Moving to France could be a great idea. The country is among the most economically stable in Europe and offers a great deal of opportunities for everyone. Traditionally, industries like energy, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are well developed. Professional growth is definitely an achievable goal. Moreover, the country has an incredibly rich culture – historical cities, interesting events, fashion, and of course, the supreme French cuisine. And all this is enhanced by unique nature. It sounds tempting doesn’t it?
With good preparation, moving to France could be an easy task!
Do we need to know French?
Many support the theory that they simply need to settle in a certain country and then, they would quickly and easily learn the foreign language just by diving into it. This would hardly work with French. It requires a proper surrounding, with intensive communication and numerous hours of practice. Moreover, French people care strongly about their language and are not quite forgiving when it comes to mistakes. In order for you to find your place in the French community, you would definitely need to know the language. You could consider an intensive course in French before you move. And if you are struggling with French, you would need to at least know English.
Think about your living arrangements
Finding a new home is not an easy part of the moving experience. If you’re changing your location because of a new job, then your employer will most likely take care of renting an apartment but this is not always the case. Usually, everyone has their dream place but before making that dream come true, they need to settle for something temporary. It is simply more affordable and easier to find. Renting such a place will allow you to weigh the pros and cons of different areas and decide on the perfect home for you and your family. On the other hand, buying a place could also be a good idea. In this case, you need to keep in mind that prices outside Paris are significantly lower.
You need to know that oftentimes rentals have no furniture. Usually, landlords let tenants have the option to create their own design and coziness. Additionally, many buildings in cities like Paris don’t have an elevator. Anyway, you could trust an experienced company to help you out.
What to expect from the working environment?
In case your French hasn’t reached the required level yet, it would be good if you find someone to translate your CV. This way, you might be more successful in finding a job. Keep in mind that French is a key requirement to many vacancies. Great jobs come with great payment too. The gross salary in France is €3000, which means a net income of around €2250. Social benefits in France are among the highest in EU. The good news for the EU and EEA citizens is that they don’t need work permissions. The same goes for visas, due to the Freedom of Movement Act. For UK citizens, however, the situation is now different, and current visa requirements need to be checked.
You might not be aware of it, but traditionally, companies in the country give a quite long lunch break. It could reach up to two hours. It’s plenty of time to walk around the small alleys with a cup of fresh coffee, to visit a charming little pastry shop, or simply to spend time with your new colleagues and get to know them better. An interesting fact is that France has a standard 35-hour workweek.
Moving to France with children
Moving with children comes with the need to think about proper education. This is one of the first tasks that must be completed before moving. In most cases, the first choice that needs to be done is between a public and a private school. Public schools are available to all citizens of France but classes are only taught in French, and if children don’t know it well, they are going to be facing serious issues.
One of France’s advantages is that it offers great opportunities for your children to enrich their knowledge and culture. Entrance to National Museums is free of charge for those who are under 18 years of age.
Moving to France with a pet
Moving with a pet to a different country will definitely help you get used to the new surroundings. There are strict rules on how this should happen. You must acquaint yourself with regulations and consider different scenarios. All pets entering France must be micro-chipped and vaccinated. Microchips accepted by the country are the ones complying with the ISO 11784 standard or with Annex A to ISO 11785. Additionally, AVID 9 and AVID 10 are also accepted. The pet would need to acquire an EU Health Certificate as well. You should definitely take more time for research so there won’t be any unwanted surprises.
A driver’s license in France
For citizens of EU member states, there will not be any issues related to their driver’s license. They can use the one they have already obtained. However, it would be useful to get a local document issued as well. Allowed to drive in the country are persons above 18 years of age. Documents of drivers who are citizens of countries outside the EU, are valid for up to 12 months. After that, they must obtain a French license. This applies to the United Kingdom as well.
We advise you to get acquainted with the traffic regulations in France before driving there.
Importing your vehicle comes with certain requirements as well. You would need to fill out some papers. And if your car has been manufactured more than 4 years ago, you would need a roadworthiness test. Something else you should get is a Certificate of Conformity, which confirms that the vehicle you own complies with European Union standards.
Don’t forget about your health insurance
France stands out with a high-quality healthcare system with universal coverage. Age and economic status are not a factor when it comes to receiving care. According to French law, all citizens should be insured, and this includes the newcomers as well. Insurance could be public or private. It is important that you research your options beforehand and take action. UK citizens, for example, can’t access French healthcare before spending a certain period of time in the country, or before starting a job.
Nature and locations
When you make a decision to move, you should get informed about the specifics of the location you have chosen. France is a vast country and each region has its own specific speech, cuisine and dynamics. On one hand, there are the quiet rural areas with mesmerising nature, and on the other, the fast-paced cities with opportunities and entertainment. Life on the coast is certainly different from the one in the foothills of the mountains. The weather could also vary, although, the Atlantic Ocean prevents extreme changes. In summer, days are warm, long and sunny, whereas in winter, the French enjoy a snowy picture, especially in areas around the Alps and Pyrenees, where heavy snowfall is observed.
Movega Removals will help you move to France
Attention, effort and the right choice of help are necessary in the process of moving to France. The most crucial task is to find a suitable company to trust with your belongings. The Movega Removals team recognises the seriousness of this mission and the responsibility it requires. We do not simply move luggage, but memories and important parts of your life. More than 800 clients from 33 countries have trusted us already.
Learn more about our service and contact us by calling +44 (0) 20 8050 4748, by using our chatbot or our contact form.
