If you want a quick version of this article, without having to read all the detail. It goes something like this. Charente and Charente-Maritime are good places to live in France because: one of the sunniest places in France, great coastline, cheaper to buy than Dordogne, lovely green countryside, lots of nice towns and villages, easy access to Paris, Île de Ré, a couple of low cost airports, La Rochelle, Cognac brandy, 5 hour drive to St Malo & Cherbourg ferry ports.

The cost of living in France is certainly not as cheap as it used to be. The French government advise that a single person will need at least €1,800 euros per month to move to France and live comfortably (and €3,600 euros for a couple). This is certainly the minimum income that is required for a long stay visa for France.

France has always been a popular destination for UK nationals to retire to. If you are thinking of retiring to France from the UK during 2024, we highlight the popular places for retirement in France and some key information on pensions, tax, healthcare and living in France for retirees.

If you are thinking about moving to France on a long term basis, to live for 3 months or more, then there are a number of steps that you will need to take. You will need to apply for a long stay visa for France, you will need to organise your accommodation and to arrange your health insurance coverage. Here we explain exactly what you need to do to make you move to France stress-free and easy.

Our guide to moving to France from USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand covers everything you will need to know about applying for visas & residency in France, setting up health insurance, French tax implications and getting prepared for your new life in France. We also identify useful contacts that can assist you with your relocation to France.

France regularly features in the Top 10 list of the best countries to move to. Here we analyse where are the 10 best places to live and work in France in 2024, covering the best French cities to work, to retire, to invest in property and the best places to study in France. We also cover the cheapest places in France to buy property.

If you are moving to France, the good news is that France recognizes a whole range of international driving licenses and you can legally drive on your foreign license for up to 12 months. But what happens then? What do you need to do to apply for a French driving licence? How do you register your vehicle in France and when do you need to do this? 

One of the first jobs that you need to do when you are moving to France is to open a French bank account. Everything in France is linked to having a French bank account. You will need a French bank account so that you can have the utility bills in your name, register for a Carte Vitale (health insurance), pay your taxes in France, obtain house or Tenants insurance, etc, etc. Ideally, you need to open the bank account before you arrive in France.

The French health care system is widely regarded as the best in the World. If you are planning on moving to France and to live here for more than 3 months at a time, then it is a legal requirement for you to have health insurance in place. There are 4 different ways to arrange healthcare coverage in France. To understand each health insurance option and which one will suit your circumstance, you firstly need to understand how the French healthcare system operates.

Here we discuss, the minimum income requirements that you must meet to apply for French Residency or a Long Stay Visa for France. There are actually, 4 main criteria that you must meet on your French Residency application, but the most important on is that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family in France.

If you are thinking about Moving to France in 2024 either for a long stay or a permanent move, then I would just like to pass on some tips from our own experience of relocating to France. We have lived in France for 17 years now. We have had some great days and we have had some catastrophic days. But on the whole we have had more good days than bad days. 

Although Brexit has made things more complicated, it is still perfectly possible British nationals to move to France in 2024 and to live in France permanently. You can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. If you want to stay longer, then there is a simple & straighforward process for applying for a long stay visa. UK nationals (like Canadians, Americans & Australians) can also apply for permanent French Residency, which enables them to live in France for up to 5 years. Here we outline the steps you need to follow for moving to France after Brexit and how you can live in France long term.

In this article we explain how you can move to France from the UK in 7 simple steps. Brexit has of course made things slightly more complicated, but it is still perfectly possible to live your dream of retiring to France or living in France whilst you work remotely.