Moving abroad is one of those things that feels exciting until you take a look at all the paperwork and realise you’ve got a lot to do. And when you search what to do on Google, you get 30 tabs but no clear answer.
So, throughout this article, we’ll be breaking down all you need to know to get that dream move to France you’ve been planning – covering everything from Brexit issues to the 90-day rule.
In short, the UK is now a third country in EU terms. That means we sit with non-EU nationals when French authorities decide who needs permission to stay. You can obviously still hop across the Channel for holidays, but it’s a different story if you plan to live or work there.
It’s worth noting that this generally isn’t a difficult country to migrate to. As you can see with those numbers above, plenty of compatriots go through the system every year – so you can too.
If your passport stamps in and out within the Schengen Area, you get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window. That clock covers trips to Spain, Italy, and the rest as well, so tally every weekend break you plan on taking.
French bureaucracy loves a process, but it’s more straightforward than it looks.
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Validate your visa online within 90 days after you enter France. You’ll then receive a confirmation email – print it, because some prefectures still love paper. Next, book a medical visit if required and pay a tax stamp. Later, head back to the prefecture for your plastic residence permit card.
Fail to validate on time and you risk fines or, worse, a scramble at renewal. Keep everything up to date because the prefecture’s tolerance for late files tends to be pretty low.
Here, you’ve got a few bits that are non-negotiables, but there are also a few extras you should ideally be taking:
Remember that French consulate staff read hundreds of files daily, so you ideally want to show them a tidy PDF since it impresses them more than a bunch of unorganised print-outs.
If you live elsewhere legally for six months, you may file in that country. Otherwise, the London consulate claims jurisdiction for most Brits. Some neighbouring nations host “French visa desks” that act on behalf of Paris under representation arrangements, but they still forward your pack to London for a decision.
Yes, if you stay over 90 days. France hasn’t launched a full digital-nomad permit yet, so you pick the self-employed or visitor track and promise not to compete on the French labour market. The rule applies to foreign nationals from everywhere.
A valid residence permit lets you:
Tax residents submit returns even if they get income from abroad, thanks to double-tax treaties. Plan ahead and talk to an adviser if pensions or ISAs sit in the mix.
Bookmark all of these because the rules shift a lot, and you want the latest PDFs before you print anything.
Double-check you’ve packed originals and copies – French border officers appreciate prepared travellers.
Upscore’s Finance Passport helps with everything from storing your documents and tracking renewal dates to securing a mortgage when you arrive!
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