France and the United States have social, political, and cultural ties that go back hundreds of years. But even if the two countries weren鈥檛 so closely intertwined, it鈥檚 easy to see why moving to France is a dream for so many Americans. France offers an excellent standard of living and great job opportunities. It鈥檚 also the perfect place to enjoy regional travel adventures and day trips.
If you鈥檙e one of the many people who dream of moving to France from the US, this article outlines visa requirements, health insurance, the cost of living, and more logistics to help you plan your relocation.
Planning Your Move to France?
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The first step in moving to France from the US is to obtain a long-stay visa. This type of visa will allow you to stay in the country for more than 90 days up to a period of one year.
There are different types of long-stay visas that you can apply for, including work visas, student visas, and visas for those who wish to retire abroad in France.
Within a year of moving to France, you鈥檒l need to apply for a carte de s茅jour (French resident permit). To do so, you must provide the French government with multiple documents:
Valid passport
Long-term visa
Completed application form
Proof that you have a place to live (this can be a signed rental agreement or a home purchase contract)
Proof of income or funds in bank accounts (whether French bank accounts or bank accounts in your home country)
A copy of an employment or enrollment contract if you鈥檙e moving to France to work
You can live in France with the carte de s茅jour for five years. At that point, you can apply for the carte de r茅sident.
This is the long-term residency card, valid for 10 years. Once you establish permanent residency, you assume nearly all of the responsibilities of a French citizen.
While you can stay in France for up to 90 days on a short-stay tourist visa, it鈥檚 best to begin the long-stay visa application process long before you move to France.
You can obtain the necessary from the French government or by visiting the local consulate nearest to you (there are 10 throughout the United States).
Applying for a French Visa?
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Learning French, even if you don’t become fluent, is all but essential if you want to live and work in France and integrate into French society.
Unlike in many other European countries, French schoolchildren don鈥檛 automatically learn English in school. As such, it is not the de facto language of academia or business.
While many people in major cities (especially those in the tourism industry) speak English, it鈥檚 not part of everyday life in France. It will serve you well to learn French.
Those who are self-employed or who work entirely in English-speaking roles may not need to speak French for work. However, for everyone else, speaking French is essential for finding a job and succeeding in the workplace.
There are many opportunities to learn the language. From online courses to in-person language tutors, many expats get a head start on learning the language before they move abroad.
Finding a Job in France
French proficiency is essential for finding a job in France. Even positions that require strong English-language skills (such as social media pros and au pairs) still require a certain level of French to communicate with colleagues and office staff.
It鈥檚 also essential for Americans moving to France on a work visa to have a job lined up prior to moving.
Why? Because the employer is the actual party responsible for applying for the visa on your behalf.
For Americans who want to combine work experience with travel (and whose French isn鈥檛 perfect yet), a working holiday visa is a good option for finding part-time jobs in the service sector.
Relocating to France for Work?
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Like all major cities, living in Paris is expensive. It鈥檚 routinely on lists of the most expensive cities in the world.
Expats who move here will find that everything from rent to restaurants costs more than it does in the rest of France. However, the cost of living outside Paris is lower.
The average cost of living in France is about 9% lower than in the United States. Rent or mortgages aside, it costs about $1,000 per month to live in the Mediterranean country.
A one-bedroom apartment rental in the center of a city averages about $850 per month (rental rates range from about $540 to $1,600).
Meanwhile, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment rental outside a city’s center is about $630 per month, ranging from approximately $430 to $1,030.
While your expat dream may be to live in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower, your budget may be better suited for living in more affordable French cities and towns, such as:
Nimes
Montpellier
Strasbourg
Lyon
Marseilles
Le Havre
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Aix-en-Provence
Nantes
Toulouse
Nice
Health Insurance for US Expats
The French healthcare system is of excellent quality, but it鈥檚 important to understand how it works.
France has a statutory health insurance system (SHI). After three months of continuous residence in France, expats can access the system, but it has limitations and is not completely free.
SHI covers 83% of most medical costs, so it鈥檚 up to you to pay the other 17% out of your own pocket. For this reason, approximately 95% of the population also holds private health insurance in France to cover the remaining 17%.
Private insurance also pays for services that SHI 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 cover at all, like vision care and dental care. The best solution for expats moving to France is to obtain a private plan.
Best Health Plans for US Expats Relocating to France
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For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Both furnished and unfurnished apartments are readily available in France. However, there鈥檚 more to these two categories than meets the eye.
Rental agreements for unfurnished properties typically last a minimum of three years. You can give your notice earlier if you like, but your landlord cannot ask you to move out.
However, furnished apartments have a maximum term of 1 year. While it鈥檚 often possible to renew your lease, landlords can decline to renew, especially if they think they can substantially raise the rent with a new tenant.
Read Rental Contracts Carefully
No matter what type of home or apartment you rent, read your contract carefully before signing.
Check the listed 鈥渃harges鈥� too, as many rental contracts include both the rent price and assorted monthly charges. These might include fees for cleaning, garbage services, and utilities.
Prior to starting your house hunt, it鈥檚 a smart idea to prepare a 鈥渄ossier鈥� to present to your future landlords.
Common paperwork that鈥檚 included in most dossiers is copies of passports and visas, recent payslips or a copy of your employment contract, and details of your guarantor.
The role of the guarantor is to pay the rent if you cannot 鈥� or, at the very least, reassure the landlord that a French resident is prepared to vouch for you.
Finding a guarantor is difficult if you are new to the country. However, your employer or bank might be able to help.
Additionally, a real estate agent might be able to line up listings that focus on guarantor-free requirements.
Understanding the Culture
It鈥檚 the little things about French culture that might throw you for a loop when moving from the U.S. to France.
The Metric System
The U.S. is one of only three countries on earth that 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 use the metric system.
In France, inches and feet are measured in centimeters. Miles become kilometers. Teaspoons and tablespoons become milliliters. And temperatures are expressed in degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
A simple conversion app on your phone can solve immediate issues, but it may take some time to get used to the differences.
When (and How Much) You Eat
In France, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, often a three-course experience followed by wine.
The French people are more likely to have an appetizer, an entr茅e, and a dessert at lunchtime than at dinner. Dinner is often the smallest meal of the day.
When ordering off a French menu, keep in mind that what the French call entr茅es are what Americans call appetizers. It鈥檚 the starter, or the small first course, that you eat before your main meal.
In France, the main course that Americans call the entr茅e is called the plat principal. This is typically followed by dessert or cheese.
Part of this funding is dedicated to covering the cost of preschool, called maternelle, for children between the ages of three and six.
From the age of six to 16, education is mandatory for French children. Most continue their education until age 18 and pass the baccalaur茅at (le bac) examination. About half continue on to post-secondary education.
To register a child in preschool, parents must complete a registration form and provide supporting documentation, including the child鈥檚 birth certificate, medical records or health certificate, proof of address, and proof of visa or residency card.
Education is entirely free, but as children progress through the school system, expenses do add up.
Those expenses include textbooks (yes, students need to provide their own), sports uniforms, and other supplies.
Relocating to France With Kids?
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Opening a bank account in France is generally easy, but it involves some finicky steps.
French banks tend to close in the middle of the day for a long lunch, especially in small towns. They鈥檙e also typically not open on weekends and rarely have evening hours.
You can also expect your prospective new bank to ask for many forms of proof of identity, including proof of address, visa status, and employment. Documentation that鈥檚 not in French is often required to be officially translated and notarized.
And when the bank offers you free checks, take them. In France, paper cheques are still a common form of payment. Many people use them to avoid electronic bank transfer fees.
Working U.S. citizens must file tax returns in both France and the U.S., but most Americans who work abroad may not owe anything under the Federal foreign tax credit.
Ready to Move to France?
For many U.S. citizens, the thought of moving to France can be exciting, but it鈥檚 important to make the necessary preparations before you go.
Your move will be more successful and easier to handle if you secure a job, apply for your French visa, learn French, and enroll in an international medical insurance plan in advance.
Start Your Life Abroad With Confidence
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Sophie Pettit is Head of Content at ICI and brings extensive experience in content strategy and management within the expat and travel space. She has led major websites across Europe and Southeast Asia and creates content that inspires readers to explore with confidence.
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