France is a beautiful country, rich in history, culture and entertainment. Many want to emigrate to France, whether it is a temporary or permanent move. With a few simple practical steps and proper preparation, moving can be easier than you think.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Moving to Work
Step 1. Contact the French Consulate or the French Embassy in your area
You will need to request documents for the type of visa you want to apply for. It is advisable to start inquiring by visiting the Embassy website, in order to be prepared on what to ask the officials.
- Most countries have French embassies that you can turn to for information.
- If you are not a citizen of a state of the European Union, you will probably need to apply for a tourist visa first. With this type of visa you will be allowed to stay in France for up to one year.
- Upon expiry of the tourist visa you will be given the opportunity to apply for a one-year permit, renewable on an annual basis. After one year you will be required to pay French taxes and obtain a driving license (permis de conduire) there in order to drive.
- If you are already a citizen of a European Union country, you will not need a visa to move to France. Citizens of the European Union, in fact, have the right to live and work in any country of the Union.
Step 2. Submit your visa application
If possible, send the documents to the French Consulate closest to the city where you live. If it is not possible to send the documents, you will have to make an appointment at the Embassy and present yourself in person.
- For a visa, the following are usually required: one or more photos per passport, a fee to be paid, a form to fill out and sign, health insurance, a proof of economic independence and your original passport, plus any other documents.
- Keep at least one copy of the documentation - you may need it later to identify the case.
Step 3. Wait for your visa
The Embassy will notify you when you can go to collect the visa in person or will send it to you by post if you have previously requested the shipment at your own expense.
The visa will show up as an official sticker on one of the pages of your passport
Step 4. Find a job
Once you arrive in France you will need to start working. This means that you will have to start looking for a job before you even leave or just after you arrive. In any case, you will need to have a Curriculum Vitae (résumé) and a cover letter in French with you. These must be drawn up in French standards, which may be different from those of your country.
- Search the internet for examples of what a professional résumé should look like. Whether you want to write it yourself or ask a professional to do it for you, it is good to inquire about the various types first.
- If you don't speak French, consider looking for a job as a tutor for your native language or as an au pair with a French family.
Part 2 of 4: Relocating for Study Reasons
Step 1. Choose a course
One of the easiest ways to get a visa for France is to have an academic motivation. You can apply directly to a French institution to enroll in a degree program, or you can find a course affiliated with a university in your country.
Most institutions offer the possibility of studying abroad or cultural exchange programs that allow you to study at a French university for a semester
Step 2. Apply to study in France
You will have to apply to a French institution as a foreign student or through a university in your country to apply for an Erasmus or exchange program.
You will likely have to pay a fee, write an enrollment essay, provide official documentation, and submit one or more cover letters
Step 3. Apply for a visa
Contact the local French Embassy to apply for a visa. Students admitted to French institutions are allowed to have a study visa, for example the "Long Term Study Visa", which is compulsory for all students who plan to stay in France for more than 3 months.
You will have to make an appointment at the nearest French Embassy, apply by presenting all the documentation and finally wait to receive the visa after approval
Part 3 of 4: Making Preparations Before Departure
Step 1. Learn the language
If you are about to move to France, try to learn at least a little French first. You will need to be able to communicate with people in order to rent a house, find a job, order food at restaurants, and in many other moments of daily life. Learning the language is essential.
- You can hire a French tutor, attend university classes, use online programs like Rosetta Stone or fun learning apps like Duolingo.
- If you move to a large metropolitan area like Paris, it will be easy to find many people who speak English regularly. If you are about to move to a more rural area, however, French will probably be the only language of your daily life.
Step 2. Decide where to move
Where you move to may depend on your job, or you may have more freedom of choice. If you have a choice, think about where you would like to go to live in France.
- If you prefer to move to a city with many job opportunities and where integration for a foreigner is easier, consider Paris, Toulouse and Lyon.
- If you want to experience the picturesque French countryside, consider moving to a rural area with few inhabitants instead.
Step 3. Find accommodation
You can search for a furnished home, or you can ship your stuff and choose an unfurnished home. There are many accommodation options in France, so try to figure out which one is best for you.
- The Internet is a great way to look for accommodation, especially on sites intended for those coming from abroad. Try searching for something on SeLoger, PAP or Lodgis.
- If you want to find a traditional apartment there are a few things you need to consider. For example, if you do not earn an amount of money 3 times higher than the rental price, you will need to provide a guarantor who will sign the contract with you and will be legally responsible for paying the rent if you do not. The person in question must receive a salary in France, so he cannot be a parent living in your country of origin. This clause could pose a problem for those moving from abroad.
- If you plan to stay in France for less time (months instead of years), consider renting accommodation on sites like AirBnb. This option may be a little more expensive than a traditional rental, but it will save you the trouble of looking for an apartment yourself once you arrive in France, finding a guarantor, signing insurance, connecting the utilities to the new home, furnishing it and etc.
Step 4. Book a flight to France
Search for flights on the internet until you find the best deal. Take some time to sift through all the options. If you are not sure you know how to do it, you can always rely on a travel agency.
- When booking your flight, always consider stopovers and travel times. If you travel with a lot of baggage, the more stopovers, the higher the chances that your baggage will not arrive at its destination. If you take a pet with you on the plane, it is advisable to pay a little more for a direct flight and thus limit travel hours.
- Remember that round-trip flights are almost always cheaper than one-way flights. So, even if you don't plan to return to your country of origin, consider buying a return ticket anyway.
Step 5. Get your belongings to France
Ship valuables that you cannot take with you on the plane. There are several shipping services you can use, but be aware of the restrictions imposed by the French government on shipping personal goods.
- Restrictions may vary, but shipping is often prohibited: firearms, ammunition, meat, dairy products, plants, narcotics, narcotics, medicines, precious metals, money, counterfeit items, and wild and companion animals.
- If you want to bring a pet with you to France, you will need to make sure that its vaccinations are up to date (especially rabies). Your veterinarian will also have to certify that the animal is healthy and able to travel and possibly you should have the declaration stamped by the export office of your country. Finally, make sure that the animal has a microchip. France may require additional security measures for the importation of an animal from certain countries.
- Before shipping anything to France, consult the French Consulate to make sure you are well informed about the latest restrictions.
Part 4 of 4: Settle down after arrival
Step 1. Arrive in France
Once in France, you will need to pass border controls to enter the country. Your passport and visa will be checked, but you may be asked for further documentation before letting you pass.
- If you arrive in France with a pre-existing visa, you will probably save some time at border controls: the government authorities, in fact, will not check your documents so scrupulously, since they know that you have already followed the entire process with the Embassy.
- If you need to obtain a visa upon arrival, the authorities may ask you questions about the trip, ask for proof that you will leave the country within a certain amount of time or want to view various documents. Be prepared for anything.
Step 2. Apply for residency
Once you arrive in France you will need to apply for residency, even if you already have a visa. To do this, you must send the form received together with the visa to your OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration), then wait for their reply. You will be asked to personally go to the local prefecture to undergo a short medical examination and finalize your request.
- Once the process is complete you will be given a residence permit (carte de séjour) which will be valid for one year, regardless of the length of your visa.
- It is possible that you need to bring additional documents to your appointment at the OFII, but in that case you will be notified in time.
- You cannot send the request to OFII until you are on French soil.
Step 3. Open a bank account
If you want to move permanently to France, consider opening an account with a French bank. By doing so, you will save on any commission fees that you may pay for the use of a foreign bank account and credit card.
- To open an account you will need your passport and proof of residence, which can be a copy of your rental contract or a document from the French institution where you are studying.
- You may have to wait about a week for the new French credit card to arrive in the mail.
- Some of the most popular banks in France are: LCL, BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Banque Populaire and La Banque Postale.
Step 4. Enroll your children in a French school
If you live in France, you and your children are entitled to free education. School is compulsory from 6 to 16 years old, so your children will have to attend it.
- To enroll your children for the first time you will need to contact the school services at the local court (or mairie, in French). They will help you find the closest school for your child to your residence.
- You can also consider enrolling your child in an international school to help them fit in more easily, especially if they don't speak French. However, this type of school is very expensive.
