Dreaming of a new life in France? Popping to the boulangerie for croissants and a just baked baguette, shopping at the market, dining al fresco in the sun, enjoying a glass of local wine, a laid-back lifestyle, the daily celebration of small pleasures. Post-Brexit, it’s not as easy as it was and one of the best resources to find out as much as you can about moving to France in advance from property searches to visas, finance, legal advice and more is The French Property Show, held twice a year in the UK – there are loads of experts on hand to answer all your questions, and be aware of mistakes to avoid when moving to France from the UK.
Visas
British citizens need a visa to remain in Europe for more than 90 days out of 180 days, so if you’re moving to France, the first mistake to avoid is to make sure you apply for the right visa – there are several types, and it’s very hard to undo once you’re in France says The French Property Show organiser Calum Harkiss. And second, don’t go thinking you can leave the application until a few weeks before your move.
You should apply at least three months before you want to go so that you have plenty of time to sort it out. You’re like to have to deal with any requests for additional paperwork and information. More than 1 in 5 applications fail because people have ticked the wrong box, don’t have the right type of insurances needed or apply for the wrong visa. If you do pick the wrong type of visa, you’ll have to start all over again.
“There are plenty of experienced, reliable companies who can help you ensure with your application which can save you time, money and stress, two of which will be at the The French Property Show in Cheltenham,” says Calum.
Paperwork
A key requirement of moving to France and indeed living in France, is paperwork. You don’t want to be left scrambling to get the right paperwork together to apply for almost everything from a visa to a resident’s card to registering for healthcare and swapping your British driving licence for a French one.
Don’t underestimate the paperwork (and its precision) says Calum. Get a dossier of paperwork together before you go, it should include all important certificates and licences for instance (and not limited to):
Proof of property purchase in France or rental agreement
Birth certificate with parental affiliation (and if you were adopted, have those papers included too, and name changes)
Marriage certificate
Driving licence
UK Bank statements for last 12 months and proof of income
Have this paperwork handy so you can send paperwork off as requested and be ready to answer any questions you receive from the authorities.
And keep at least one copy of everything. Although much is now online, you may need to send originals to some administration departments.
If you have any health issues, get copies of your file, medication etc – it will save you time down the line.
Understand the fiscal rules
Don’t get caught out by not knowing how France’s financial rules might affect you and there are too many to list here from the requirement to file your financial information every year whether your income is paid in the UK, the types of investments you can hold in France, to inheritance rules, where, unlike in the UK, you won’t find it easy to leave assets to whoever you want. It’s essential to do your research and get good advice. But it’s not always easy to know where to start. The internet is full of conflicting advice, and the rules regularly change. Ensure you use a qualified advisor to help you manage the financial move.
Language
Learn the language. That’s no secret – it’s what everyone says. But when you’re trying to sort out moving to France, applying for visas, packing, selling your house, redirecting the post, dozens of things on the to do list, often the need to learn French gets pushed down to the bottom of that long list.
It’s not the worst thing to move here with just a little bit of French if you’re going to have time to learn when you’re here so you can get up to speed. It’s not just about making new friends and making the most of your new life in France, it really is necessary. When you apply for the Carte de séjour pluriannuelle (multi-year permit) you need to prove that you are at the A2 level French (basic user and for a Carte de résident (10-year residence card) you need to prove B1 level French (independent user, able to communicate without effort with native speakers. There are some exceptions, for instance those over 65 may be exempt. Don’t make the mistake of leaving this to last.
Removals
Since Brexit, it’s been necessary to declare the value of your belongings when you bring them to France, and some items may mean you have to pay customs duty. Generally speaking, if items are over 12 months old you don’t pay duty. But the rules are not straightforward and it’s a good idea to create an inventory of what you are taking and value each item. If you have high value items, having a recipe to prove they’re not new may be a good idea. Professional removal companies are highly experienced at dealing with these requirements.
At The French Property Show you’ll meet experts from every sphere of life in France, from property agents to removals, finance advisors, administration professionals, currency transfer specialists and even a French Notaire (a lawyer who deals with property).
And finally says Calum: “Don’t skip expert advice to save money. Visa refusals don’t just cost time, they can cost much more from lost fees, to restarting. Find out how to save money on currency transfers and get your healthcare set up quickly. There’s a lot to sort out and the experts at The French Property Show can help with everything, and make sure you’re aware of mistakes to avoid when moving to France to France from the UK and help make for a smooth transition and life in France when you’re there.”
Get your free tickets: thefrenchpropertyshow.com
