Find your way in France

Visas & Permits

You’re new to France, but hey, your mate got his carte de séjour, whatever that is, only last year and he’s already got his business up and going. Easy-peasy!

Well, no.

Law, procedures and terminology change frequently. What worked last year might not still apply this year: your friend fell under the old law, while you’re faced with the new. Even when the process is similar, you’ll have to follow the right steps in the right order with the right documents: apply for a ‘titre de séjour‘ (a visa), then a ‘carte de séjour‘ (the card that shows you are allowed to live in France, and for how long). If you intend to work in France, you need a ‘permis de travail’ (a work permit); and if you want to invest here, you will have to prove you can invest a minimum sum before you’ll obtain a permit. 

You can settle in France through a variety of routes, but which is the best for you? And which course of action will limit your waiting time? If you’re confused, you’re not alone: the system is baffling for foreigners, and your French or European friends are unlikely to know any more than you.

What, for example, is ANEF? What is a préfecture and what’s its role in visa procedures? What’s ‘filiation‘ on a birth certificate? Do you really need your divorce certificate of 10 years ago? Why can’t your French mate translate your documents? And how about the requirements to learn French: doesn’t everyone speak English these days?

I can help you through all these steps or any one of them you’re stuck on.

Utilities

You have the keys to your new home, bought or rented.

Next step: you need utilities – electricity, water, fuel for heating if your system is old-fashioned, internet, telephone, TV channels. Should you continue with what the previous owner or tenant used, or look for better deals? What are your contractual rights under French and European law? What happens if something goes wrong? And ack, oil prices are soaring: can you change from an old fuel tank to a heat pump? Does your new home have fibre internet, or is that coming soon?

I can help you with all these decisions so you don’t end up overpaying or stuck with a bad contract.

Taxes

Everyone’s favourite subject, especially in France!

The French tax authorities make it easy if your sole source of income is your salary: France has a pay-as-you-earn system, and your employer’s payroll will deduct your taxes monthly when your salary is due.

But what if you have other sources of income, such as rentals, pensions or your own business? What if you have income from abroad? When is your first tax return due, and in what format? How do you get your tax number and what is a Public Finance account? What expenses can you declare? Why should you declare your cleaner? (There are tax credits in it for you). 

Can you get away without paying any tax? (Simple answer: don’t. France has some of the best tax-dodging sniffers in Europe). It’s worth setting up your account the year of your arrival, but your first tax return is due the following year, to deadlines that depend on where you live.

Finances Publiques also deal with business taxes, and you must create a separate account (compte professionnel) as soon as you have started your business. I can advise you on your various tax situations and assist you for any simple tax returns.

If you need more specialised help with your tax planning and returns, I can help you find an expert-comptable (chartered accountant).

French Schooling

Young Emma and Oliver have been learning French on Duolingo and taking skiing and mountain bike lessons, but holidays don’t last forever. School is one of the easiest and most common ways of integrating in France, which has a national, streamlined system.

If French isn’t your child’s first language, you will need a school that offers additional language support, which many state schools do in areas where foreign families live.

Beyond that, you might wonder what kind of school would be best for Oliver and Emma: the secular state system, which is of reliably high standard with well-trained teachers? Or do you prefer a religious school? (usually Catholic, although Protestant, Jewish and Muslim schools also exist in some areas). Do you know that private schools are subsidised in France and form part of the ‘Éducation Nationale‘, the national educational system, in exchange for fulfilling certain quality and curriculum criteria?

And what if your child would benefit from an international option (bilingual schools, International Baccalaureate, preparation for university entrance outside of France): where can you find one?

If Emma or Oliver have special educational needs, what support will they get? How can they obtain a diagnosis if you suspect dyslexia, ADHD, ASD or other neurodivergence? Is home schooling legal in France, and if so, under what conditions? (simple answer: it’s subject to strict criteria, and is rare).

I can answer these questions and help you and your children find the perfect school for them. I can also act as your interpreter in PTA meetings and other meetings with teachers and school authorities.

Your Business

There are many ways to start a new business in France: If you provide services to many clients and don’t employ anyone, or are a tradesperson offering only local work (a plumber, electrician, landscaper, builder, etc.), what’s a good way to start your business?

What if you’re an artisan making and selling handmade goods? Perhaps you’re an international contractor or freelancer looking for more security without losing your independence? What if you have a granny flat you want to let during the holidays? Should you keep the same structure throughout the life of your company or modify it once it starts growing? What if you’re a sole trader who must drive hundreds of kilometres a week? When your company is ready to start employing someone, do you need to change structure? What if you and a partner want to start a business together? When your company reaches the VAT threshold (‘TVA‘ in French), what must you do and when?

I help you think through your business plan and structure. I assist you with the mechanics of setting up your new business and steer you towards any specialised professional support you might need (e.g. to build a complex company structure, or to register a patent or a trademark).

Once your company is registered, I guide you through opening an URSSAF account, explain how to declare monthly or quarterly, how best to pay and stay on top of your URSSAF payments (‘contributions‘ in French), and what these contributions are for.

I advise you on all your duties:  opening a professional bank account, taking out professional third party indemnity insurance, registering with a professional body. I also help you decide on options like loss of earnings insurance and joining the regional chamber of commerce.

Down the road, I advise on your VAT affiliation and assist you when the time comes to change your company structure. If you want to change your services – from building garages to teaching yoga, say – I steer you through the process.

Diplomas

Do you need diplomas?

Yes, we’re going to talk about the R-word! Europeans like it and the French adore it. I’m speaking of regulations, and in particular, of the regulations concerning professions and trades.

Many are obvious: there’s no country in the world where you can practice medicine without a full medical diploma awarded by a recognised university and medical body. Some are obvious, but still raise additional questions: what do you need to be an accountant in France?

Does France practise accountancy in the same way as Britain, Australia, Germany or Singapore? (Quick answer: no. But some services are similar). Some regulations are specific to France. Do you know, for example, that you can only call yourself a massage therapist if you have a recognised physiotherapy diploma? (‘kinésithérapie‘ in France). Other forms of massage (wellness, Swedish, sports, Thai, etc.) have also been regulated since 2024, so you still need a serious diploma in massage, although not in physiotherapy.

When you set up independently or seek a job in France, what diplomas do you need for which trade, profession or service? How do you get your existing qualifications recognised? To which professional body should you be affiliated, if any? Which services and industries are unregulated? Lists of regulated professions and trades are updated yearly: are you up to date with your diplomas and continuing education? Do you know if your profession or trade is about to be regulated? If so, do you need additional qualifications?

I help steer you through the regulatory imbroglio of French professional and trades diplomas,  and advise you on any additional step you might need to take to be, or stay, up to date in your specific line of work.

Employement

Are you planning to sign an employment contract? Do you want to leave your job without losing your unemployment rights? Have you lost your job? Are you an auto-entrepreneur freelancer? Do you want to employ salaried employees or home help or subcontract work to freelancers? You will need to understand how the employment and unemployment systems work in France.

I help you set up your business so you can employ people or work with freelancers, and give you advice if you are an employee or negotiating an employment contract.  

I also help you set up your home help declaration space (CESU), which falls under a specific legal scheme that allows you to claim income tax credits. I stay up to date so you don’t have to and if you need more specialised advice, I can find you a reputable employment lawyer.

French Healthcare System

You’ve probably heard the French public health system works well. It does, but it’s also quite different from systems in other European countries or in North America. If you are a business owner, an employee or retired on a pension, you are entitled to be enrolled in the state health insurance, called ‘Assurance Maladie‘, in your French département of residence. In order to be enrolled you need a social security number on a card called ‘Carte Vitale‘.

People who move to France as adults to work or retire have to request that card, and do so by furnishing required official documents (passport, long-form birth certificate, carte de séjour if applicable) to their employer, to URSSAF or to the pension authorities. I will assist you with the paperwork and the follow-up phone calls to your département’s Assurance Maladie.

In addition to the state health insurance, you must take out a private health insurance, called a mutuelle, that covers up to 30% of what is not covered by the state. I help you find the best health insurance for your situation, your family and your needs. Once you’ve enrolled in a mutuelle, I’ll ensure that the Assurance Maladie of your département receives your mutuelle information so that the two coordinate seamlessly.

Your Property

Do you own a flat, house or chalet? Are you looking to buy one? Owning your own home will anchor you in the local community, and you might also be looking to let to holidaymakers. I can act as your representative or interpreter with estate agents and the notaire, and advise you as to any important issues linked to a specific property you are thinking to buy.

Once you own a home or an investment property, you might want to build an extension or garage, and need planning permission. If you intend to do the work yourself or use non-specialist labour, I advise you on the planning process and help with your application; or refer you to a registered project manager.

Much of French property ownership involves a system called ‘copropriété‘ or ‘coprop’. If you buy in a coprop, you must be aware of the financial implications, as you become co-responsible for the common areas of the whole coprop. I advise ahead of purchase and also once you are an owner in a coprop as to your rights and obligations within a coprop. I help you prepare for the yearly meeting or act as your representative. I also help you negotiate with your fellow coprop owners and with the coprop administrator.

Negotiation Support

Living in France, you will often have to negotiate with French neighbours, teachers, estate agents, salespeople or business contacts. As a French-speaking negotiator, I can advise you ahead of all negotiations and negotiate for you or accompany you to any negotiation you wish to conduct in person. For example, I can support you in a car purchase, a neighbourly dispute or in querying an invoice.

Driving

Do you intend to drive and buy a car or utility vehicle? I help you negotiate a purchase (or sale!), check that your car has all the necessary paperwork, including the ‘contrôle technique‘ document, and help you find a cost-effective insurance.

If you live here for more than a year and come from outside the EU, you will need to convert your driving licence into a French licence. I help you through that procedure.

Cross-Border Support

If you are buying property or taking a job in Switzerland, while living in France, I can advise you on any cross-border issue that might crop up, and any condition you will have to fulfill. 

Trusted Referrals

Are you after trusted professionals? Do you need someone to advise you legally, look after your accounting, project manage your refurbishments, clean your house or office, landscape your garden, repair your plumbing, care for your children in your absence, or offer other services? I provide referrals to local or regional professionals. I can also request quotes for you and negotiate on price and conditions.