Moving to France from the UK, you’re probably thinking about the food, the weather – maybe even the tax situation. But there’s also credit that you have to think about. In the UK, it’s all about credit scores. Credit bureaus and endless three-digit numbers shape your chances of getting a mortgage or a loan.
So, it’s totally normal to wonder: does France have credit scores in the same way, and will your credit history from the UK actually mean anything once you set foot in Paris or Nice? Let’s break it down:
Quick Overview
First off, the concept of a “credit score” as we know it in Britain – those numbers from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – doesn’t quite translate to France. It’s not that they don’t care about your financial history; they just look at it differently.
How Do French Lenders Assess Borrowers Without Credit Scores?
You might be surprised to learn that France doesn’t have a universal, three-digit credit scoring system that follows you everywhere you go. French financial institutions, whether you’re applying for a personal loan or even just a mobile phone contract, do take your financial behaviour into account, but not in the same way as in the UK or the U.S.
Instead, their approach to creditworthiness focuses more on your:
- Recent financial activity
- Stability
- Ability to repay
So, instead of plugging your details into a database to spit out a number, banks will ask you for things like your last three months of bank statements or your tax returns. In many cases, they’ll want a peek at your employment contract.
This process is, admittedly, a bit more manual and sometimes feels old-fashioned, but it’s just how they do it. Your “credit rating” in France becomes more of a personal profile, constructed from actual documents, rather than some algorithmic calculation.
Who Oversees Credit Risk in France?
Unlike the UK, where private credit bureaus keep score, in France, the Banque de France holds a lot of the cards when it comes to credit risk.
The Banque de France
They manage national registers, but these aren’t credit scoring bureaus in the Fair Isaac Corporation sense. Instead, they keep track of people who’ve:
- Defaulted on loans
- Had cheques bounce
- Filed for bankruptcy
These negative remarks are stored in the Fichier Central des Chèques (FCC) or the Fichier des Incidents de remboursement des Crédits aux Particuliers (FICP).
So, if you’ve had issues in France – maybe unpaid debt or bounced direct debits – your name might end up in these files. That’s really the closest France gets to the idea of “bad credit.”
If you’ve kept your financial nose clean, though, there’s no equivalent to a Bureau Krediet Registratie (BKR) or the UK’s credit bureaus constantly tracking every bill payment. We often see this difference catch expats off guard, especially if you’re used to building a good credit score just by paying your mobile bill on time.
How Does France’s Approach Compare to Other Countries?
It’s not just the UK and France that differ. Across different countries in Europe and beyond, the approach to credit risk and borrowers’ creditworthiness varies a lot. Many countries rely on credit bureaus to centralise credit applications and defaults, whereas others, like France, take a more fragmented or state-led approach.
For example:
- The Dutch have the BKR
- Germany has Schufa
- The U.S. famously uses the Fair Isaac Corporation’s FICO score
- In the UK, we have those familiar credit reference agencies
If you’re curious about European attitudes to credit, the European Banking Authority provides some handy insights into how credit risk and borrower information are handled differently from country to country. You can check out their recent reports here.
What Do Lenders Really Want to See in France?
If you’re making a move, here’s where the reality hits: your good credit in the UK doesn’t transfer automatically. Lenders in France typically aren’t really interested in your UK Experian score or a glowing credit file from Equifax.
They want proof that you’ve got:
- A stable income
- A manageable level of debt
- Enough money in your account to handle repayments
They’re trying to work out your current financial situation rather than your entire credit history. For things like a mortgage or large credit applications, French banks will dig deep – they might ask you for details of any properties you own or even your family situation.
It’s a much more personal, document-heavy method, which means you should always keep your paperwork organised – especially when you first arrive.
Can You Build Good Credit in France?
It’s not all doom and gloom if you’re worried about starting from scratch! Even though France doesn’t use a credit scoring system in the same way as the UK, you can still build trust with lenders and financial institutions.
Solid Tips
What can you do to improve your credit score in France?
- Make sure your accounts are in good order
- Keep your debt levels low
- Don’t miss repayments on any French loans or bills
Over time, your bank will see you as a “good” client, and that reputation will help you with future credit applications. Just don’t expect an official credit score to magically appear.
And if you ever do end up with negative remarks in the Banque de France’s records – say, you bounce a cheque or default on a loan – those will stick around for several years and make it difficult to get credit, so it’s worth avoiding at all costs.
What If You’re a UK Expat With No French Credit History?
This is the tricky bit for many expats. You arrive, full of plans, only to discover that your UK credit rating isn’t recognised at all. You’re starting from zero, which can feel unfair, especially if you always kept things in order back home.
The good news is, many French banks and lenders understand this problem, so it’s worth explaining your situation and being upfront about your financial background.
Some international banks, especially those with branches in both countries, can be more flexible. They might consider your UK financial history as part of the picture. Still, the process will usually involve a lot of paperwork and personal meetings – France loves an appointment at the bank.
If you’re worried about practical steps, the Banque de France has information in English that can help you navigate the local system. It’s worth checking out their resources on opening an account and applying for credit as a newcomer.
How Upscore Can Help
If you want to make life easier as you move abroad and prove your creditworthiness wherever you land, consider signing up for Upscore’s Finance Passport! It lets you present your international credit data to lenders, which is handy if you want to avoid awkward moments in the bank manager’s office.
