Practical

Can I take my pet's ashes from France to the UK or US?

Important requirements pet owners should bear in mind

How will Thursday’s strikes impact drivers in France?

Gilets jaunes protesters set to blockade roundabouts; drivers urged to avoid major cities

UK-France capital gains: best time to sell is not always obvious

How property sales, investments and relocation affect your tax bill

practical

Are you paying more French social charges than you should?

Following the 2026 budget, the standard rate applicable to many forms of investment income increased from 17.2% to 18.6%

Do we need permission to repaint the outside of our French home?

The requirements vary according to where you live

How can we protect our savings for the surviving spouse in France?

A tontine clause should ensure the survivor inherits the house

Tax dates to note this November in France

Second-home tax notices, income tax payments, and direct debits all coming this month

Why some French homes and gardens attract more bats

With the arrival of autumn, bats set to become more common in many gardens

French holidaymaker hit with phone bill of nearly €38,000 after Morocco visit

There are ways to avoid unexpected mobile phone bills when travelling

How a taxi scam in France cost victims thousands - and how to avoid the same fate

One passenger was charged €2,500 for a journey that should have cost just €38.60

Remembrance Day 2026: how to buy a poppy in France

November 11 is a public holiday with several commemorative events held across the country

Quick-look list: key changes for residents of France in November 2026

Graphic shows changes to everyday life taking place this month

Map: tap water restrictions remain in place across France

More than a third of departments at the highest ‘crise’ level as November begins

City in northern France latest to ban open fireplaces: what can homeowners do?

Funding to upgrade fireplaces may be available

Some workers for British companies now exempt from French work permit requirements

Residency permit applications must also be responded to within 90 days under new decree

Cybersecurity attack sees information of 847,000 French number plates reportedly for sale

Hackers also claim to have taken email addresses and telephone numbers, with information potentially being used for fake fine scams

France-Spain motorway plans to introduce 100km/h speed limit

Nearly 200km of AP-7 in Catalonia would use AI cameras to help control limits

Petrol pumps and coloured fuel nozzles at a TotalEnergies station in Solaize, France

Fuel shortages worsen across France, hundreds of stations entirely out of supply

Release of 10 million barrels of diesel aims to drop prices from November 1

UK health cards in France: what EHICs and GHICs cover

French authorities clarify payments, reimbursements and hospital obligations

Marchés de Noël 2026: dates and locations across France

‘Tis the season for Christmas markets - with some starting as early as November 12

Collage showing a swimming pool, resting dog, gas hob and people entering a shop

14 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in October

Includes ongoing water restrictions and rise in gas price

Storm Austen aftermath: falling tree damages three homes as new rain alert issued in France

How to prepare before a storm and what to do if a tree falls on your home

French roads suffer from cracks following summer droughts

Repairs underway as clay soil shrinkage and expansion impact roads

Around 700 people poisoned by wild mushrooms in France this autumn

See how to identify mushrooms safely, store and cook them properly

French passport: Which name should you use when booking flights?

A British reader who became a French citizen asks which name to use when booking flights

I am still getting unwanted sales calls despite new regulation - how can I stop them?

Readers report that their phones continue to ring: here is what you can do

Why a driver was charged €425 on a French motorway for a €1.70 journey

Find out what you should do if your toll tag is not detected by the machine

Loi Montagne: Where will winter tyres be mandatory from November 1?

Search our table to find out whether your commune is affected by the rules

Step by step: what to do if your car is stolen in France

The key steps to take and the deadlines to know

I'm a financial adviser and these are the common mistakes that people make when moving to France

Darren Fletcher of wealth management company Chase Buchanan shares his financial planning tips

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British woman waits months for €1,664 IKEA France refund

Order cancelled over an alleged €10 underpayment

ETIAS: Websites offer help with travel permit despite launch delay

We recap what will be involved in the new travel authorisation scheme, which still has no fixed start date

Stone cottage with blue shutters beside a dry-stone wall, with a purple regional map inset in the upper right.

Interactive map: Number of second homes in each French department

They account for more than a third of residences in some areas

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

Wine tourism in France: Best regions and expert tips

Experts from UK and US explain how to plan a vineyard visit

Electric car owners in France advised to avoid charging batteries to 100%

Simple changes to charging habits and driving can help extend battery life

France launches national project to help map rural paths and local roads

Online tool could help improve access to rural paths for walkers and cyclists

Explained: How long you have to work to get a French pension

There have been several significant changes this year

Wild boar keep destroying French garden: how to keep them out

Boars can damage lawns, vegetable patches and orchards searching for food

Stressed,Man,Sitting,On,Sofa,Holding,His,Head

How to access subsidised mental health support in France

Includes reimbursed psychologist sessions and help for students and low-income patients

Do UK-born dogs need I-CAD registration to travel from France?

British couple face delays registering their dogs with France's I-CAD

Hands using a calculator beside a miniature house and property paperwork

Can taxe foncière payments be reduced for people aged over 75?

Reader asks about the French property tariff

Round notary sign mounted on a building wall in Paris, France.

What are typical French notaire’s fees for a house purchase?

Reader asks about HT and how it is applied

Can we get a loan to finish our property project in France?

Retired reader has already invested €700,000

Calendar: Dates of strikes and protests in France this October

Pilots, cabin crew, energy workers all plan action as several protests expected

Why mosquitoes are still biting in France in October and how to get rid of them

The return of rain has brought breeding sites back after a hot, dry summer

France proposes €150,000 tax-free family gifts in 2027 budget

Six-month window increases tax-free gifts in plans to transfer generational wealth

French home seller pays €35,000 over hidden safety order

Buyers were not told about a problem affecting their courtyard

France’s 'vampire' spider: Is it dangerous and what to do if you find one

Zoropsis spinimana is now found throughout the country and is less harmful than its name suggests

Asian ladybirds in France: how to keep them out of your home

The insects can gather by the hundreds or even thousands inside homes as they seek shelter from the cold

How do I transfer my US medical records to France?

What medical information to gather before you move, and how to get it to a doctor in France

Close-up of multicoloured petrol pump nozzles at a gas station.

Fuel prices in France rise: latest as of October 5, 2026

Shortages affect 15% of stations nationwide and TotalEnergies sites in particular

Close-up of a lit wood-burning stove with logs glowing behind a glass door.

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

A view of a man cutting a mushroom from the ground

How to enjoy mushroom-hunting season in France

Exploring the joys and dangers of foraging mushrooms, and benefits of joining a mycology club

Hand holding an HM Revenue & Customs letter with personal details obscured

UK National Insurance: France residents face higher costs

Britons in France can no longer pay voluntary NICs at the cheaper Class 2 rate

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

Retired couple sitting beside a lake in Passy, France, beneath a tree with mountains beyond.

France’s 2027 budget targets pensions: are foreign retirees affected?

Government is seeking €54 billion in budget savings, including €5.5 billion from pension cutbacks

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

Register to check legitimacy of financial institutions in France

Users can check details including legal and trading names, address and its activities

312km/h: Porsche driver commits biggest speeding offence recorded in France

The foreign driver was travelling at over double the motorway speed limit

France’s ‘virtual points’ for drivers with foreign licences: your questions answered

French nationals who have exchanged their French licence for a foreign one also affected

Volkswagen recall: drivers in France expected to be impacted

Owners can check online if their car is affected

Spider season: which species are most commonly seen in French homes?

France is home to more than 1,700 spider species

Cars queue along an urban road on the Côte d’Azur.

Driving changes in France you may have missed in September 2026

Includes fuel price cap and mobile phone use

Swimming pool owners in France warned over unsafe covers

53 deaths were recorded in private family pools during the summer of 2025

Notaire may have made an error in house purchase - what should I do?

There are several steps before cases can be taken to court

What can I do if neighbour’s hedge leans over into my property?

Neighbours must aim for amicable resolution

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

Notaires sign mounted on an ornate Parisian stone façade beside tall windows.

List: English-speaking notaires able to help with forced heirship issues in France

The Connexion has compiled directory of notaires with experience to help untangle 2021 law heirs' compensatory levy rule

France to relaunch fuel aid scheme and expand it to 5.5 million drivers

The €100 aid will be renewed, with drivers who benefitted from first round of scheme seeing automatic payments

Close-up of a hand holding a diesel fuel nozzle inserted into a vehicle at a petrol station.

French fuel crisis: summer diesel extended; 14% shortages at pumps

Prices hover at record levels but government will not cut fuel taxes

Why getting an overdraft will soon be more difficult in France

Banks retain power to cancel and limit overdrafts

Triptych showing a fire engine, a person using an orange locker and a ventilation unit fan.

11 changes you may have missed in France in September 2026

Changes include new rules for heat pumps and Amazon book deliveries

French mechanics point to foreign brand as most reliable

Its vehicles can travel up to 500,000km without major issues

Practical

Can I take my pet's ashes from France to the UK or US?

How will Thursday’s strikes impact drivers in France?

UK-France capital gains: best time to sell is not always obvious

Are you paying more French social charges than you should?

Trending

France seeks to boost second home sales by cutting capital gains tax

French universal vehicle tax mooted to offset falling fuel revenues

What is expected for November 5 strikes in France?

How will Thursday’s strikes impact drivers in France?

French flea market lamp bought for €20 sells for €251,000

Southern France braces for intense rain: up to 250mm forecast

‘I’ve just had my French citizenship interview: here are the questions I was asked’

Do we need permission to repaint the outside of our French home?

How can we protect our savings for the surviving spouse in France?

Tax dates to note this November in France

Why some French homes and gardens attract more bats

French holidaymaker hit with phone bill of nearly €38,000 after Morocco visit

How a taxi scam in France cost victims thousands - and how to avoid the same fate

Remembrance Day 2026: how to buy a poppy in France

Quick-look list: key changes for residents of France in November 2026

Map: tap water restrictions remain in place across France

City in northern France latest to ban open fireplaces: what can homeowners do?

What changes for residents in France in November

‘I’ve just had my French citizenship interview: here are the questions I was asked’

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

Some workers for British companies now exempt from French work permit requirements

Should you expect Halloween trick-or-treaters in France?

How flat prices have changed near you in France

How to use AI to cost a renovation project in France

Cold-calling in France: 43,000 reports of unwanted calls despite ban

Humane ways to stop rodents getting inside your French home this autumn

Cybersecurity attack sees information of 847,000 French number plates reportedly for sale

France-Spain motorway plans to introduce 100km/h speed limit

Fuel shortages worsen across France, hundreds of stations entirely out of supply

UK health cards in France: what EHICs and GHICs cover

Marchés de Noël 2026: dates and locations across France

14 recent and upcoming changes in France you may have missed in October

Storm Austen aftermath: falling tree damages three homes as new rain alert issued in France

French roads suffer from cracks following summer droughts

Around 700 people poisoned by wild mushrooms in France this autumn

French passport: Which name should you use when booking flights?

I am still getting unwanted sales calls despite new regulation - how can I stop them?

Why a driver was charged €425 on a French motorway for a €1.70 journey

Loi Montagne: Where will winter tyres be mandatory from November 1?

Step by step: what to do if your car is stolen in France

I'm a financial adviser and these are the common mistakes that people make when moving to France

British woman waits months for €1,664 IKEA France refund

ETIAS: Websites offer help with travel permit despite launch delay

Interactive map: Number of second homes in each French department

Wine tourism in France: Best regions and expert tips

Electric car owners in France advised to avoid charging batteries to 100%

France launches national project to help map rural paths and local roads

Explained: How long you have to work to get a French pension

Wild boar keep destroying French garden: how to keep them out

How to access subsidised mental health support in France

Do UK-born dogs need I-CAD registration to travel from France?

Can taxe foncière payments be reduced for people aged over 75?

What are typical French notaire’s fees for a house purchase?

Can we get a loan to finish our property project in France?

Calendar: Dates of strikes and protests in France this October

Why mosquitoes are still biting in France in October and how to get rid of them

France proposes €150,000 tax-free family gifts in 2027 budget

French home seller pays €35,000 over hidden safety order

France’s 'vampire' spider: Is it dangerous and what to do if you find one

Asian ladybirds in France: how to keep them out of your home

How do I transfer my US medical records to France?

Fuel prices in France rise: latest as of October 5, 2026

Where in France is wood-fired heating banned?

France hunting season: dates, signs and safety rules

How to enjoy mushroom-hunting season in France

UK National Insurance: France residents face higher costs

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

France’s 2027 budget targets pensions: are foreign retirees affected?

Several changes come in for residents of France in October 2026

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

Register to check legitimacy of financial institutions in France

312km/h: Porsche driver commits biggest speeding offence recorded in France

France’s ‘virtual points’ for drivers with foreign licences: your questions answered

Volkswagen recall: drivers in France expected to be impacted