Moving a family of 4 to France

[tessa freund]

We would like to move to France from the UK, and do not know where to start? any people we can talk to? recommendations. Thank you

[woolybanana]

Do any of you speak, read and write decent French?

[alittlebitfrench]

We are a family of five who would love to move to the UK.

Would you like to swap ?

Why on earth would you do that to yourself and your family OP ?

[Catalpa]

Taking the OP at face value... [Www]

For a successful family move at this time, fluency in French is the top requirement. Confirmed jobs on CDI contracts come close second.

Get yourselves confirmed employment. Yes, I know, Brexit and Coronavirus are obstacles but even without them, moving countries with a family is always going to be a challenge and far more expensive than you budgeted for.

When you've got confirmed, permanent jobs to come to, that's your entry into the health system, it informs your location choice (avoid buying a renovation money pit) and from then on, Bob's your oncle.

At the time of a global pandemic when we have no idea how the travel and tourism industry is going to regenerate, put any thoughts of running gîtes, b&bs, etc, out of your mind.

Be honest with yourself about why you're moving. If getting out / getting away from the UK features anywhere in your thinking, find a nicer place in the UK to live - and work. Post-pandemic, there will be horrendous unemployment problems across Europe. If you have the right to live and work in Britain, is it wise to disadvantage yourselves by moving now? Wait until the effects of the double whammy of Brexit and Coronavirus are a little more clear and then reassess your plans from a position of knowledge.

[Tancrède]

'Taking the OP at face value…'

HAHAHA.

I am so glad that you said that, Catalpa. [What I was in fact thinking !]

[cajal]

[quote user="Tancrède"]'Taking the OP at face value…'

I am so glad that you said that, Catalpa. [What I was in fact thinking !][/quote]

Understandable. Their handle is, after all, an anagram of - 'f sauternes'.

[Tancrède]

Cajal wrote :

"Their handle is, after all, an anagram of - 'f sauternes' ".

Thank you for that reassurance. I thought it might have been FAT UNDRESS.

Though I am aware - in this particular case especially - that the one readily leads to the other.

[idun]

WHY don't you know where to start? Beats me.

You are on the Internet, information highway.

And in the olde days when I moved, I contacted the french embassy, they will know exactly what you need to do AND prove in order to live in France.

One of my first questions when I came on this board

twenty odd years ago, having already lived in France for almost twenty years by then, was why so many posters were moving to France or were so desperate to do so. And I still don't get it.

And lots moved to France and an awful lot moved back. We always planned on moving back upon retirement and that is what we did.

Take it your 4 people includes kids. The french education system, well until I have real proof that it has improved RADICALLY I would not recommend it . And it does work for 'some', that I cannot deny that.

We moved back to England 12 years ago, different life yes it' s a different country, our cost of living is certainly lower here. But our life style is just fine here, absolutely fine and it was in France too, because if it had not been we would have left.

If you have jobs in place your employer will likely help you. But IF you really want to make this move, learn french.

7

[Alan Zoff]

I find the tunnel at Folkestone as good a place as any to start

[EuroTr@sh]

Alternatively I believe there are plenty of pre-loved inflatable dinghies lying abandoned around the Kent coast, that's a cheaper route but not recommended if you have young kids.

[chessfou2]

Where to start?

1. Why?

2. Level of French (B1? B2? at least!), then

3. ...

PS. We moved here 15 years ago (after 4 years of detailed research) and are VERY happy that we did so, but we started with those 2 Qs.

[Gardian]

A pretty certain troll, unless ‘Tessa’ wants to deny it.

If true, why do these people do it ? Very sad.

[Alan Zoff]

Student project? Or just a bored student.

[Justinsa]

Do any of you speak, read and write decent French?

 

flagle

[LylaValencia]

I agree with those folks here who say about the importance of knowing French. You can't move to the country if you don't know the language unless you're a freelancer and don't need a job in France, lol. We had been studying how to move to France for 3 years before we actually moved there.

[Hectorsdad]

The OP has disappeared! All very valid points have been made as usual which will help other readers. Maybe there was a hint of desperation in the question so I hope that was resolved in other ways.

[AlexMichigan]

If you're considering a move from the UK to France, there are a few things you can do to get started.

[betise]

2 hours ago, AlexMichigan said:

If you're considering a move from the UK to France, there are a few things you can do to get started.

Absolutely Alex, and I'll just bet that you will be posting a link to one of your favourite "things"!  Please make it whiskers on kittens

[AlexMichigan]

22 hours ago, AlexMichigan said:

If you're considering a move from the UK to France, there are a few things you can do to get started.

First, research the visa requirements and necessary paperwork for living in France as a UK citizen. You can also look into housing options and the cost of living in the area where you plan to move. Another great resource is to talk to people who have already made the move themselves. In terms of actually moving your belongings to France, you may want to consider using a professional removal service.

Edited February 22, 2023 by anotherbanana
Advertising link

[alittlebitfrench]

5 hours ago, AlexMichigan said:

First, research the visa requirements and necessary paperwork for living in France as a UK citizen. You can also look into housing options and the cost of living in the area where you plan to move. Another great resource is to talk to people who have already made the move themselves. In terms of actually moving your belongings to France, you may want to consider using a professional removal service.

Alex….

You have a miserable life. You know that, we know that and everyone reading this thread knows that.

 You really need to get a grip and find a direction in your career.

Posting crappy hidden links in random forums is not a job. 
 

Alex… open a gìte in the Dordogne. It wont make any money and to be fair (like most) you will probably will go bankrupt. But hay, it is better than what you do now.

Just saying.