This year, Forbes ranked France as being one of the top ten retirement destinations.
Retiring to France doesn’t just have to be a pipe dream. But there are four things to keep in mind when researching your move. Here’s how to make it happen:
The first step is deciding where you’d like to live. Brittany is a popular choice for expats, especially for those that are looking for mild summers, a lower cost of living, and a beautiful coastline. The Bordeaux region offers a slightly warmer climate, high-speed trains connecting to Paris and easy access to Spain, and is a haven for wine connoisseurs. Provence, another favorite among expats, boasts proximity to the French Riviera, the bustling city of Aix-en-Provence, world-famous lavender fields, and a warm Mediterranean climate.
With its warm mediterranean climate and picturesque lavender fields, the Provence region of France is a top destination for expats. Photo by Alexey Fedenkov.
Before you retire to France, be sure of whether you do or don’t need a visa. If you have a European passport, you don’t have to worry about this next step – your passport functions as your residence permit. If you are married to a European, your spouse will need to ask for a residence permit. If neither of you have a European passport, you’ll most likely want to apply for a long stay visitor’s visa. In either of these cases, you can contact us for a consultation by filling out the form below or emailing yuval@thefrenchway.eu.
A big draw for retiring to France, is its socialized healthcare. So how does it work?
It takes some time to be accepted into the French healthcare system. Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko.
Unfortunately, getting accepted into the healthcare system takes time. During your first year, you’ll need your own private health insurance. This is called “global” or “expat” insurance. Here is a comprehensive list of top insurance companies for expats:
After the first year, you can apply for your social security number and cancel your private health insurance plan. Once you receive your social security number, you will be in the French healthcare system. While the government covers most costs, you might decide you want mutual insurance, called a “mutuelle” to take care of what’s not reimbursed under the French social health care plan.
Learning French is essential in making the most of your retirement in France. While you might get away with speaking only English in larger cities like Paris, Lyon and Nice, you may find daily life challenging in smaller towns and villages if you don’t speak or understand the language.
It’s important to have some knowledge of the local language before making the move to another country, and online classes are a great way to learn before you come. Photo by Kampus Production.
It’s best to start learning before you arrive. We offer online French classes to ensure that you won’t be lost in translation when you begin your new life in France. There are also affordable in person classes run by the local municipalities. Once you decide on a location, you can contact its city hall directly to find out more about their classes.
Thinking of making a scouting trip to France? Find out here whether or not you’ll need travel authorization before you come.
The French Way is a relocation and expat support agency located in Paris helping expats to make the most out of their relocation to France at any stage of their life. Contact us today and we'll be happy to help!
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