One thing you learn very quickly when you move to France is that you don’t really have a choice about the order in which you do things. That’s because you often need to have completed one step in order to advance on something else. For example, if you want to buy or rent a house in France, you need to have a French bank account. In order to open a French bank account, you need to have an address. And to have an address, you need a visa that entitles you to live there, plus medical insurance and proof of income…
Confused? Or concerned that this is all going to take up time you just don’t have? Don’t worry, there is help at hand!
French Connections HCB is a team of friendly bilingual relocation experts who can guide you through the complexities of French administration. If you’re short of time, unsure about the language or simply don’t know where to start, they take the stress out of every procedure quickly and efficiently.
Let’s start by unravelling those questions one at a time.
How do I find somewhere to live?
Where to live is the first consideration for most people thinking of moving to France. And how to go about renting or buying is the most burning question. You may want to rent a place while you’re looking for your dream home – and in France the system is probably quite different to what you’re used to. You might want to consider a French mortgage – and that is also likely to be a different procedure
Can I get a French mortgage?
The short answer is yes. In order to apply for a mortgage, you need a French bank account and a healthy financial profile. French Connections HCB has connections with a major French bank that welcomes new customers and we can offer useful information on how to go about applying for a mortgage in France.
Can I rent in France while I’m looking for something to buy?
It will come as no surprise that there is usually more paperwork involved when renting in France. French Connections HCB can help with you to secure a rental, put together a solid financial profile to boost your tenancy application and help you to navigate the legal aspects of the contract. Once you have an address, you will also be able to open a bank account and we can help you with that, too.
How do I find a Notaire I can trust?
If you don’t speak French, then finding a notaire who speaks English will be a big help. French Connections’ have a qualified legal translator who can liaise with Notaires on your behalf and oversee property purchases, the bank providing the mortgage, and make sure the entire legal process is securely covered. They can also recommend their preferred notaires, Francoise and Rémy, the principal partners. Both speak excellent English and have already helped hundreds of non-French clients with property purchases. They also offer Docusign, a secure online signature system, which saves time and money if you are not yet resident in the country.
How do I know which visa to apply for?
There are 17 different visas in France alone! A Relocation Experts can help with every administrative hurdle from choosing the right visa, the documents you need to bring with you, transporting and re-registering your car, applying for a French social security number and, if you decide to make the move permanent, applying for residency. If you are not registered for French social security, you will need proof of health insurance for the duration of your visa. English-speaking Fab French Insurance offer very competitive rates on all sorts of insurance (including cars) and are highly recommended.
Can I work in France?
Yes, and there are many ways of making that happen depending on whether you prefer to be freelance, self-employed, employed by a French company, based in France but employed by a non-French company, set up your own business in France or have your own company outside of France but work legally within France. French Connections HCB help you work out the best option and guide you through the administrative procedures to make it happen.
