Moving to France: Your Step-by-Step Relocation Guide
France has a reputation for paperwork and it's earned. But the process is manageable once you understand the sequence. It's bureaucratic, but also beautiful, and absolutely worth it. Here's what moving to France actually involves, and how to get through it without losing your mind.
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
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
What Relocora covers for your France move
Visa & immigration
Long Stay Visa (VLS-TS) required before travel. Type depends on situation: employee, freelancer, student, or visiteur. Validate online via ANEF within 3 months of arrival.
Address registration
Register at your local mairie after arrival. Your attestation de domicile (proof of address) is required for most other admin steps.
Housing
Rental applications typically require proof of income (3x monthly rent), pay slips, tax returns, and a guarantor (Garant). CAF housing allowances (APL) can reduce costs.
Banking
Traditional banks require proof of address and visa. BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, and La Banque Postale are common options; Boursorama and Hello Bank are online alternatives.
Healthcare
Register for PUMA (universal health protection) after 3 months of residence. Get a Carte Vitale (health insurance card) from your CPAM (local health insurance office).
CAF & social benefits
Apply to CAF for housing allowance (APL), family benefits, and other social support. Applications are online and require proof of residency and income.
Schools & education
Free public schooling is compulsory for children aged 3 to 16. Enrolment (inscription scolaire) is managed by your local mairie based on catchment zones. Schools are secular (laique). Bilingual sections and international schools are available in Paris and major cities. Private bilingual schools and the international lycee network are options for English-speaking families.
Pets
France follows EU pet travel rules. US pets need an ISO-standard microchip, a rabies vaccination, and a USDA-endorsed EU animal health certificate. If the pet's rabies vaccination is more than 21 days old, a rabies antibody titer test is also required before travel. Allow 3 to 4 months to complete the process.
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.
Frequently asked questions about moving to France
- What visa do I need to move to France from the US?
- That will depend on your situation: If you are from the EU then there is no visa needed, but US citizens need a Long Stay Visa (VLS-TS) for stays over 90 days. The category depends on your situation - employee, freelancer (Passeport Talent), student, or visiteur (passive income/retiree). Apply at the French consulate in the US at least 2-3 months before your intended arrival. One thing most people do not realise: you must validate the visa online via ANEF within three months of arriving in France, or it becomes invalid. Put a reminder in your calendar the day you land.
- How do I register for healthcare in France?
- After 3 months of continuous residence, apply for PUMA (Protection Universelle Maladie) at your local CPAM. Once approved, you will receive a Carte Vitale, the green card that covers most medical costs. The wait for the physical card is typically 4 to 8 weeks after approval, but you are covered from the approval date. In the meantime, keep private insurance active so you are not caught in the gap.
- What is CAF and can I apply as an expat?
- CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) handles housing allowances (APL), family benefits, and other social assistance. Legal residents with a valid visa can apply online. APL can meaningfully reduce your monthly rent, it's worth applying even if you are not sure you qualify. The catch is that you need a French bank account before you can apply, so get that sorted first.
- How long does it take to move to France?
- Budget 3 to 6 months from decision to feeling settled, longer if you are moving a family or have a pet. Visa processing alone takes 4 to 8 weeks at the French consulate, and that clock does not start until your appointment. The administrative steps after arrival (ANEF, bank account, PUMA, CAF) each take time and often depend on each other. The upside: once you are through the first six months, the system largely takes care of itself.
- Do I need to speak French to move to France?
- No, but you should plan on learning at least the basics and the sooner you start the better. French is the official language and most administrative correspondence arrives in formal, dense French - the kind that is hard to parse even with intermediate language skills. English is spoken widely in Paris and larger, tourist cities like Nice, less so elsewhere. If you receive an official letter you can not fully decode, the Relocora AI Coach can help: paste the text and get a plain-English summary of what it means and what you need to do.
From the Relocora blog: France
Practical guides and real-world advice for your France move, written by people who have done it.
Read France guides on the blog