior ministry

Dark blue car with a crumpled bonnet, broken grille and damaged front bumper after a crash.

Irish driver crashes in south-west France after driving on wrong side of road

Head-on collision in Tarn a timely reminder for British and Irish drivers in France

Tap water restrictions increase in France: 57 departments on ‘crisis’ alert

Millions see highest restrictions as threat of tap water being cut off looms

Smiling woman in a straw hat holds a glass of white wine among vineyard rows.

U.S. citizens in France: four steps to take now to avoid missing overseas voting deadlines

How to request, receive and return an absentee ballot

How to get started on building a shed in France

Sheds are very useful things, from the most basic tool store to a home office

Travellers wait in a queue with luggage inside a Paris airport terminal.

Can I enter France before my visa starts and if so must I register for EES?

Nationals of certain countries benefit from visa-free access to France

Why is tap water in France not treated with fluoride?

Americans in France may be surprised to find this nationwide rule. Here is how you can protect your teeth instead

How a complex fraud caught out 1,000 clients of major French bank

Scammers ‘phished’ for information about Crédit Agricole customers’ local branches and then posed as staff

Map: unleaded petrol shortages grow – worst-hit areas

Localised shortage caused by record drought

Can I get French plates for a UK caravan without a certificate of conformity?

Not all such vehicles sold in the UK were built to EU type-approval standards, even before Brexit

Passengers board an EasyJet plane by mobile stairs on a sunny airport tarmac in Nantes.

France flight updates you may have missed for summer 2026

EU backs stronger air rights as Nice-NY flights expand

Teenage female driver holding a smartphone in the driver's seat of a car.

French driving updates: recalls, radar cars and mobile use

Driving changes and safety updates for summer 2026

Undertaker in dark clothing holding a metal urn beside a brick wall.

Do ‘cremation only’ options exist for funerals in France

Funeral costs can vary significantly from one part of the country to another

Gloved hands wiping and spraying disinfectant on a surface.

Cleaner of French home says I should have paid into a pension for her: is she right?

At home help should be declared through the Cesu system

Veterinarian in blue scrubs gently examining a worried-looking dog in a clinic

Can I bring a dog adopted in France to the UK?

Pets being brought from France to Great Britain must fulfil a number of requirements

French driving licence document beside a car key on a table.

Can I switch from pink paper driving licence to French plastic one?

All licences must be converted to modern format by 2033

A view of an electric Fiat 500 being charged

France unveils aid for second-hand electric car purchases and leasing

Some workers can benefit from up to €2,360 in aid

A graphic of someone calculating savings and interest

Can I reinvest lump sum to avoid French tax?

A reader worries about falling into the higher banding

French inheritance tax and paperwork for heirs living overseas

French tax authorities will need to know about your worldwide assets for inheritance tax purposes

New map shows most of France at risk from clay soil cracking

Map is official tool for insurance and property sales

Arranging car insurance as an American in France: everything you need to know

The process may take extra time and documents

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

Tips to help reduce French mobile roaming fees when abroad

Risk of high costs during ferry trips highlighted

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

Certain electrical goods benefit from 10-year additional protection

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

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Practical

French government rules out further fuel aid: how much tax is in one litre of fuel?

France fuel crisis: one in ten service stations out of stock; depot blockaded in south

French hunting season begins: can hunters enter your garden?

France fraud losses hit €1.24bn as ‘fake bank adviser’ scams soar

Trending

France fuel crisis: one in ten service stations out of stock; depot blockaded in south

France listed among countries to delay full EES border check rollout

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

French easyJet pilots postpone strike but flights at risk September 24 and 25

Highs of 35C in south-west France before sharp drop midweek

Hairdresser suspected of starting 17 fires in Charente-Maritime

Can you pick fruit for free in France?

France house sale cancelled over undisclosed wind farm project

Do I need licence to use a rowboat in France?

What happens to a car lease in France if the leaseholder dies?

What costs and taxes are involved in selling our second home in France?

Is all pension pay declared ‘private’ in France?

Why there are more flies in France this summer - and how to get rid of them

Can you pick fruit for free in France?

Hundreds of French communes impose maximum surcharge on second homes

Why French tax site is yet to fully implement two-factor authentication

Ryanair does not owe customers going to and from France any favours

Why are we seeing so many food recalls in France?

French petrol prices reach record highs amid ongoing conflict in Middle East

Are you responsible if your dog bites a burglar in France?

Drivers in France visiting Spain warned over new traffic light rules

France micro-entreprise: when is régime réel better?

Paris ring-road radar that flashed at 30km/h to be moved and fines cancelled

Nearly 40% of French rental properties breach rent control laws

French hunting season 2026-27: dates, rules, and how to stay safe when walking

Tips for choosing a mutuelle in France – and what should you expect to pay?

Why are school children’s bags so heavy in France?

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

Navigating La Rentrée: My daughter’s first week of school in France

How to save money on having a baby in France

Who is responsible for repairing the electrical system in a new house in France?

Explained: taxes and legal residence in France and the UK

New rules for French heat pump grants require device to be made in Europe

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

Renovating a house in France: what help is available for foreigners?

Are SCI property owners affected by France’s new e-billing rules?

Explained: the rules for renting out a gîte in France

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

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

Schools in France: What is changing in 2026-27

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

Owners of above-ground pools in France risk additional tax if it is left up too long

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

Why are French car models most targeted for thefts of parts?

A guide to starting school in France

'It's my way of paying France back': the US retiree who embraced French fiscal fairness

France’s new e-billing rules can affect homeowners too

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

France school holidays 2026-27: Key dates for parents

Can I obtain a visa to come to France and look after my elderly mother?

I was victim of crypto scam, but recovered my assets: will any gains be taxable in France?

What are the possible exemptions and reductions for France’s taxe foncière?

Travellers to Paris warned of poor exchange rates at airport currency exchanges

Should Asian hornet traps be installed towards the end of the summer?

Taxe foncière bills arrive for French property owners: how to check bill is correct

La rentrée: 12 points to understand French schools

When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

How Americans can stay in France beyond the EU's 90/180 days rule

Why ground bugs are invading French homes – and what to do about it

Why French people say next Friday and we say this Friday...

Visitor visas for ‘digital nomads’ in France – is this permitted now?

Irish driver crashes in south-west France after driving on wrong side of road

Tap water restrictions increase in France: 57 departments on ‘crisis’ alert

U.S. citizens in France: four steps to take now to avoid missing overseas voting deadlines

How to get started on building a shed in France

Can I enter France before my visa starts and if so must I register for EES?

Why is tap water in France not treated with fluoride?

How a complex fraud caught out 1,000 clients of major French bank

Map: unleaded petrol shortages grow – worst-hit areas

Can I get French plates for a UK caravan without a certificate of conformity?

France flight updates you may have missed for summer 2026

French driving updates: recalls, radar cars and mobile use

Do ‘cremation only’ options exist for funerals in France

Cleaner of French home says I should have paid into a pension for her: is she right?