France relocation guide

Moving to France: your relocation, organised

A French move means long-stay visas, mairie registration, housing, banking, healthcare, and CAF at once. Relocora turns it into one ordered checklist — with document organisation and application packs — so nothing slips.

How Relocora helps

Personalised checklist

Get a step-by-step plan built around your destination, nationality, household, and employment. Every task in the right order.

Document organisation

Link files from your Google Drive and keep everything in one place. No uploads to Relocora; your files stay in your Drive.

Application packs

Build rental, bank, or school application packs from linked documents, as a shared folder in your Drive or a single PDF.

Start your France relocation plan

From the Relocora blog: France

Practical guides for your France move, written by people who have done it.

Your France move: a rough timeline

Leaving

Before you travel

  • Determine your visa category and apply at the French consulate (allow 2 to 3 months)
  • Arrange private health insurance for your first months in France
  • Gather core documents: passport, proof of income, accommodation confirmation
  • If bringing a pet: start the EU health certificate process now - it takes 3 to 4 months

Landing

First 90 days

  • Validate your visa via ANEF - mandatory within 3 months of arrival
  • Register your address at your local mairie - this unlocks almost everything else
  • Open a French bank account - online banks are easiest for newcomers
  • Enrol children at school via your mairie if applicable

Living

Settling in

  • Apply for PUMA (universal healthcare) after 3 months of continuous residence
  • Apply to CAF for housing allowance once you have a bank account and proof of address
  • Register as auto-entrepreneur if freelancing, via INPI
  • Receive your Carte Vitale - 4 to 8 weeks after PUMA approval
Your Relocora checklist is organised around these same three phases - every task in the right order for your situation. Build your plan free.

Your Relocora checklist is organised around these same three phases - every task in the right order for your situation. Build your plan free.

Get on the list for early access

Join the beta waitlist. When your invite arrives, you get 3 months of Premium at no cost during beta.

No credit card required
•
3 months Premium included
•
Spots open gradually

Frequently asked questions about moving to France

What does Relocora do for my France move?
Relocora gives you a single checklist across Leaving, Landing, and Living — with task dependencies that show what blocks housing or payroll, a Document Vault, and rental and bank application packs. Not legal advice; practical organisation.
Do I have to upload my documents to Relocora?
No. Your files stay in your Google Drive; Relocora links to them and never stores copies on our servers.
How do I get access?
Relocora is in early access. Join the waitlist above and we'll send you an invite code — free to get started.