Moving to France

SimonKent · #1 (**permalink**) 21st September 2008, 01:32 PM

Hello All,

My plan is to move to regional France at the end of the year.

The last 2 weeks of November I will be visiting regional areas and want to know the best way to leave my mark and to be noticed.

I am willing to do any kind of work as long as it is outdoors, I am a plumber, drainer and gasfitter but come from rural Australia so my experience in other fields such as agricultural work, welding, working with (farm)animals etc. is not limited either.

Also looking for a rental property as a temporary solution or with the possibility to buy but it must have land as we have 2 horses at least to bring with us from Holland.
I would prefer to purchase a rather large rural property/farm possibly producing something for partial income, but willing to start at the bottom and completely renovate myself.

Can anyone out there give me some helpful tips !

Would be greatly appriciated.

Cheers Simon

giantpanda · #2 (**permalink**) 21st September 2008, 01:55 PM

Hi!

One of the main problems you will be confronted with, is the Health Insurance.

It is not clear if you have been working regularly in Holland, and if you are entitled to a document called E106, which will give you medical basic coverage for at least 2 years.

But it is unlikely. Then you will have to bring a private Health
insurance( not available from French companies ) which is equivalent to the basic French CMU. That can cost anything in excess of Euro 3500 a year per person.

Same problem since you are apparently a non-EC foreignor ( can depend on how long you have been in Holland, and what steps you have done there) and you will have to ask for a Carte de Séjour.

See the references:

Etrangers en France - Service-public.fr

Considering the major question, it woul be really necessary to go into these question before you do anything to move to France. Consult also an Australian Consulate in France.

Yours,

giantpanda

SimonKent · #3 (**permalink**) 21st September 2008, 02:24 PM

Thanks for your quick response!

I have been living in Holland with my Dutch girlfriend for 5 years and I have been working here for 3 years. I have a permanent contract with my current employer and I have full health cover.

Both my girlfriend and I want to move to France together, but the idea is for me to go ahead of her and find a job that will provide an income and a suitable accomodation for both ourselves and our horses.

I am aware of the Carte de Séjour, I have one printed and ready to be filled out.

Cheers Simon

giantpanda · #4 (**permalink**) 21st September 2008, 02:37 PM

Hi!

That is a completely different situation, especially the question of the Dutch girl friend.

Unfortunately you can not benefit from the " regroupement familial ".

Les concubins, même si des enfants sont issus de la relation, ne peuvent bénéficier de la procédure de regroupement familial.

But if you are both legally in France, then you could tag on to her health insurance without costs.

Yours,

giantpanda

Bevdeforges · #5 (**permalink**) 21st September 2008, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonKent

I am aware of the Carte de Séjour, I have one printed and ready to be filled out.

This is the statement I'm a bit concerned about. Normally you request a carte de séjour from the préfecture of the departement in which you will be living. They will require you to have some sort of a visa or entry document - and that will determine whether or not you can be granted permission to work in France and where.

The fact that you've been working in the Netherlands is nice, but it doesn't give you any rights to settle in, or work in France if your nationality is anything outside the EU. If you come as the spouse of your Dutch girlfriend, you are entitled to the same rights she has in France. You could probably manage it if you got PACSed to your girlfriend in France. But chances are you won't be able to find a job until after you have the carte de séjour that says you have the right to work anywhere in France.

As far as finding a job, how's your French? Honestly, that is the key factor in finding any sort of work, particularly in the rural areas.
Cheers,
Bev

panik54 · #6 (**permalink**) 18th February 2009, 02:54 PM

Hi Simon,
Have you already moved to France: I'm french and I am looking for a plumber.
Feel free to contact me.
Cheers

SimonKent · #7 (**permalink**) 18th February 2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panik54

Hi Simon,
Have you already moved to France: I'm french and I am looking for a plumber.
Feel free to contact me.
Cheers

I will be in France in about 8 to 10 weeks.

panik54 · #8 (**permalink**) 18th February 2009, 03:17 PM

ok Simon
I explain you my project: I am french and I need a plumber to renovate a house in the south-west part of France nearby Bergera, I think you know where it is. If you are looking for a job you could contact me at this address: panik5467 (at) gmail (.) com
[pls replace (at) to prevent the spammers]
bye

brucesarn · #9 (**permalink**) 3rd March 2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimonKent

Hello All,

My plan is to move to regional France at the end of the year.

The last 2 weeks of November I will be visiting regional areas and want to know the best way to leave my mark and to be noticed.

I am willing to do any kind of work as long as it is outdoors, I am a plumber, drainer and gasfitter but come from rural Australia so my experience in other fields such as agricultural work, welding, working with (farm)animals etc. is not limited either.

Also looking for a rental property as a temporary solution or with the possibility to buy but it must have land as we have 2 horses at least to bring with us from Holland.
I would prefer to purchase a rather large rural property/farm possibly producing something for partial income, but willing to start at the bottom and completely renovate myself.

Can anyone out there give me some helpful tips !

Would be greatly appriciated.

Cheers Simon

Hi Simon,
Bit late in the day I'm afraid - but if you haven't committed to a property yet I may be of some use - I am in the middle of renovating an old French farm barn in the Limousin area. I can certainly offer a lot of advice concerning purchase, renovating, planning permissions etc. I have made some poor decisions through lack of knowledge yet also stumbled on some very good bits of advice along the way. I have met some useful builders, and some very helpful and informative French people in the building trade - consequently my learning curve has been immense - If I can help let me know - would be pleased to possibly prevent you stepping in some unpleasent nasties that I already have. Great country though.

Bruce (Adelaide - SA)