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Moving to France
Moving to France?
This information comes from AngloInfo. See our links page for their website, searching for the links in the article below.
There is an ever-increasing number of people who leave their country of birth and move elsewhere on the globe - sometimes often - for professional or life-style reasons. Although moving to another country can theoretically be as simple as booking a flight and packing a large suitcase, in practice, there are many factors to take into consideration.
In order to get settled in, it's important to understand the basics, such as how to find accommodation in a suitable area, what to get insured, when to open a bank account and where to find a good school. And then of course, there are the legal issues such as residency, the right to work and the tax implications of living and working in a new country.
Perhaps the biggest consideration is the right to residence. This is easy for an EU national wishing to live elsewhere in the EU as they have automatic rights of residence, but it can be a lot more complicated for non-EU citizens. Find out all about it from the INFOrmation Page, Residency in France.
Do you need a French resident's permit or Titre de Séjour to live legally in France? If you are an EU citizen then probably not, but you should check this page to see if you comply with the requirements for residency in France. If you stay in France for over three months and you are not an EU citizen - if you are American, Canadian, Australian, South African or from elsewhere outside the EU - then you will need the Titre de Séjour (also known as the Carte de Séjour) residency card. This INFOrmation Page will help you to understand who must apply for a residence permit in France, what documentation you will need and how to make your residence application at the Préfecture. 
There is much involved in relocating to France, not least of which is preparing your pet animals - such as dogs and cats - for travel abroad. AngloINFO explains in detail everything you need to know about the European Pet Passport and the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) that make it easy for animals to cross French borders without being quarantined. Find out about the requirements for identification by microchip (puce) or tattoo, the vaccinations (rabies and boosters) needed from your veterinarian, and when quarantine is required. This page also explains how to bring dogs, cats and ferrets to France from outside the EU – including America, Canada and Australia - and how to get a Pet Passport from your French vet.
Follow the Anglo INFO links to get more information also on bringing a car into France, and about driver's licenses.