French Frank Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 Hi,Is there a step by step guide to becoming domiciled in France.We are hoping to move next year and would appreciate it if someone could advise on what we need to get done to be legally resident in France.Is there a weblink to a step through guide to achieve this?Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 It depends on the individual, there is no one size fits all for this.IE How old are you? If retired, and have an E121 then ignore the next couple of things. If not, have got and will you have up to date NI contributions, in order to get an S1 form, if you are not of retirement age? Will you have enough money to pay for your private health insurance for five years or less if you have an S1?AND is your income sufficient for the french to allow you to stay in France.I am not expecting you to tell me all this, but they are questions to do searches on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 We are in the middle of moving to France and I think the questions that idun suggested are a good place to start. We also made lists of everything we could think of-think what you would have to do if you moved house here-and then add on the bigger things like health ect. We also went to the France Show and attended some of the seminars on health and tax and found those very useful. The other thing I would say is to use this forum. There are people on here with years of experience and they are all so helpful. Whenever I came up with something I needed an answer to -even very small seemingly silly questions there was always someone who knew the answer. Sometimes you also get advice which makes you look at things you hadn't thought of!! Just looking back through the questions that other people have asked will give you a steer on what you need to do. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 You will get a lot of excellent advice on this forum. However, you can also help yourself. Waterstones usually carry a number of books on relocating to France. In addition, Blevin Franks (normally advertise in the various magazines) do an excellent book for about £5.You can go to various specialist companies who will advise on investments etc but perhaps costly unless you have a few million to invest.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 To be legally resident is quite simple and comes down to 3 basics.1. You must have adequate provision for your health care.2. You must have sufficient financial resources so as not to become drain on the French tax payer.3. You must enter the tax system by making an annual declaration of your worldwide income.Item 1 can be addressed either by:a. Obtaining an E form from UK, usually E106 if under state retirement age, or E121 if in receipt of a UK state pension (both forms now both confusingly renamed S1!).b. Working for a French employer or becoming self employed.d. Paying for comprehensive private health insurance.Item 2 is determined from figures published by the French government, not sure but I think it's currently something short of €1000/mth for a couple.Item 3 is achieved by submitting a tax return which you normally do in the first May after your arrival (the French tax year runs from Jan to Dec). Initially you have to ask for or download the forms after which they will be sent to you automatically.A small point but the word 'domicile' is ill defined and not really the appropriate term, resident should be used in preference.Bonne chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 There's a newcomer's guide to the healthcare system HERE. Admittedly, it is a little out of date (the E forms are now S forms, for example) but it still pretty much covers most of what you need to know if you follow the relevant links. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinabee Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 This was my list:To Do UKCancel utilitiesCancel insurancesCancel Council taxChange of address lettersForward mail for 12 monthsOpen Nationwide/other bank account/get visa cardRegister for on-line bankingOrder copies of birth & marriage certificatesRequest UK banks to pay gross interestNotify Inland Revenue of moveTo Do for FranceRe-register Car (notify DVLA of export)/ get French insuranceGet French Driving LicenseRegister with CPAMRegister with doctorGet top-up health insuranceObviously, there will be more items if you have children and/or rent property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Jeff Steiner is offering a webinar on moving to France on Feb. 1st. See the details on his most recent newsletter here: http://www.americansinfrance.net/Newsletter/Newsletter-January-2011.cfm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Quite a lot of good info on that site but bear in mind that it is aimed at Americans so not necessarily all relevant to EU citizens [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 [quote user="tinabee"]This was my list:To Do UKCancel utilitiesCancel insurancesCancel Council taxChange of address lettersForward mail for 12 monthsOpen Nationwide/other bank account/get visa cardRegister for on-line bankingOrder copies of birth & marriage certificatesRequest UK banks to pay gross interestNotify Inland Revenue of moveTo Do for FranceRe-register Car (notify DVLA of export)/ get French insuranceGet French Driving LicenseRegister with CPAMRegister with doctorGet top-up health insuranceObviously, there will be more items if you have children and/or rent property.[/quote]You don't have to get a French driving licence. UK one works fine unless you get to 70 or commit a traffic offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 You can also scrub Nationwide from the list and substitute Norwich & Peterborough BS or Halifax Clarity [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinabee Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 You will need a French driving licence if your UK photo licence is due to expire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinabee Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Second that Another! If I was doing it again, I would open a number of accounts before moving to be able to have a bit of flexibility afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 [quote user="tinabee"]You will need a French driving licence if your UK photo licence is due to expire[/quote]Ah, I never had one of those, that makes sense then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyjones Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 So does that mean if my own UK licence doesn't expire until 2019, I can still keep using that and then exchange it for a French licence thereafter, or am I legally required to exchange it for a French licence after living there for X number of years regardless? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 You can use your UK licence until it expires or you commit a driving offence which requires you to exchange it for the deduction of points.Technically that can be for a single point but is rarely, if ever, enforced. 2 points or more and the gendarmes who nick you will tell you at the time if an exchange is required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinabee Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 We have found that having French driving licences can be very useful for proving identity as they contain both a photo and your address, unlike the passport.Also, being a wife in France, I am obviously not listed on any official documents such as an EDF bill [6], so the driving licence is very handy for proving my address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crossy67 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Is a photo driving licence essential or would the old paper one do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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