HORS SERIE Ideas new president Macron is FRANCE’S ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER bringing in Wikipedia Photo: www.connexionfrance.com Issue 8 BREXIT What changes for Moving to Britons in France and Living and those on way l Buying in France a home 2018 l Aid for renovation l Working l Tax l Pensions l Healthcare Would you What you become French? need to We are! Here’s why... know! + Inspirational real life stories Photo: Fotolia 12.50 E M 02697 - 20H - F: 14,50 - RD 3’:HIKMQJ=\VYZUU:?k@a@m@a@f"; Flickr Sarlat jiva Photo: 14.50 SATISFACTION Guaranteed WITH REGULAR SERVICES INTERNATIONAL REMOVAL TO AND FROM FRANCE AND SPAIN, OUR SPECIALISED VEHICLES TRANSPORT CAN ACCOMMODATE FULL OR PARTIAL HOME CALL TODAY REMOVALS, CARS, ANDY: 0044 (0) 7876 504 547 CARAVANS AND MUCH DAVE: 0044 (0) 7515 722 772 MUCH MORE. EMAIL: [email protected] 60 DAYS FREE STORAGE NOW AVAILABLE USE OUR ONLINE ENQUIRY PAGE FOR A NO OBLIGATION QUOTE. WWW.WATSONEUROPEAN.CO.UK Moving to France 2018 by FRANCE’S ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER Photo: goodluz - Fotolia.com goodluz Photo: eople in their thousands continue However as negotiations progress, it is an the keys. By using this guide we hope your to make plans for a new life in la ever-shifting landscape, so for updates visit our transition and subsequent years will be all the belle France – and 2018 will be no website connexionfrance.com or follow our more smooth and enjoyable. exception. Facebook and Twitter pages. We also send out There is one golden piece of advice that will Everyone has their personal rea- a free weekly email newsletter (sign up at our help you with your life in France more than any sons to come, be it more affordable property, website) which features news, updates and other: learn French. (And subscribe to The Pbetter food (and wine!), beautiful scenery or a community events, while if you have specific Connexion, of course!). desire for a gentler way of life, especially in queries you think we can help with, please Mastering even the basics will transform your rural areas. email us at [email protected]. experience, enabling you to navigate bureau- Then there is the intangible attraction: a Beyond Brexit this guide, produced by the cracy, join in community life and enjoy more of desire to live a life that is more grounded in publishers of France’s long-established English- what French culture has to offer. family, nature or terroir. language newspaper The Connexion, Settling down will take a while as it would This romanticised imagining of life in France is designed to help you deal with a range of with a relocation to any country so give your- is entirely justified – learn the language and processes and practical issues ahead of your self time to adjust to a new way of living as you make every effort to settle into your local com- move – and during your time here – because to learn about everything from opening a bank munity and the rewards will be enormous. live the dream you need realistic expectations. account to how best to make new friends. However, what this guide aims to do is navigate It is written by our journalists who all live in Bonne chance! the practical aspects of life in France, leaving France and have experienced a move here first- you stress-free to enjoy the good stuff. hand. Some have moved over recently, with the ON A practical note, we sometimes refer to UK For this, our 8th annual edition, the big ques- challenges fresh in their mind, others have or British law in this guide. There are, of course, tion for those planning to settle in France gathered years of experience and knowledge differences between English, Scottish, Welsh and or already living here is: how might Brexit from working on The Connexion: answering Irish law. However, the focus of this guide is on affect me? For answers, turn to our section readers’ questions and absorbing the culture. France and references to the UK are made mainly detailing what we already know about Britain’s Moving to France can be perplexing and diffi- for comparison. Always discuss your requirements departure from the EU and its potential impact cult to get to grips with. Much of the bureau- with a qualified expert as the information here is on future or current expat residents cracy you lived with passively in the UK arrives general and may not cover your exact individual in France. on your doorstep the minute you take hold of circumstances. The guide is published by; TOC CONTA T US English Language Media, Editorial: [email protected] Patio Palace RDC, Editor: Sarah Smith 41 Avenue Hector Otto, 98000 Monaco Contributors: Oliver Rowland, Ken Seaton, Follow Tel: +33 (0)6 40 55 71 63 Justin Postlethwaite us on... Design: Lynne Spaight Directrice de la publication: Sarah Smith Facebook Proof reading: Ilona Furrokh The Connexion © English Language Media 2018 Project consultancy: Bruno Lacombe Reproduction in whole or part of any text in this guide without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited For advertising and to order extra copies: All photos are from www.fotolia.com unless otherwise specified. Telephone: +33 (0)6 40 55 71 63 The information in this guide is of a general nature and you should Twitter not act or refrain from acting on it without taking professional advice For regular updates on France visit specific to your case. No liability whatsoever can be accepted in respect of these articles or for advertiser claims connexionfrance.com Printed by Rotimpres, Impressions Rotatives, Sign up there for a free weekly email newsletter Web 17181 Aiguaviva (Girona), Espagne English Language Media cannot accept responsibility for claims of advertisers or their professionalism. Published: January 16, 2018 78 Depôt légal – a parution. RCI 10 S 05218 ISSN: 2303-971X CPPAP: 0121 I85379 Moving to France Guide 2018 u 3 CONTENTS What’s new in 2018? at-a-glance guide Clockwise, from above: Dinan on the Rance in Brittany; a natural coastal attraction at on page 7 Etretat, Normandy; medieval cité at Carcassonne, Aude; a regular sight in French skies; simple pleasures of French life; lavender field at Sénanque Abbey, Vaucluse Photos: iStock PLANNING CHECK LIST 4. CHEZ NOUS! A HOME IN FRANCE Keep track of what you need to do 6 Buying a property 41 The cost of buying 44 1.BREXIT: WHAT EFFECT? What about renting 46 The key issues for Britons abroad 8 Owning a second home 49 What has been agreed for expat rights? 9 Renovation 53 What might happen after Brexit? 11 The first professionals that you meet 56 Applying for French citizenship 12 Internet and utilities 59 2018 calendar to cut out and keep 13 Big events over the year 15 5.O M NEY Air and sea route planner 16 Opening a bank account 65 2. THE BASICS Other banking information 70 Learning the language 19 Currency exchange 71 Culture shocks 25 Mortgages 77 Cutting the red tape 28 6. TAX AND INHERITANCE Taxation 83 3. WHERE WILL YOU LIVE? Inheritance 86 Snapshot of the regions and their prices 32 Pensions 95 Capital Gains tax 101 CONTENTS This guide has had input from several experts. We would like to thank, in particular: Barbara Heslop, Heslop & Platt; Bob Elliott, UK Telecom; Pippa Maile, Currencies Direct; Michael Annett, Pelican Consulting; Paulette Booth, Axa Agence International, Daphne Foulkes, Spectrum IFA Group; 7. HEALTHCARE ‘We love the country and the lifestyle’ 126 Doctors, hospitals and more 107 8. EVERYDAY LIFE Insurance 113 Working 119 Driving 127 Pets 131 9 EDUCATION Schools, university and adult learning 135 10. CARE HOMES/DEATH Care, aid and formalities following a death 141 ROREADER ST IES OF MOVING TO FRANCE ‘everybody in the village is so friendly’ 40 ‘To experience local life, meet local people’ 81 ‘We can choose how we spend our days’ 106 ‘I meet French friends for rugby matches’ 121 P Moving to France checklist BEFORE YOUR MOVE AND IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS AFTER ARRIVAL Moving home can be exciting - and stressful - and moving to a new country has extra challenges. Here we have put together a checklist of key points (although not exhaustive) to help you and your family prepare for the big move. 1 DO YOUR HOMEWORK Subscribe to The Connexion and read connexionfrance.com and our free weekly email newsletter to familiarise yourself with France. This will provide you with updates on key issues as well as features and practical tips on living here. We can move your subscription to France when you do! SPEAK TO A FINANCIAL ADVISER WORK OUT YOUR HEALTH COVER 2 Different tax systems in France and the 3 Get an EHIC for your immediate UK mean organising your finances in medical needs in France. Organise your advance of the move is a good idea state and/or private cover for after this 4 GET PETS READY TO TRAVEL 5 BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY Pets will need a pet passport and may Learn some French to help you settle in need vaccinations and other treatments and meet the neighbours and be better some time before setting off able to tackle everyday formalities 6 LOOK AT YOUR BANKING NEEDS 7 CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS Keep one or more UK bank or building Royal Mail will redirect mail for periods society accounts open and ask about of three, six or 12 months, the latter opening an account in France renewable for up to four years 8 PLAN FOR SCHOOLING 9 CHECK YOUR PASSPORT Notify UK schools of the move and contact You will need at least a year’s validity French schools / your future mairie (for nurs- before you set off so renew your pass- ery / primary) for registration procedures port if it has less than nine months left 10 PREPARE CAR FOR MOVE 11 CHECK VOTING REGISTRATION If bringing a vehicle, tell DVLA of the Your UK MP will still represent you in move and get an EU certificate of France if you are on the electoral roll.