mr ploppy

Thanks Clair.  I came here without any E benefits, and no job - really inactif, taking some time off - so I have no carte vitale and no SS number.  Do you think a temporary employer, like a fruit grower, will apply for a SS number for someone in my position, or would they rather take someone who has one already, on the basis that my situation means extra work for them?

I've recently moved to France as what they call an "inactif".  I'm considering doing some seasonal work, let's say picking asparagus, grapes, apples, or working at a campsite.  This would be "proper" work - above board an' all.  Someone suggested that I needed to get the French equivalent of my UK National Insurance number before I can start work.  Anyone know whether this is true, or if there's anything else I need to do?

Thanks Clair.  Any chance of a quick summary in English? My understanding of the EU rules is that a EU citizen with a valid licence from their country cannot be forced to exchange it for a licence issued by their country of residence (because it restricts, or at least makes it a pain to, free movement in the EU).  There is some caveat with respect to validity period though - which I don't remember exactly.  Was it that the host country can impose its own validity period - for example, if you come from a country where the validity period is 20 years, but you reside in a country where it's 10 years, they can force you to exchange it for a local one after 10 years?  But the rule works the other way around too.  Or did I make it all up? Does your average gendarme recognise the old green paper UK licence?

[quote user="cooperlola"]If you have a UK driving license, it is not a bad idea to carry a photocopy of the legislation which explains that it is valid in France - just in case you come across a gendarme who doesn't know the law (it happens.) [/quote] Good idea, but where do I find said legislation?

Re the EU Savings Directive. That's the thing - I could understand if we were trying to open a savings account that they would want to know where we were going to pay tax on the interest, but we were trying to open a non-interesting bearing account, just for day-to-day stuff like our telephone and internet bills.

I read with interest the article on Tax Residency linked to by ErnieY. I'm in the position where I need to decide, or more likely have someone qualified tell me, where I'm tax resident, so that I know where I stand. Any suggestions as to where one would start?

We arrived in 2009 so we'll not be submitting a tax return until 2010. I also found it kind of strange that the bank wanted a tax id to prove residency. I read elsewhere that residency isn't so much a choice, but determined by facts - in other words, if we live here, and intend continuing to live here, then we're resident, surely. Short of having a tax id 15 months prior to filing our first return, any suggestion how one might prove residency? I agree, trying another bank may not be a bad idea.

ErnieY, you say you don't get a numero fiscale until you've filed a tax return, but in our case we won't need to file one until May 2010 as I understand it. Don't we get one by registering with someone or other before then?

I tried opening a bank account the other day, but since I don't have a numero fiscale, they would only offer me a non-resident account. I have a couple of questions 1. where do I get a numero fiscale 2. for a non-resident account, they asked for my tax address. What exactly is that?

No, I have a genuine reason for asking. We're going to be renting a property, but the utilities are included in our rent, so we'll not have a utility bill to show anyone. I've seen many instances of needing to provide proof of address, for example to open a bank account, where it says to show your utility bill. Just wondering what we'd do in our case.

I've read many posts of procedures where one has to provide proof of address, and it always seems to say that you need a utility bill. Is this the only proof of address that the French accept? If not, what other forms of proof are acceptable?

I'm glad you're paying attention Clair [:)]. I presume from your response that you believe that having sufficient savings will satisfy the requirement.

[quote user="5-element"][quote user="mr ploppy"]I'm trying to get to grips with the health insurance requirements prior to moving to France.  We'll be inactif, have no income, and no E*** from the UK, so will need comprehensive insurance. [/quote] If you are inactif, have no income and no E form from the UK, that would make you  illegal here in France. What would you be living on? The French authorities would be asking you that question - before you can be a resident, you have to show that you have enough income not to need benefits of any kind.... [/quote] We have sufficient savings to live in France for some considerable time.  I presume that if we show evidence of that, we'll be OK.  Is that not the case?

I'm trying to get to grips with the health insurance requirements prior to moving to France.  We'll be inactif, have no income, and no E*** from the UK, so will need comprehensive insurance. I gather from the discussions on here that the definition of comprehensive is not entirely clear - or maybe it is.  I must admit there's so much info on here that it takes ages to wade through, and posts that were made over a year ago may now be OBE. I have a fairly simple question I think.  When it comes to pre-existing conditions, it's entirely possible that an insurance may not cover you for that.  I read a post by someone (can't find it now) suggesting that since a pre-existing condition could preclude you from "full comprehensive" insurance that people (immigrants) with such conditions could never live legally in France. This may be according to the letter of the law, but even if it is, I find it hard to believe in practice. As an example, let's say someone has a non-life threatening, treatable condition which requires taking medication daily (let's say migraine ... I don't know).  The medication may not be covered by insurance.  Does that mean the person can't become legally resident? Can anyone clarify for me?

Thanks for your concern. On the contrary though, it's not a question of mistrust, it's because they're elderly (British) and it's the first time they've let their property.  I'm trying to find out the ins and outs on their behalf.  I appreciate that any business between friends is fraught with danger, but I'm very confident that this will be OK. The leases you mention that can be bought at a stationer's, do they have to be notarised in order to make them "legal", or is that optional?

We're about to rent a house for a year.  This is a privately agreed rental with friends, no agency involved.  My questions are these:- Is there a standard DIY lease agreement that we can use? Does the lease have to be notarised or anything like that in order to make it legal? What obligations does the landlord have?  Apart from declaring the rental income (presumably) I've read stuff about social charges.  Can anyone explain what these are and whether they'd need to be paid (by the landlord)? I've seen the abbreviation CAF mentioned in conjunction with long-term rentals.  What is that? Is there a similar scheme to the UK where rental deposits are held by a third party (I think that's true in the UK).  If so, is that law?  Is a deposit mandatory? And others, I'm sure ....!

I have a valid UK licence.  It's one of the old style green paper ones, not the credit card-sized picture ones they issue now.  I presume the old paper style ones are recognised by the French, yes?  I would be looking to exchange for a French one immediately, even if not absolutely necessary, so that it's more likely to be recognised throughout the EU. What's a letter of entitlement?

Hi again - I'm back with more questions. Since my last post, I've discovered that continued health insurance with my ex-employer from the USA is going to be prohibitively expensive, so I'll be looking to take out my own private health insurance.  I daresay there are details elsewhere on these forums, but could someone suggest reputable insurance companies and some idea of how much the monthly premium would be for a husband and wife, both around 50. And on the minimum income requirement - since we're going to be "inactif" and living off savings, how do we prove that we won't be a burden on the state.  Would evidence of savings be sufficient (bank statements etc)? And who actually is it that needs to see evidence of medical insurance, and financial resources, and for what purpose (I know it's for legal residence, but is it for some carte or other?)? Thanks again for your help. Oh yes, one more .... I'm correct in thinking that the "legally resident" issue only occurs after the first 3 months, so satisfying these requirements sometime in the first 3 months after arrival is OK, yes?

Thanks for those answers, but I'm afraid I now have some more. This is the first I've heard about the requirement to have a minimum income of 8000euros p.a. in order to stay for more than 3 months.  Surely, as British citizens, we're allowed to reside anywhere in the EU, permanently, regardless of income.  Is this rule documented somewhere?  We intend living on savings for at least a year while we look for somewhere to buy. Could you also clarify the medical insurance question?  Is it sufficient to have private medical insurance from anywhere (in this case from the USA), or does it have to be from a French insurance provider?  In other words, if I show up at the doctor, do I merely have to prove that I have some form of medical insurance, or does it have to be French  - and if it's not, would they not treat me? Thanks again.

Hi, My wife and I are Brits but we've been living in the USA.  We're now moving to France to rent a property for about a year while we look for a property to buy, or not.  We won't be working, at least initially.  Can anyone tell us what we need to do on arrival?  For example, do we have to register with the tax authorities, even if we're not working? We'll be renting property from friends.  Do we need a formal lease, and if so would it need to be anything much more than just a piece of paper signed by both parties? I'm assuming we'd need something like that as proof of address so that we can open a bank account and stuff. Also how are we fixed as far as health insurance is concerned seeing as we'll not be working, and therefore not paying any form of social security?  Is French private health insurance mandatory? We will have continued private health insurance for a while (more than a year I think) from my ex-employer in the USA, so will that be recognised/sufficient? Thanks for any help.

[quote user="cooperlola"] ... you must also fill in form FD5 (available here ) ... [/quote] Thanks for that.  So, I shouldn't read the "must" as "must", but only in the context of the question i.e. for the purpose of reclaiming tax.  Correct?

Just reading the FAQs - it mentions informing hmrc that you're leaving the UK and that you have to submit an FD5 with your first French tax return.  In our case, we left the UK many years ago and submitted our P85 then.  What is the exact purpose of the FD5? Is submitting the FD5 mandatory, or is it only necessary if some UK tax needs to be reclaimed.  I realise these FAQs are UK-focussed - but what if one moves to France from elsewhere in the EU?

Not quite sure of the real answer having read those posts, but also we have a slight change of plan.  For the time being, for reasons I won't bore you with, we will likely hold on to our house in the UK, and continue to let it out. If we were to become resident in France, and sell the UK property in, say, 2 years' time, would the French claim CGT at that point?  Remember we have been outside the UK for many years and haven't lived in our UK property during that time. Would it make a difference whether we rented or bought a house in France in the meantime.  If we buy then I guess the UK house would be treated as a second home.  Does the same apply if we rent in France? Thanks for your help.

Hi, We've been living abroad (out of the UK) for a number of years, during which time our house in the UK has been let.  We've been living in rental accommodation and only own that one property.  We are considering moving to France and possibly selling our house in the UK to finance our move to France.  I'm pretty sure that if we sell our UK property then there'll be no Capital Gains Tax due in the UK.  But would there be any CGT due in France? Thanks.