France is one of the best countries in the world to work and live in. It is always a big decision to relocate to another country, but moving to France is something you won’t regret. France has a huge international expat community where everybody can feel right at home. There are beautiful cities like; Paris, Lyon, Nice or Marseille where a lot of expats live. All these cities have a rich cultural heritage and a beautiful city center. Living in France is great and it does not matter where you come from, you will feel right at home. We have created an expat guide with tips and tricks to make sure the relocation to France will be as smooth as possible.
First things first: administration
There is a lot of bureaucracy in France and it is important to be well-informed before moving here. Some nationalities will require a French visa to travel to France and/or a French residence permit to live in France for longer than three months. Find out if you need a French visa or residence permit, or look into studying in France. Typically, European and Swiss citizens moving to France can live and work without requiring any French permit. It comes in handy when you have an employment contract when moving here because you will need it when registering at the local municipality. You will also need this when opening a bank account or for receiving a credit card. There are also of course items you can’t take with you, but if you have common sense you can figure out yourself.
Useful guides to get you started
Get connected: Internet
Almost every internet provider in France provides a stable connection and good customer services. Not everybody uses the internet in the same way and therefore it is important to know what kind of user you are before engaging in a long-term contract. If you use the Internet just for opening your mail or for gaming? These are the questions you need to ask yourself beforehand. We have selected the best internet providers that offer a transparent and clear contract to non-French speakers. There are multiple internet service providers on the market and with our tips, we will ensure that you sign-up for a subscription that fits your needs.
Get connected: Mobile subscription
France is one of the market leaders when it comes to mobile telecommunications and there are a lot of different mobile providers on the market. You can choose between a contract (“abonnement mobile” in French) or a prepaid card. Choosing a mobile contract, however, can save you costs because the longer the contract, the less you have to pay. Using your current (non-French) contract can be costly on long-term since you will be charged for incoming and outgoing calls. Roaming will also get really expensive and that is why it would be smart to get a mobile contract or a prepaid card.
Useful guides to get you settled
French Culture:
Let’s be honest; what is there not to love about French culture. Wine, cheese, good food, and friendly people. The French also know a thing or two about drinking and are among the world’s largest consumers of alcohol (only the Luxembourgeois drink more!), although you rarely see a very drunk French person. As every French person knows, intelligence, sexual prowess, and driving skills are all greatly enhanced by a few stiff drinks. It can be difficult to get to know local French people when you just have moved to this beautiful country. Luckily, there are many dating sites on the market in France and there is plenty of choices.