Many people in the UK would like to move to a country with a warmer climate and a way if life that is not so busy as it is in the UK, and among other countries, France has always been popular. 
However, you do need to do your research. It is a big country and has plenty of large cities, lots of lovely coastline, market towns, sleepy villages, mountains, and wonderful countryside. If you go to the South of France the weather, is, of course, Mediterranean and has sun for most days of the year. 
 
If you have only ever been there on your summer holidays you could be forgiven for thinking that it is always warm and sunny all over the country. However, even on the Mediterranean coast there is a wind called the Mistral which can seriously lower the temperature sometimes. Not only that, if you go to the mountainous regions such as the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, or the Alps, they have massive snowfalls in winter. If you want somewhere that is relatively mild all year, then it is the Atlantic coast. 
 
At the moment, UK citizens still have much the same rights as they did before Brexit, so you can continue to live, work, and travel in EU countries. This also applies if you want to go and live in France before the end of the transition period. This was due to have been December 31st this year, but coronavirus has meant that the transition period is almost certain to be extended. 
 
If you are going to spend more than 183 days a year in France, you become what is called fiscally resident there, which means that you are a French taxpayer. Furthermore, when you die you will be subject to French law which means that your estate is divided equally between all your direct heirs. So you can’t leave everything to one child if you have two. It is also likely that you can’t leave everything to your husband or wife because half of it may be assigned to your children if you have any. 
 
You will need to open a French bank account. This will take about three weeks and there is a lot paperwork to fill out. Until you have a French account you can’t get a local mobile or internet subscription. 
 
Unless you are retired and have a pension, or are otherwise wealthy, you will need to get a job. If possible, you should get this arranged before you move because even though you are entitled to work in France at the moment, finding a job can be hard. If you haven’t already arranged a job, you should ensure that you have enough funds to live on for at least six months. Even if you are starting your own business there, the same applies. 
 
Of course, it goes without saying that you need to learn French. You may have learned some at school, but most of us cannot converse in French readily. It is not a hard language to learn, but you really do need to know the basics before moving so that you can communicate. 
 
When it comes to the actual move, Movers International can help you considerably with house removals to France. We have weekly runs to France, and we can move a few cartons, your home, or a whole business, depending on your needs. Provided that VAT has been paid in the EU, your personal items and household goods are exempt from customs duty. There are certain things that you are not allowed to import into France, such as meat and dairy products, firearms, ammunition, wild animals, plants, narcotics, and so on. This is not an exhaustive list and you should check with the French Consulate in London if you are in any doubt. 
 
At Movers International we can move you wherever you need to go in France. We can undertake all your packing to ensure that your goods arrive in the same condition they left, and we can also move you to villages in the mountains where the streets may be narrow. You need to advise us in advance if this is the case because we cannot get our large vans to some of these more remote areas and we will need to work with one of our French counterparts in order to transfer your belongings to a smaller van for the last stage of the journey. 
Share this post:

Leave a comment: 

Tags