JS14

How quickly you can see a GP depends on where you live. Some areas (notably Paris and the Côte d'Azur)have too many GPs competing for too few patients. Hence some Parisian doctors are suspected of encouraging their elderly patients to come in for regular, monthly "consultations" regardless of whether they are really ill or not. On the other hand rural areas can't attract enough GPs; retiring rural GPs often can't sell their "clientele" to a young doctor. I must say I like the French system of medical laboratories. In my town there seem to be nearly as many laboratories as pharmacies, at least in the town centre. French doctors seem to send you for blood tests just to make sure that your symptoms don't indicate something much worse than flu or whatever you really have. If you have ever met a doctor who owns a laboratory, you will realise it's a very profitable sector to be in!

[quote]JS14 didn't you have to declare your dutch income in France and the amount of tax paid on it anyway?[/quote] Yes, you have to mention the dutch earnings on the tax declaration. The income tax paid in the Netherlands doesn't reduce any tax that you have to pay in France on other income. As far as I can see, the Dutch income can be taken account in deciding the marginal tax rate that you pay in France; that's why you have to declare it. I suppose that if you earned a million euros in the Netherlands and 100 euros in France, the Fisc might tax you at 60%, or whatever, on the 100 euros.

[quote]Forgive me if this is pedantic. I know that if resident in France one pays to the French state on the basis of worldwide income. No challenge to what has been said here already. Income can be wage...[/quote] Not so. Income earned in another country might or might not be taxable in France. It depends on the tax treaty between France and the country concerned. I was employed in Holland while resident in France and my income was taxed in the Netherlands and not in France.

Try looking at APEC's list of vacancies (www.apec.fr) for the area that you're interested in and search for relevant key words. The Paris region seems to have the most vacancies for electronic engineers followed by other "pôles" like Grenoble, Toulouse, the Côte d'Azur and bits of Britanny. Getting recruited directly by a French employer is not easy; French subsidiaries of international groups may be the most welcoming to foreigners. I think your best bet maybe UK-based recruitment agencies that have good contacts with French employers. If you can get a short term contract with a French client company, you could find that they offer you a permanent job afterwards.

You won't necessarily pay French tax on a salary earned abroad. I was working in Holland for a Dutch employer while resident in France. The Dutch salary is not subject to French income tax as the tax treaty between France and the Netherlands specifically excludes it.

[quote]We travel from England to France 3 or 4 times a year in our 1989 Volvo 740 and it's time to renew our annual breakdown insurance policy. Can anybody recommend a breakdown company, apart from the main...[/quote] I used to be a member of The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) www.lemans.org . This gave me limited breakdown cover in France and elsewhere in Europe for a UK registered vehicule. The annual cost was much lower than paying out for special cover with for each trip to France. Mind you the cover was limited to roadside repair or towing to the nearest garage : I wouldn't have been covered to transport the vehicule back to the UK from the south of France. Being a member also gives you the right to buy tickets for the Le Mans 24 Race at a special rate. Apparently many Brits joined just for this advantage.