What to Know About Moving to France from the USA (2024)

France and the United States have social, political, and cultural ties that go back hundreds of years. But even if the two countries weren’t so closely intertwined, it’s easy to see why moving to France is a dream for so many Americans.

France offers an excellent standard of living and great job opportunities. It’s also the perfect place to enjoy regional travel adventures and day trips. If you’re one of the many people who dream of moving to France from the USA, there are many things to consider before making this decision.

Learn about visa requirements, health insurance, the cost of living, and more logistics about moving to France now.

Obtaining the Legal Documents Required

The first step in moving to France from the U.S. is to obtain a long-stay visa. This type of visa will allow you to stay in the country for more than 90 days up to a period of one year. There are different types of long-stay visas that you can apply for, including work visas, student visas, and visas for those who wish to retire abroad in France.

Within a year of moving to France, you’ll need to apply for a carte de séjour (French resident permit). To do so, you must provide the French government with multiple documents:

• Valid passport
• Long-term visa
• Completed application form
• Proof that you have a place to live (this can be a signed rental agreement or a home purchase contract)
• Proof of income or funds in bank accounts (whether French bank accounts or bank accounts in your home country)
• Proof of valid health insurance
• A copy of an employment or enrollment contract if you’re moving to France to work

You can live in France with the carte de séjour for five years. At that point you can apply for the carte de résident. This is the long-term residency card and is valid for ten years. Once you establish permanent residency, you assume nearly all of the responsibilities of a French citizen.

While you can stay in France for up to 90 days on a short-stay tourist visa, it’s best to begin the long-stay visa application process long before you move to France. You can obtain the necessary application forms and checklists online from the French government or by visiting the closest local consulate to you (there are ten located throughout the United States).

Learning the Language

Learning French, even without becoming fluent, is all but essential if you want to live and work in France and integrate with French society. Unlike many other European countries, French school children don’t automatically learn English in school. As such, it is not the de facto language of academia or business.

While many people in major cities (and especially those who work in the tourism industry) speak English, it’s not part of everyday life in France. It will serve you well to learn how to speak French.

Those who are self-employed or who work entirely in English-speaking roles may not need to speak French for work. However, for everyone else, speaking French is essential for finding a job and succeeding in the workplace.

There are many opportunities for learning the language. From online courses to in-person language tutors, many expats get a head start on learning the language before they move abroad.

Finding a Job When Moving to France From the US

French proficiency is essential for finding a job in France. Even positions that require strong English language skills (such as social media pros and au pairs) still require a certain level of French knowledge to communicate with colleagues and office staff.

It’s also essential for Americans moving to France on a work visa to have a job lined up prior to moving.

Why?

Because the employer is the actual party who is responsible to apply for the visa, on your behalf.

For Americans who want to mix work experience with travel (and whose French isn’t perfect yet), a working holiday visa is a good option to find part-time jobs in the service sector.

Understanding the Cost of Living in France

Like all major cities, living in Paris is expensive. It’s routinely on lists of the most expensive cities in the world. Expats who move here will find that everything from rent to restaurants costs more than it does in the rest of France. However, the cost of living beyond Paris is not as high.

The average cost of living in France is about 9% lower than in the United States. Rent or mortgages aside, it costs about $1,000 per month to live in the Mediterranean country.

A one bedroom apartment rental in the center of a city is about $850 per month (rental rates range from about $540 – $1,600), on average. Meanwhile, the average cost for a one bedroom apartment rental outside the center of a city is about $630 per month, and ranges from approximately $430 to $1,030.

While your expat dream may be to live in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower, your budget may be better suited for living in more affordable French cities and towns such as:

• Nimes
• Montpellier
• Strasbourg
• Lyon
• Marseilles
• Le Havre
• Châteauroux
• Aix-en-Provence
• Nantes
• Toulouse
• Nice

Also Read: The Cost of Living in France

Health Insurance in France for US Expats

France has an excellent public healthcare system, but it’s important to understand the way it works.

France has a statutory health insurance system (SHI). After three months of continuously living in France, expats can access the system, but it has its limitations and it is not completely free.

SHI covers 83% of most medical costs, so it’s up to you to pay the other 17% out of your own pocket. For this reason, approximately 95% of the French population also carries private health insurance, which they use to cover that 17%. Private insurance also pays for services that SHI doesn’t cover at all, like vision care and dental care.

The best solution for expats moving to France is to obtain a private international health insurance plan.

Learn More: Health Insurance in France

Finding a Place to Live

Both furnished and unfurnished apartments are readily available in France. However, there’s more to these two categories than meets the eye.

Rental agreements for unfurnished properties typically last a minimum of three years. You can give your notice earlier if you like, but your landlord cannot ask you to move out.

However, furnished apartments have a maximum term of one year at a time. While it’s often possible to renew your lease, landlords can decline to renew, especially if they think they can substantially raise the rent with a new tenant.

Read Rental Contracts Carefully

No matter what type of home or apartment you rent, read your contract carefully before signing. Check for listed “charges” too, as many rental contracts include both the price of the rent and assorted monthly charges. These might include fees for cleaning, garbage services, and utilities.

Prior to starting your house hunt, it’s a smart idea to prepare a “dossier” to present to your future landlords. Common paperwork that’s included in most dossiers are copies of passports and visas, recent payslips or a copy of your employment contract, and details of your guarantor.

The role of the guarantor is to pay the rent if you cannot — or, at the very least, reassure the landlord that a French resident is prepared to vouch for you. Finding a guarantor is difficult if you are new to the country. However, your employer or bank might be able to help.

Additionally, a real estate agent might be able to line up listings that focus on guarantor-free requirements.

Understanding the “Little Differences”

It’s the little things about French culture that might throw you for a loop when moving from the U.S. to France.

The Metric System

The U.S. is one of only three countries on earth that doesn’t use the metric system.

In France, inches and feet become centimeters. Miles become kilometers. Teaspoons and tablespoons become milliliters. And temperatures are expressed in degrees Centigrade, not Fahrenheit.

A simple conversion app on your phone can solve immediate issues for you, but it does take some time to get used to the difference.

When (and How Much) You Eat

In France, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, often a three-course experience followed by wine. The French people are more likely to have an appetizer, entree, and dessert at lunchtime than at dinner. Dinner is often the smallest meal of the day.

When ordering off a French menu, keep in mind that what the French call entrées are what Americans call appetizers. It’s the entrée to the starter, or the small first course that you eat before your main meal. In France, the main meal that Americans call the entrée is referred to as the plat or plat principal. The plat principal is typically followed by dessert or cheese.

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Understanding the School System

France takes childhood education very seriously, and approximately 21% of the national budget is dedicated to funding education. Part of this funding is dedicated to covering the cost of preschool, called maternelle, for children between the ages of three and six.

From the age of six to 16, education is mandatory for French children. Most continue on to finish their education at age 18 and pass the baccalauréat (le bac) examination. About half carry on to post-secondary education options.

In order to register a child in preschool, parents must fill out a registration form and supporting documentation, such as the child’s birth certificate, medical records or health certificate, proof of address, and proof of visa or residency card. The cost of education is entirely free, but as children progress through the school system, expenses do add up.

Those expenses include the cost of textbooks (yes, students need to provide their own), sports uniforms, and other supplies.

Setting Up Banking and Finances

Opening a bank account in France is generally easy but comes with some finicky steps. French banks tend to close in the middle of the day for a long lunch, especially in small towns. They’re also typically not open on weekends and rarely have evening hours.

You can also expect your prospective new bank to ask you for many forms of proof of identity, including proof of address and proof of visa status and employment. Documentation that’s not in French is often required to be officially translated and notarized.

And when the bank offers you free checks, take them. In France, paper cheques are still a common form of payment. Many people use them to avoid electronic bank transfer fees.

Working U.S. citizens will need to file tax returns in both France and the U.S., but most Americans who work abroad may not owe anything under the Federal foreign tax credit.

Conclusion

For many U.S. citizens, the thought of moving to France can be exciting, but it’s important to make the necessary preparations before you go. Your move will be more successful and easier to handle if you secure a job, apply for your French visa, learn the French language, and enroll in an international medical insurance plan in advance.

Related:

• Your Guide to Immigrating to France as an Expat
• The Best Cities in France to Live In
• Hospitals in France for Expatriates