Expat Checklist: Moving to France

Moving to France involves dozens of steps across multiple months. This checklist organizes everything chronologically — from your first research to your first day of settled life. Print it, bookmark it, and check items off as you go.

Key Takeaways

Start planning at least 6 months before your target move date, especially for visa applications.
Document preparation (translations, apostilles, notarized copies) takes longer than expected — begin early.
French bureaucracy is real but manageable when you have the right documents ready.
The first three months after arrival are the most admin-intensive. After that, life settles into a rhythm.
Learning French before you arrive makes every step easier.

6+ Months Before Moving

Research and Decision Phase

Research visa options for your nationality French Visa Types: Tourist, Student, Work, Retirement
Compare cost of living in target cities Cost of Living in France vs UK vs US
Research the job market if planning to work Working in France: Job Market, Salaries, and Work Culture
Research schools if moving with children French Education System: How It Works for Expats and Students
Begin learning French — apps, classes, or tutors French Language Learning: Best Resources Ranked for 2026
Join expat Facebook groups and forums for your target city
Visit your target city if possible (ideally for 1–2 weeks)

4–6 Months Before Moving

Visa and Documents

Apply for your visa at the French consulate in your home country
Obtain an apostille on your birth certificate
Get your birth certificate translated by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté)
Translate diplomas and professional qualifications
Obtain a criminal background check (if required for your visa)
Collect last 3 years of tax returns (for housing applications and banking)
Check if your driving license can be exchanged in France or if you need an International Driving Permit
Research health insurance for the transition period (before French coverage begins)

Financial Preparation

Research French banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Boursorama, N26)
Open an international-friendly bank account if possible (some accept applications from abroad)
Notify your current bank of your move
Understand tax implications (double taxation treaties, reporting requirements)
Build a financial buffer — aim for 3–6 months of living expenses

2–3 Months Before Moving

Housing

Begin searching for housing online (SeLoger, LeBonCoin, PAP)
Prepare your rental dossier: ID, employment contract or proof of income, last 3 pay slips, tax notice, guarantor details or Garantme/Visale registration
Consider short-term accommodation for the first 1–3 months (furnished rental, Airbnb, apart-hotel) to give yourself time to find the right permanent home
If buying property, engage a notaire and begin the process Buying Property in France: Legal Guide for Foreign Buyers

Logistics

Get quotes from international moving companies (or plan what to ship vs. leave behind)
Declutter — shipping is expensive. Bring essentials and buy the rest in France
Arrange pet relocation if applicable (EU pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccination)
Research mobile phone plans (Free Mobile, Bouygues, SFR, Orange)
Purchase a French SIM card or plan to get one on arrival

1 Month Before Moving

Final Preparations

Confirm visa approval and pick up your visa
Book flights
Arrange travel insurance for the transition period
Cancel or redirect home country subscriptions and services
Set up mail forwarding
Prepare an “essentials” bag for your first days (documents, medications, phone chargers, comfortable clothes)
Download key apps: SNCF Connect, Google Maps, Doctolib, AMELI, your bank app
Make copies (physical and digital) of all important documents: passport, visa, birth certificate, translations, employment contract, insurance policy

First Week in France

Immediate Priorities

Validate your visa online through the ANEF platform (within 3 months of arrival, but do it early)
Register at your local mairie (town hall) — especially if enrolling children in school
Open a French bank account (bring passport, visa, proof of address, employment contract)
Get a French phone number (for two-factor authentication, appointments, everything)
Set up internet at your accommodation (Orange, Free, SFR, or Bouygues — allow 1–2 weeks for installation)
Locate your nearest pharmacy, supermarket, boulangerie, and doctor

First Month in France

Administrative Steps

Apply for a social security number (numéro de sécurité sociale) through CPAM
Register for healthcare (Assurance Maladie) — bring passport, visa, proof of address, birth certificate translation, RIB
Find and register with a médecin traitant (primary care doctor) — use Doctolib to search
Choose and subscribe to a mutuelle (complementary health insurance) French Healthcare System: How It Works for Visitors and Residents
Set up utilities: electricity (EDF or Engie), gas (if applicable), water (contact the commune)
Set up home insurance (assurance habitation) — legally required for renters
Register children in school (contact mairie for public schools, or the school directly for private/international)
Enroll in French language classes if needed (Alliance Française, OFII integration classes for VLS-TS holders)

Daily Life Setup

Explore your neighborhood: identify markets, parks, cafés, and transport stops
Get a Navigo transport card (in Paris) or local transit pass
Join a local club, association, or sports team — the fastest way to make French friends
Register for a French conversation exchange (Tandem, HelloTalk, local meetup groups)

First Three Months

Integration

Attend your OFII appointment (if required by your visa — includes a medical exam and French language evaluation)
Receive your temporary social security number and begin the Carte Vitale application process
File any necessary paperwork for your titre de séjour renewal (start early — préfecture appointments book up fast)
Understand the local tax calendar — income tax declaration is typically in May–June for the previous year
Register for impots.gouv.fr (the French tax portal) — your local tax office (centre des finances publiques) can help

Building Your Life

Develop a weekly routine: market days, café spots, favorite walks
Continue French language study — consistency is everything
Explore beyond your city: weekend trips by TGV, car, or regional train Complete Travel Guide to France: First-Timer’s Planning Kit
Build your social network: expat groups, French colleagues, neighborhood connections
Celebrate small victories — navigating French bureaucracy is an accomplishment in itself

Ongoing (6–12 Months)

Receive your Carte Vitale
Apply for the titre de séjour renewal at your préfecture (start 2–4 months before visa expiration)
File your first French tax return
Reassess your mutuelle — is your plan right for your needs?
Consider exchanging your driving license (if applicable and required)
Evaluate your long-term plans: are you in the right city? The right housing?
Start thinking about French permanent residency (after 5 years of continuous residence)

Documents to Bring (Master List)

Next Steps

Start with the visa: Everything depends on securing the right visa first French Visa Types: Tourist, Student, Work, Retirement.
Begin French lessons immediately: French Language Learning: Best Resources Ranked for 2026.
Join expat communities online: Get practical advice from people who have done it.
Consider professional help: Expat Services in France can manage the process end-to-end.
Be patient with yourself: Moving to a new country is hard. Give yourself time to adjust, and remember that the first few months are the hardest — it gets better.

Moving to France is a project, not an event. Approach it step by step, document by document, and before long, you will wonder why you did not do it sooner.

Travel information may change. Verify visa requirements, costs, and availability directly with official sources.