Are you now fully committed to moving to France?
Firstly, congratulations!
Moving to France will be an exciting experience whether you have decided to move for either lifestyle, work, retirement, or other reasons. Although, making sure that you have planned ahead of time and know what to expect will improve your long-term experience.
Anglo French has over 30 years of experience in removals between the UK and France. So we decided to compile this guide of the top things to know before moving to France to assist you with your relocation.
You've probably already done a lot of research into what life would be like in France, but deciding where in France you'd like to live is a big step. Knowing what different locations in France have to offer is one of the most important things to know before moving to France.
What has attracted you about moving to France?
Try to take everything into consideration about what it is you want from your new home. This is your chance to start again somewhere fresh and new!
France is a gorgeous country, which is renowned for its picturesque vineyards and incredible food. It’s a place of culture, art and history, giving you everything you could ask for in a place to live.
When moving to France, you are spoilt for choice with the variety of places to live in. From thriving cities like Paris to calming countryside in Luberon, where you pick to live depends on what works best with your life and what you enjoy. We understand that this variety can be intimidating so we wanted to discuss some of the possible areas you could move to and the advantages of each.
Living in the thriving Capital city of France, Paris, provides iconic landmarks on your doorstep such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. The 19th-century cityscape of Paris is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River SeineIt. Paris is the epicentre of art, fashion, and culture.
Paris is known for its high fashion, where renowned brands such as Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, to name a few, have originated. Paris Fashion Week is also one of the most popular attractions in the city.
Paris is also known for having world class cuisine. Soupe à l'oignon, Coq au vin, Chocolate soufflé, and Boeuf bourguignon are just some of the traditional French cuisine classics.
With a population of around 460,000, this compact city provides everything you need at a walking distance. With an almost Mediterranean climate and good transport connections around the city and to the airport, it’s hard to see why people wouldn’t want to live in this beautiful city.
With a spectacular coastline and lush countryside, it's not surprising that Brittany is a popular destination for expats. Brittany is defined by its traditional character and retains a distinct cultural identity, reflecting its Celtic heritage. Living in Brittany as a Brit, Britain is never far away as ferries and flights allow for easy connection.
A must-know before moving to France is how to organise your French Visa. France is a member of the European Union (EU), so if you are an EU/EEA citizen, you have the right to live there.
However, due to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, you will need to check your visa requirements as well as French government rules when applying for a Visa. This also applies to any country that is not a member of the EU.
Another important thing to know before moving to France is how to transfer your logins or which company to rely on to assist you with this.
When you move all of your belongings into your new home in France, you will feel more at ease. Anglo French has been providing full removals to France for over 30 years, and in that time we've helped many people move their belongings to almost every location in France without any hassle.
Check out our services, which include:
Full Removals,
Vehicle Transport,
Furniture Delivery,
Packing,
Part-removals,
Man with a van,
Storage,
and Currency Exchange.
Learning a new language can be both exciting and intimidating. When relocating to France, learning French is a must. The French are notorious for being unforgiving of foreigners who do not make an effort to learn their language.
There are many ways to learn French nowadays, such as downloading apps and teaching yourself, or attending online classes or lessons.
Another thing to consider before moving to France is learning about French culture. French art is well-known for its beauty. The Pompidou Centre, as well as classics such as The Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo in the Louvre, are all worth a visit.
When relocating to France, it is also important to know that you will have access to excellent healthcare. France reimburses approximately 70% of your medical costs, and French citizens or long-term residents pay a monthly contribution. If you have a medical condition or a chronic condition, the French government will pay for your medical expenses in full.
Private healthcare options are also available in France, which may be better suited to your needs, lifestyle, or family.
France is known for its long lunch breaks, during which many French people eat out or go out for drinks. The French also have a legal 35-hour work week, which means they work fewer hours.
Some French companies will also give you up to 22 days of vacation if you work extra hours. With 30 days off per year and one public holiday, the amount of annual paid leave is nearly among the highest in the world.
In August, many employees leave Paris. Persians leave the city to go to the beaches, which means that many small businesses close down.
You may well find that the transport around France is much more efficient than England's transport system. France's high-speed rail network is the ninth biggest in the world. The speed combined with comfortable carriages and reasonable fares gives you a great way to explore the country.
You can even find double-decker trains - some of which travel at up to 320 km/h.
You should also take a look at our super useful checklist for Moving to France from the UK!
Now that you have learnt the essentials to moving to France, all you need is a reliable removals service to get you there.
Get a free quote from us today with no-obligation
Contact us today for high quality, reliable and stress free removals services.
Click here for your no-obligation quote, use our contact form to enquire about your upcoming move to France, or call our team today at 01237 431393.
Dear Jasmine
Margaret Morrison, Sussex
Dear Anglo French Team,
Many thanks to all of you form me and my family which thanks to Nuno and Co are nicely settling in France and despite the stress related to moving a household with young kids, an office and a mother of a lathe it was all made that little bit easier due to you. Many thanks again!
I wish you and the people around you a joyous and lovely Christmas break and all the best for the year ahead of us!
Nikolay, London
Just a quick message to say thanks for the safe delivery of my furniture from Charente, France to London - the coordination was great as was the care, I really appreciated it, especially the safe delivery of the grandfather clock and rocking horse, which were my grandmother's, and I was worried about! So - a big thank you - I will happily recommend you.
Vicky Edwards, Charente
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