Your questions

Travellers queue at a service desk inside a glass-roofed airport terminal in Paris.

Can you visit your second home in France without a return ticket?

Border checks, financial requirements and insurance rules for non-EU visitors

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

Retired reader has already invested €700,000

Do hunters in France have to have eye sight tests after a certain age? Can they hunt up to any age?

Reader asks about older hunters as calls for age limits and medical checks resurface

questions

Does home insurance cover Asian hornet nest removal?

What to know before calling a pest-control specialist

Does EES affect the ability to stay in France after a six-month visa ends?

All entries are digitally recorded with system

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

Concerns over leaving septic tank for winter in French house

Rare for winters to be cold enough for these to freeze

X-ray showing the right shoulder joint, upper chest and spine

Where can I throw away old x-rays in France?

The scan images are kept for two decades by hospitals and have several uses

Gîtes de France sign beside a rural lane and houses in Puy-de-Dôme, France.

Moving to France on a self-employed visa to open gîtes – is it possible?

Savings alone are not necessarily a solution

What can I do about an ant infestation in my property?

Colonies can stretch across several homes, making it difficult to eliminate pests

A builder and power tool get to work on a brick wall.

Do you need to inform your insurance company about renovations to French property?

Insurers will require proof that certain work has been carried out by qualified professionals

Why are so many jobs classed as ‘liberal professions’ in France?

The French system groups a broad range of independent workers under the same legal category

Where in France would the new plan for ‘wildfire’ second-home visas apply?

Visa could allow some Britons easier access to their French property

What happens to items confiscated by French airport security?

Items that are deemed dangerous can not be reclaimed

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

Neighbours must aim for amicable resolution

Fishing boats in a port surrounded by colourful buildings

Do I need licence to use a rowing boat 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

Why are we seeing so many food recalls in France?

We review whether recall notices are really increasing

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

Home insurance policies often cover damage from pets

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

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

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

Do taxe foncière exemptions extend to second homes in France?

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

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

Stolen components feed a black market in France and abroad

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

Some documents are subject to length or recency requirements

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

Does travelling with an EU/Swiss spouse affect the Schengen 90/180 days rule for British citizens?

We look at how family links affect Schengen area travel rules

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

How to respond if you find Asian hornets nearby

When does ‘mosquito season’ end in France?

Health authorities track progress of mosquito-borne diseases

Will France introduce a per-kilometre tax on electric vehicles similar to the UK's new EV tax?

The UK is preparing to charge electric car drivers according to how far they travel

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

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

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 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

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

Confusion remains over the road rules for yellow jackets

Can I reuse shower or washing-up water in my French garden during drought?

Recent rule changes look to improve water recycling but systems face strict rules

Yellow La Poste mailbox on a Paris pavement next to a stone wall.

How will proposed changes to La Poste affect people in France?

Slower letters, fewer postboxes are included under suggested reforms

Two movers in uniform carry a grey sofa in a bright room.

Can we donate furniture to French charity shop before move?

Websites help residents find local collection services

Can I travel between France and UK with national ID card and not French passport?

EU and UK both have electronic border systems in place

Roadside radar speed camera warning sign against trees and blue sky.

What happens if a speed camera flashes two cars at once in France?

Some modern speed cameras have lane-distinguishing technology

What happens if I fail to renew my carte de séjour?

Why keeping your residency card valid matters if you are a foreigner in France

Solar panels mounted on a terracotta-tiled roof with trees in the background.

Do solar panel electricity sellers in France need to sign up for electronic billing?

Changes to system applies to sales subject to VAT

French VLS-T visa explained: can you leave and re-enter France?

A common question from second-home owners planning longer stays in France

What is the best way to find weather alerts in my department in France?

State forecaster issues official alerts for many weather disturbances

Does free legal help exist in France?

Some insurance policies include coverage of legal fees

Why am I getting so many ‘consent’ emails from French newsletters?

The emails are linked to a new guidance from France’s data protection authority

Charred residential buildings stand amid scorched ground after a wildfire in Lege, France.

Why does French natural disaster insurance not cover wildfires?

Since most wildfires are caused by human activity, this affects insurance claims

What are criteria to apply for France's electric car leasing scheme?

Third year of popular programme sees 50,000 contracts available

Repairing cracked walls in our French home: what help is available?

Millions of homes at risk with early prevention and corrections now encouraged

Why does it take so long to get air conditioning approved for a flat in France?

Unit installation requires wider approval from co-owners

French wildfires: how are people told to evacuate? We do not have a French phone for texts

More than 200,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated in recent days following as blazes have spread

Converted French barn with tiled roof, shutters and grassy garden under leafy trees.

Can we save tax by stopping renting out French gîtes before selling property?

Reader has been advised that they could have to pay additional amounts on parts of the property available to holidaymakers

Flying to France from UK or US? How carry-on liquid rules vary by airport

Who sets the limits, why they were introduced, and what passengers should check before going through airport security

How can I prevent mosquitoes in my garden and home?

Tiger mosquitoes transmit several tropical diseases and are now present across all French regions

How can I know if the speed limit is 80 or 90km/h on French roads?

An interactive map shows which departments have restored the higher limit and how many kilometres of roads are affected

What income level allows access to France’s free or low-cost top-up insurance?

A recent change has simplified access for certain benefit recipients

Which areas of France are most prone to tornadoes?

Official observatory tracks violent storms

Horse grazing in a grassy fenced pasture with trees behind.

Is it complicated in France to rent one of my fields to neighbours for their horses?

Rural land contracts provide tenants with many rights

Green pharmacy cross sign on a sunny street in Nice, France, between tall buildings.

What restrictions are introduced when France faces a heatwave?

Local authorities can implement several temporary rules during hot weather

A view of a private swimming pool at a home

Are we responsible if we let neighbours use our French pool when away?

Pool ‘squatting’ is an increasingly worrying problem for owners

A model of a house with construction items, a calculator, and DPE rating on a table

Do French renovation grants need to be repaid?

Payments are typically made directly to tradespeople rather than homeowners