Now is always a good time for checking your finances if you’re an expat in France. An annual tax check can really pay off.

There always seems to be something going on that can influence exchange rates, savings and financial plans. Covid, war, political instability, energy supply problems, global supply chain issues… There’s been a lot to contend with in recent years. As the economy evolves, so should your financial planning. Robert Kent of Kentingtons, tax and financial advisors, says that now more than ever expats need to think about what all these issues mean for them and, more importantly, what they can practically do about it….

If you spend in Euros, think in Euros

At Kentingtons we meet many people who think very much in the currency of their old home, such as Sterling. But, thinking in a currency that you do not live in can create risk. Brexit has shown us just how much Sterling can move versus the Euro. As a French resident, thinking in Euros does not merely reduce the currency exchange risk, it eliminates it. If you can eliminate unnecessary risk, why not do so?

“But my pensions / rental income (etc) are in Sterling!” you say. This does not prevent sensible planning, using FX companies to maximise currency moves, maintaining your savings and investments in Euros (which makes sense from a French tax perspective, by the way) and forward planning your income requirements.

If you have rental property outside of France / the Eurozone, challenge why this needs to be so. If it is purely an investment, you might be better off to consider selling and creating more Euro income.

Do you have pensions that could be cashed in? For many pensions this can be done, in France, with an effective tax rate of just 6.75%, so worth considering. Could any of your income be turned to Euro revenue?

My point is merely to prompt a rethink. What was the right course of action, when things were first done, may not be right for the way life is now.

Hope For the Best, Plan For the Worst

When it comes to income planning, it makes sense to hope for the best and plan for the worst. Good financial planning is not gambling, it is about creating as much certainty as possible. If you are living in Euros, then ensure you have sufficient Euros to see you through a crisis. A crisis could be in exchange rates, the financial markets, a slowdown in the rental markets, property prices etc. The point is to calculate how much income you might need for the next few years, ensuring that it is easily accessible and usable. A crisis, no matter what the source, should not cause you sleepless nights.

Consider Inflation

Don’t just consider what you need at today’s prices but build in inflation. In France we have seen it go to over 6% from almost nothing. The point is you just cannot guarantee what will happen. So, plan for higher inflation, which means planning on needing a rising income for the next few years, in the hope that you do not need it.

Rethink your investment Strategy

Interest rates at 0% mean that money is eroding in real terms, so a sensible investment strategy is key. Simply keeping it in the bank or under the mattress is unlikely to help. A traditional market investment strategy of 60% of your capital in the markets and 40% in bonds, is out of date. Bonds means that you may be paying them to keep your money (hopefully safely). It does not mean that they do not play a role, however, they have become less central. If you have buy-to-let properties, what happens when they are vacant and / or you need to sell when the market is bad? Property is not always ‘as safe as houses’!

With sensible financial planning, you stand a much better chance of withstand issues when they arise. And an annual tax check can save expats in France money and mean less stress.

Contact the team at Kentingtons for advice, or a free initial consultation at: kentingtons.com

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Sending kids to school in France wasn’t quite how writer Gillian Harvey expected it to be when she first moved to the Limousin from the UK. Ten years later, and with five children now in the French school system, Gilian shares her expertise…

As a former teacher, I thought I was pretty clued-up when it came to all things educational. But when my first child, Lily (then 3) started school in France back in 2012, I realised that many things differ from the UK – and probably from many other countries too.

School meals

In the UK, it’s common for schools to offer the option of packed lunch or school dinners for parents to choose from. However, here packed lunches aren’t really a ‘thing.’ Instead, we have the option of sending kids to eat in the canteen or picking them up for lunch at home.

The good news is, the menu is pretty amazing. Each day our children are treated to a three course, dietitian approved meals with a set amount of local produce in the mix. And there’s not a turkey twizzler in sight – Moules frites or butternut squash soup anyone? Sometimes I read the menu and consider trying to pose as an oversized pupil to dine with the kids rather than eat the dried-up sandwich I have at home.

Dinners aren’t cheap (especially with 5), but although they can cost up to around €4 a head in my commune, they are means-tested, meaning that families who have less pay less, which can only be a good thing.

Insurance

One of the biggest shocks on sending the kids to school has been having to have insurance to cover them. What on earth could such insurance be for? I wondered. Flooding, fire or theft? Libel, when they call out the playground bully? Perhaps it protects them against disappointing exam results (you may be entitled to compensation).

School insurance covers third party liability for your child, meaning if they destroy someone else’s coat in a playground brawl, you’re covered. To me, at first, it did seem a little excessive – and I know few people who’ve actually made a claim. That said, depending on your policy, you can get cover for tuition if your child is hurt, or some recompense if your child has an accident, which sounds quite sensible.

Like all insurance, you only really know the value of having it when you need to claim. But as the policies tend to be fairly low cost (some are around €20 a year, although as with most things, the sky’s the limit if you want cover for any eventuality), it’s become just another admin job to sort out at the start of the year.

Attitude

Ever been called a swot or a boffin? Teacher’s pet? When I went to school as a pupil, I learned to hide my aptitude for some subjects to keep myself out of the bully radar. But in France, or at least in my part of Limousin, it seems that you can be top of the class without being bottom of the social pecking-order.

But like all good things, there is a flip side. In my opinion the amount of grading and testing that goes on once kids hit college is rather excessive. Marks come home almost every week, and every pupil is painfully aware of their average grade.

Testing has definitely increased in the UK since I’ve moved, so its hard to make a comparison. But in my mind, education is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet, but about encouraging young minds to be inquisitive, to explore and to develop a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

Uniform

I have a love-hate relationship with uniform. As a teacher, in the UK, I saw it as an important part of school life. It helped, I felt, to create a sense of togetherness within a school and levelled the playing field, meaning children who couldn’t afford designer clothes wouldn’t be bullied for their outfit choices.

Here, I changed my tune. I enjoyed seeing my children select their own clothes and go to school expressing their individuality. And I still find it wonderful to see the riot of colour in the primary school playground at recreation.

But now my eldest is at college, the pressure is different. Like all teens, she’s conscious of what she wears, meaning mornings can be traumatic if the right t-shirt has not yet come out of the wash.

On balance, I think I’d quite like the kids to have to wear a uniform, if only to save on the angst of early morning fashion choices.

Overall, I’m pleased with the school system here. Like all educational systems it has its faults. But certainly in my corner of Limousin, I feel my children are well taught and supported. Low population means class sizes here are small, and the schools are very much part of the local community.

And while you might have to fork out for insurance, the dinners are to die for.

Vive la différence!

Gillian Harvey is a freelance writer and author living in Limousin, France, with her husband and five children.

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There’s a question that comes up time and again when it comes to insurance in France: car insurance for foreign registered vehicles. Fabien Pelissier of FAB French Insurance whose team specialise in helping English speakers in France with all their insurance requirements, explains the process of insuring a non-France registered car…

Car Insurance for foreign registered vehicles

Most people believe that you can’t have a foreign registered car insured in France, but this isn’t true. If you’re planning to move to France and register your foreign car – which is a legal requirement – then this can take time. And while you’re waiting – you will need insurance. So if you’re asking ‘can I register a a UK registered car in France’ – the answer is yes. But there are caveats.

We can insure foreign registered vehicles in the same way as we can for a French registered vehicles with a “standard” policy. This is based upon the assumption that you will register the car or bike in France. Failure to do so may open you up to consequences which can have long term effects in France where there is a central insurer’s database. Do not consider insuring the vehicle in France if the import project isn’t solid or might be reverted.

French car insurance – how no claims bonus works

Foreign insurance history, for instance ‘no claims bonus/’no claims discount’, can be converted into the French equivalent. This is called the CRM or the bonus. The conversion may look weird at first as France doesn’t work like the rest of the world (which may not surprise you).

The maximum discount in France is 13 years (50% bonus or CRM = 0.50). The “CRM” is like your own index. It starts at 1 and each year without a claim it’s multiplied by 0.95. A maximum discount reached when your CRM is at 0.50 (e.g. 13 years without a claim). Every claim deemed to be your fault will multiply your CRM by 1.2. It takes roughly 5 years to write off a claim in France.

Unlike other countries (for instance the UK), it’s not possible to “protect” your discount here. This is why French insurers will need to see your full history (proof of no claim) and not just the “insurer’s discount” or ‘no claims bonus’. They know a 9 years no claims bonus doesn’t mean you’ve been claim free for the past 9 years. That said they also don’t care about anything that happened more than 3 years ago. French insurers only look at the past 3 years of insurance. The upside of this is that you may have a 9 years NCD with claims 5 years ago which won’t be considered when you convert your NCD into a French CRM. French insurers require proof of no claims from the previous three years which can be onerous when you’ve changed insurers each year.

There is no off road status (SORN) in France

Another major difference is that French insurers really hate insurance gaps. The “off road” status doesn’t exist in France. You must be insured even if the vehicle is no longer in driving condition. A gap in your insurance record of more than 3 months is bad for your future premiums – and a gap of more than 6 months is most certainly going to be problematic.

One big difference with French car insurance is that it’s the vehicle that’s insured – not the driver.  You can allow anyone to drive your vehicle in France if you pay for increased excess which is not expensive.

Find out more and get a quote at: FAB French insurance

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The currency market moves about from day to day, sometimes up, sometimes down. But when you’re looking at paying the deposit on your dream house in France or needing to send funds to pay bills or for things like building work – the last thing you need is more stress and uncertainty not knowing which way the currency wind blows. And that’s where a foreign exchange money transfer company can really help you to save money on your currency transfers to France.

What are foreign currency money transfers all about?

Most of us don’t know the ins and outs of foreign exchange, we don’t need to. But we do know that our bank usually charges commission. And we do know that they’re not usually giving us the best rate available. Many of us don’t look for a different way to get a better rate because it might seem too much bother. But actually, nothing could be further from the truth. The whole system of foreign exchange has moved on leaps and bounds in recent years and makes it easy for clients to take advantage of the best market rates experts can provide.

Currencies Direct for instance, make setting up an account easy and quick – it’s all online. They have staff at the end of the line you can talk to – not just a chat bot. They have more than 20 branches around the world, trade in more than 40 countries and have experts watching and analysing the market constantly and providing live exchange rates.

They’re happy to give advice. They have no hidden fees, zero transaction costs and secure the best exchange rate on your behalf. Currencies Direct were the first money transfer provider in Europe and have been helping to move money at the best rates for almost 30 years. They are fully authorised and have level 1 credit rating with Dun & Bradstreet which may not mean much to most of us but essentially it’s the highest credit rating available.

Importantly for their clients, they can make payments that arrive in minutes – not days later. As anyone who’s ever needed to transfer money abroad knows, waiting for a payment to come through can be the sort of stress you just don’t need. Especially when you’re sitting in the notaire’s office waiting to be handed the keys to your dream home. Or you need to pay a bill. Or have euros in the bank when you need them.

Currency exchange tips for French home buyers

When it comes to buying a property overseas there’s plenty of paperwork to complete and lots to consider. But one thing that you can save time, stress and money on is the transfer of funds. Not just for the deposit, but any mortgage payments and ongoing costs such as electricity and phone bills.

Transferring funds via Currencies Direct can save you a fair bit of money. They’re at the end of the phone to help with any questions and to give advice.

How does setting up a foreign exchange account work

First register for free – simply complete a quick and easy online form. Let Currencies Direct know what currency you need and where you want to send it and they’ll come straight back with a live rate. You confirm, they will book the payment and you send the funds, they accept debit cards or bank transfers, to their segregated account and they will make the payment as soon as they receive your funds. Simple. Secure. Stress free.

You can also instruct them that you want to be notified when the market rate reaches a level that suits you, and then make your transfer. Make a one off payment or set up regular payments such as a mortgage. If your bank charges say £25 per transfer and you’re paying a mortgage 12 months a year, that’s £300 you could spend on something much more fun. And you’re probably not getting the best rate either. It doesn’t matter if you’re sending a large sum or small money transfer – why waste it when you can save money.

Currencies Direct help you manage your transfers and payments online with ease and securely.

The Good Life France uses Currencies Direct. Registration is easy and secure, plus there are no added fees. They save their customers money  with their advantageous rates of exchange and guidance. You can speak to one of their experts over email or by phone… Find out more about their currency transfer services here: currenciesdirect.com

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The French Property Exhibition, London is a ‘must attend’ for anyone who is dreaming of or planning to buy a property in France.

Held in Hammersmith, London, on the last weekend of January 2023, entry is free.

The essential French Property Exhibition

The French Property Exhibition, London will be held on the weekend of the 28th and 29th January 2023 in the Champagne suite at Novotel West, London. It’s a ‘must attend’ for anyone who is serious about buying a property in France.

It’s a long established property show which has been running for more than 30 years. For anyone dreaming of or planning to buy their dream home in France, this is the perfect opportunity to find out more. Whatever stage of the buying journey you are at – whether you’re just thinking about it, dipping a toe in the water, or actively looking for your dream home – you’ll find help and advice here.

At the French Property Exhibition you can discuss your plans with the experts face to face. Find out about the buying process and how it differs from the UK. And you can browse thousands of properties for sale. There will be several seminars offering expert advice on a range of issues, including tax, legal, financial and residency matters. The seminar timetable is published on the website in advance of the show, giving you time to plan your day and ensure you get the most out of your visit. All sessions are free to attend, and tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.

All visitors receive a complimentary copy of French Property News magazine on arrival plus a free show guide.

Register for your tickets completely free here: frenchpropertyexhibition2023tickets

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As in all aspects of life in France, the differences from the UK are numerous – and that includes marriage.

In Britain, depending on one’s faith, or lack of, one would typically get married in a church, or in a registry office. In France most couples do both! Before being married in a church, the marriage much be officially conducted in the local town hall – the mairie.

And it gets even more confusing. Because, in France there are various marriage regimes, which are effectively marriage contracts in the legal sense. It’s important to choose wisely, as the chosen regime will govern how a couple’s assets are owned. This will also affect how assets are dispersed, including inheritance, explains Robert Kent of Kentingtons, tax consultants for British expats in, or moving to, France.

A choice of marriage regimes in France

In the broadest sense, the three principal marriage regimes in France can be explained as follows:

Séparation des Biens
This is literally translated as “separation of assets”, which is fairly self-explanatory.

Communauté Réduite aux Acquêts
This is the default marriage regime in France. In short it means that everything purchased by the spouses after the marriage is owned by the community, i.e., jointly by the two spouses, even if only one of the two pays.

Communauté Universelle
Everything owned before and bought during the marriage is owned within the community, i.e., jointly by the two spouses.

Marriage problems – when it comes to inheritance in France

Most British couples, in their minds at least, would consider themselves married within a universal community, i.e., all is shared, and very often all is inherited by the surviving spouse. But here’s the issue. In France, the vast majority of couples married in the UK are considered to be married under the Séparation des Biens marriage contract. Why is that a problem? Of course, every case is different, but let us consider one relatively common example.

Mr and Mrs Smith, who have two grown up children, were married in the UK and lived there for many years before moving to France. Each wants their surviving spouse to receive all assets on first death. However, being married under the separation of assets regime means that French inheritance law takes charge.

Inheritance law reveals another notable difference. In the UK you can generally leave all your worldly goods to whoever you like, even the neighbour’s dog, if you wish! In France, however, the children have an absolute right to inherit a minimum percentage of the deceased’s estate as follows:

1 child – half
2 children –  two thirds
3 children or more – three quarters

If we go back to our example, on the passing of Mr Smith, the two children would have a right to two thirds of Mr Smith’s estate.

What can you do to ensure your assets are shared as you wish?

In the UK, you simply write a will, allocating funds to whoever you wish. In France, inheritance planning can be more complicated. However, in certain circumstances it is possible to change one’s marriage regime (contract). And, as in the UK, there are ways in France to plan for the future in a tax efficient way, offering as much protection as possible to all your loved ones, be they from a first or second marriage.

Everybody’s situation is different. Advice given to your neighbour, for example, may be totally inappropriate for you. When you’re looking at long term financial planning, it’s essential to take qualified advice that’s personal to you own specific family set-up.

By Robert Kent of Kentingtons, Tax and Investment Consultants with coverage throughout France and the UK. Find out more or get in touch for advice and support at: kentingtons.com

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No matter which French visa you arrived on, there may come a moment when you realise it will expire in a few months and you don’t want to leave. Perhaps you just came over on a 6 month short stay visa for an extended holiday. Or maybe you opted for a 12 month long stay visa to see if you like the lifestyle. Or perhaps you’ve fallen in love with France and want to make it your permanent home, but you’re not sure how to go about it.

French Connections HCB explain the process. An English speaking company based in France, they help people from around the world to navigate the administrative complexities in moving to France and settling permanently in France.

Let’s start with the good news

The first step to achieving French residency, is to apply for a residency permit.

If you are here on a 12 month long stay visa, you’ll be able to apply from France without leaving the country. You just need to start the residency application process two months before your visa is due to expire.

If you are here on a short stay 6 month visa, you will need to leave France and apply for a 12 month long stay visa to allow you to come back. Once here, you will be eligible to apply for residency before that 12 month visa expires.

Is it difficult to apply for French residency?

Applying for residency is quite a long process but almost always successful if you meet the necessary criteria and produce the correct documents.

If you don’t have the time or confidence do it yourself, we offer a Residency Application service that takes care of the entire process start to finish. This is how it works. First, we’ll invite you to talk to our friendly relocation specialist, Diana. She will discuss your current status with you to make sure that all the requirements are met before you start your application.Once we have everything we need, we will then apply online on your behalf, upload the documents and track your application as it progresses through the administrative system.

You’ll need to provide lots of documents for your visa application. Some have to be the original, so it is always a good idea to make a copy before handing them over. Your originals will be returned to you by the French administration at the moment of your interview, which is the last step in the process and much less scary than it sounds!

Typically, you will need to provide:

– Passport

– Proof of French residency, such as a recent utility bill that is less than three months old.

– A copy of your Private Health Insurance / Social Security Number/ S1 (this is critical to get right, if you need but don’t have the right health insurance, your application will fail).

– Proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself.

Once your dossier has been accepted you will be invited to an appointment at your local Prefecture. Here you’ll be asked to provide your fingerprints electronically, plus 3 passport-style ID photos and any additional information they need.

After that there is nothing more to do. You will receive your residency permit in the post a couple of weeks later, unless you are invited to collect it person form the prefecture.

How long does it all take?

From start to finish, the residency application process can take several months, so don’t worry if it drags on. This is completely normal!

The next steps

If you’d like to find out more or talk about how we can help, simply book your FREE initial consultation with relocation specialist Diana via our website frenchconnectionshcb.com

Alternatively, you can reach her at diana@frenchconnectionshcb.com

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For many expats in France, administration and bureaucratic practices – for which the French are rightly renowned – can cause a frustration and confusion, including insurance. Luckily, help is at hand with an expert English speaking company who cover all aspects of insurance.

FAB French Insurance

FAB French insurance are an English speaking, French native speaking, brokerage, based in France. They are experts at anything and everything to do with insurance. Their aim is to make the whole process of insurance easy for their clients and to make sure they’ve got you covered.
Working with more than 30 insurers means that they are able to find an affordable solution for clients, and a solution that’s suitable for every situation. Fabien Pelissier of FAB French insurance says, “we take care of the tricky bits of the French system, and make sure that you get the insurance you need.” And as you’d expect, this being France, there are always a few tricky bits! FAB French Insurance have an online quote system that’s simple to use, jargon free and in plain English and you’ll get a quote back following their competitive analysis, with a clear explanation of the process.

Visa and residence Insurance for France

If you’re a non-EU citizen and want to stay in France for longer than 90 days in a 180 day period you’ll need a visa – a Visa Long Séjour (VLS-TS). Even If you want to live in France, you’ll need to apply for the one year VLS-TS. When you apply for your VLS-TS, you’ll need to include several documents such as bank statements, and most importantly, private medical insurance (PHI). One of the most common reasons for a refusal on a visa application is the insurance element. FAB French Insurance can help you get your insurance sorted and provide you with those all important documents that you need to include with your application. Get a quote for your visa and residence insurance for France

Car insurance

If you’re planning to move to France and register your foreign car – which is a legal requirement – then this can take time. And while you’re waiting – you will need insurance.  Despite what some people say, this can be done. FAB French Insurance can insure your foreign registered car in France as well as your French registered car.  And in France, it’s the car that’s insured – not the driver, so you can add on other drivers to your policy for an excess fee.

Household Insurance

French household insurance may differ from what you’re used to. You might be asked to provide photos of buildings, repair bills and more. And getting the right insurer that you can trust is really important.  We’ve heard tales of insurance companies holding out for years before paying up after a claim, often because non-French clients either didn’t understand the small print or didn’t get the right policy because they didn’t understand the differences. FAB French Insurance explain everything in English. They know that their British clients aren’t used to French insurance and they make sure that you’re made aware.

Additional Health Insurance

In France, the excellent healthcare system is available to all residents, but there is also a top up insurance system in place. 95% of adults in France have this insurance, known as a “mutuelle.” A mutuelle provides additional health cover and is different from PHI in that it doesn’t charge premiums for pre-existing conditions. Although French health care covers around 70% of the charges, there may be fees to pay that are not covered by the state. A mutuelle is an insurance policy that covers these costs.

For more information: fabfrenchinsurance.com

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If you’re moving money to or from France you’ll want to get the best return possible on your currency transfers. But how do you make sure you get the best rate? We asked Calum Harkiss at Currencies Direct who have been helping people maximise their currency transfers for almost 30 years, to explain the process why timing is important when transferring money overseas…

The currency market is always moving, so picking the right time to make a transfer can be tricky. Even a seemingly small discrepancy in the exchange rate you secure can make a massive difference to how much you receive, and rates can shift by as much as 5% in a matter of weeks.

Over the last ten years we have seen several historic shifts in the currency market due to events like the EU referendum, Covid-19, Brexit, the war in Ukraine and (most recently) the turbulent political situation in the UK.

In 2022 alone the GBP/EUR exchange rate has seen a wide range of fluctuation. Over a short period of time, if you had £100,000 euros to transfer you would have received €121,000 at the higher rate, but €6,000 less when exchange rates were at their lowest. When you transfer money through Currencies Direct, we’ll provide, and agree, an exchange rate with you over the phone, online or via our app. We can help you buy currency to use at a later date, we set rate alerts and we send your currency as soon as we receive your payment. It’s simple.

No transfer fees for your currency transfers

And it’s not just the timing of your transfer that’s important, the exchange rate you receive can be very different depending on the provider you use to move your money abroad.

While most banks will offer you uncompetitive exchange rates and tag on transfer fees, as a leading currency provider, Currencies Direct will make sure you receive exceptional exchange rates, potentially saving you thousands on larger transfers.

What’s more, we don’t charge transfer fees and we offer a range of specialist services to help make your money go further.

Whether you want to fix an exchange rate ahead of making a transfer, buy currency in advance or target an exchange rate higher than the current market level, Currencies Direct can help. currenciesdirect.com

Find out more and get advice at: currenciesdirect.com or contact Calum Harkiss:  +33 (0) 631 559 607 or email calum.h @ currenciesdirect.com.

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One thing you learn very quickly when you move to France is that you don’t really have a choice about the order in which you do things. That’s because you often need to have completed one step in order to advance on something else. For example, if you want to buy or rent a house in France, you need to have a French bank account. In order to open a French bank account, you need to have an address. And to have an address, you need a visa that entitles you to live there, plus medical insurance and proof of income…

Confused? Or concerned that this is all going to take up time you just don’t have? Don’t worry, there is help at hand!

French Connections HCB is a team of friendly bilingual relocation experts who can guide you through the complexities of French administration. If you’re short of time, unsure about the language or simply don’t know where to start, they take the stress out of every procedure quickly and efficiently.

Let’s start by unravelling those questions one at a time.

How do I find somewhere to live?

Where to live is the first consideration for most people thinking of moving to France. And how to go about renting or buying is the most burning question. You may want to rent  a place while you’re looking for your dream home – and in France the system is probably quite different to what you’re used to. You might want to consider a French mortgage – and that is also likely to be a different procedure

Can I get a French mortgage?

The short answer is yes. In order to apply for a mortgage, you need a French bank account and a healthy financial profile. French Connections HCB has connections with a major French bank that welcomes new customers and we can offer useful information on how to go about applying for a mortgage in France.

Can I rent in France while I’m looking for something to buy?

It will come as no surprise that there is usually more paperwork involved when renting in France. French Connections HCB can help with you to secure a rental, put together a solid financial profile to boost your tenancy application and help you to navigate the legal aspects of the contract. Once you have an address, you will also be able to open a bank account and we can help you with that, too.

How do I find a Notaire I can trust?

If you don’t speak French, then finding a notaire who speaks English will be a big help. French Connections’ have a qualified legal translator who can liaise with Notaires on your behalf  and oversee property purchases, the bank providing the mortgage, and make sure the entire legal process is securely covered. They can also recommend their preferred notaires, Francoise and Rémy, the principal partners. Both speak excellent English and have already helped hundreds of non-French clients with property purchases. They also offer Docusign, a secure online signature system, which saves time and money if you are not yet resident in the country.

How do I know which visa to apply for?

There are 17 different visas in France alone! A Relocation Experts can help with every administrative hurdle from choosing the right visa, the documents you need to bring with you, transporting and re-registering your car, applying for a French social security number and, if you decide to make the move permanent, applying for residency. If you are not registered for French social security, you will need proof of health insurance for the duration of your visa. English-speaking Fab French Insurance offer very competitive rates on all sorts of insurance (including cars) and are highly recommended.

Can I work in France?

Yes, and there are many ways of making that happen depending on whether you prefer to be freelance, self-employed, employed by a French company, based in France but employed by a non-French company, set up your own business in France or have your own company outside of France but work legally within France. French Connections HCB help you work out the best option and guide you through the administrative procedures to make it happen.

Find out more at www.frenchconnectionshcb.com or book a FREE 15 minute initial consultation with FrenchConnections HCB here.

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