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Useful links for those living in or moving to France

57K views 20 replies 20 participants last post by  SRRobards 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Here are some of the most useful links for information about living in or moving to France. Please note that these are authoritative sources - mostly government or other official sites. Feel free to suggest other sites as long as they aren't commercial sites or competing forums. (Check the forum rules for more information.)

Embassies and Consulates:

Generally, for "living in France" information you'll want to consult the Consulate rather than the Embassy for your home country. Embassies tend to deal with politicians, diplomats and businesses, whereas the Consulates handle individuals. The consulates often provide information on "living in France" for their countrymen, as well as lists of English-speaking professionals (doctors, dentists, etc.).

The British Embassy in France UK in France - see the "Help for British Nationals" link.
Citizen Services - US Consulate in Paris website - see the "Living in France" link for lists of English language professionals (including private detectives - I've always been curious about that one!)
Consular / Services to Canadians
Services for Australians - Australian Embassy
nzembassy.com - France/New Zealanders in France

Official French Websites:

Service-public.fr - This is the ultimate portal site for any question having to do with your rights and legal obligations in France. It is, however, all in French. Has links to most government websites and can usually provide a link to your local town or prefecture website.

OFII - Office Français de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration - French Office for Immigration and Integration. Some of their material is available in English, German, Spanish and Italian but the most detailed pages are in French. Generally you deal with OFII after your arrival in France.

Education:

Education Ministry website - Enrolling your child in a school, step-by-step guide

Visas:

Google "French consulate in [your country of residence]" - Each consulate may have its own requirements and for France, you must apply for a visa at the consulate covering the area in which you are currently legally resident.

Other useful sites:

A.V.F. - In many towns around France, AVF provides a “welcome service” for anyone who has moved to a new area.
EUROPA - The official website of the European Union - The EU portal for just about anything you want to know about the EU or any of the member countries.
EUROPA - EURES - Living & Working - EURES (European Employment Services - an EU agency) page for information on Living and Working in France.
ENIC-NARIC.net - Your Gateway to Recognition - Information on transfer or recognition of academic and professional credentials
Eurydice - Eurybase - Descriptions of National Education Systems and Policies | EACEA - Eurydice data base of descriptions of national educational systems. French reports available in French or English.
EUROPA - Your life in the European Union - Europa gateway to information on living and working in the EU. Primarily intended for EU nationals, there is considerable information here applicable to those from outside the EU, too.
Official telecoms consumer info - in French only. 3 sections, "Je m'informe sur..." covering mobile and broadband network providers. "Que faire en cas de ..." discusses how to change providers, what to do on moving, etc. "J'ai un problème avec ..." explains what to do in case of poor service, unresolved complaints, abusive commercial practices.
 
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#5 ·
Found some great points on the Canadian site you posted. Will check the rest as I get deeper into this. Thanks for all your posts and links. It is so helpful to get an insiders direction to the free sites that are available that have current and accurate info.
Merci!
 
#6 ·
These are few Emergency Numbers:

15 Medical Assistance - Samu
17 Police
18 Fire Brigade - Pompiers
112 European Emergency Call (also use if dialling from a mobile phone)
115 Homeless
119 Child Abuse
Alcohol Abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous
Telephone: (33) 01 46 34 59 65

British Consulates & Embassy
The British Embassy
35, rue du Faubourg St Honore
75383 Paris Cedex 08
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************+33 (0)1 44 51 31 00******end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 51 41 27
Opening Hours: 9h30-13h00/14h30-18h00

Visa Section
16, rue d'Anjou
75008 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 33 01
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 28
Opening Hours: 9h30-12h00

British Consulates-General in France

Paris
18 bis, rue d'Anjou
75008 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 02
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 27
Opening Hours:
Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday
09h30 - 12h30 and 14h30 - 17h00
Tuesday
09h30 - 16h30 (remaining open throughout the lunch break)

Bordeaux
353, boulevard du President Wilson
33073 Bordeaux Cedex
Tel: +33 (0)5 57 22 21 10
Fax: +33 (0)5 56 08 33 12
Opening Hours: 9h00-12h00/14h00-17h00 Monday to Friday

Lille
11 square Dutilleul
59800 Lille
Tel: +33 (0)3 20 12 82 72
Fax: +33 (0)3 20 54 88 16
Opening Hours: 9h30-12h30/14h00-17h00 Monday to Friday

Lyon
24, rue Childebert
69002 Lyon
Tel: +33 (0)4 72 77 81 70
Fax: +33 (0)4 72 77 81 79
Opening Hours: 9h00-12h30/14h00-17h00 Monday to Friday

Marseille
24, avenue du Prado
13006 Marseille
Tel: +33 (0)4 91 15 72 10
Fax: +33 (0)4 91 37 47 06
Opening Hours: 9h00-12h00/14h00-17h00 Monday to Friday
Domestic Violence

Child abuse
Centre Francais de Protection de l'Enfance (CFPE)
23, Place Victor Hugo
94270
Kremlin Bicetre
Francais
Tel : 01 43 90 63 00
Fax : 01 43 90 63 07

Animal Welfare Organisations
Fondation Brigitte Bardot
45 rue Vineuse
F-75116 Paris
Phone: +33 1 45051460 Fax: +33 1 45051480

Societe Protectrice des Animaux
39 boulevard Berthier
F-75017 Paris
Phone: +33 1 43806066 Fax: +33 1 43803323

Counselling, Advice & Depression
Counselling in France
A directory of therapists offering counselling and other therapies in English. Help lines, information, support, cancer help, courses and workshops.

SOS Helpline
SOS Help is a listening service for English speakers in France.
Whatever the problem, we are there to take your call every day from 3 to 11pm
call SOS Help on 01 46 21 46 46

I hope the information is useful!:)
 
#8 · (Edited)
HI, I am prepapring my move and thought I would participate to the list too,
I am french so that is got to help!

Finding a cell phone company/ knowing the prices of cell phones, tv/internet:


comparatif forfait - Forfait mobile
good to know: incoming calls to cell phone do not count into your plan, they re free. Phone calls from landline to mobile are quite more expensive unless included specifically into your landline plan.
landline/Tv/internet now comes often in one bundle and usually cost no more than 30 euros a month (probably might not include all the US channels you would want)
Often calls to the US/Europe are unlimited from landline with these bundles.

Moving a pet:
only certain airlines allow pets in the cabin. So far for france I have found United and Air france only.They require specific size soft carrier and a fee and count as one of your hand luggage.
For france you will need to get an International health check done by your vet AT LEAST 3 months in advance, form to use is EU 998 i think. No rabbies titer needed, pet needs to be rabbies vaccinated, examined, microchipped to the EU norms or have a reader that will read your chip (can be rented online for about $70 for 2 weeks). Your vet usually has a special few for that visit, mine is something like $75/pet
Once you have all that and have met with your vet, you take all the paperwork to the USDA local vet so he can stamp the paperwork. Another fee (Here $36 per pet)
You will need that to board the plane.

Driver license:
Can be obtained from the Prefecture de police if you are from 11 specific states, it is just an exchange. Is REQUIRED after one year living in france.
""If you have a valid driver’s license prior to your first entry into France as a resident and issued from the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Texas recently, you may exchange it for a French permit if you apply at least three months before the expiration of the one-year recognition period. These States offer a reciprocal privilege of exchange for persons holding French permits."

More to come as we plan.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Driver license:
Can be obtained from the Prefecture de police if you are from 11 specific states, it is just an exchange. Is REQUIRED after one year living in france.
""If you have a valid driver’s license prior to your first entry into France as a resident and issued from the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Texas recently, you may exchange it for a French permit if you apply at least three months before the expiration of the one-year recognition period. These States offer a reciprocal privilege of exchange for persons holding French permits."
Keep checking both the prefecture and the US consulate websites on this one. The US consulate is currently listing 15 states having reciprocity with France on drivers licenses.

The US Consulate page on Living in France contains information sheets on many, many topics of interest to expats.
Cheers,
Bev
 
#14 ·
A tip when dealing with embassies, check online if you can sort out the problem without having to go all the way there and wait for hours. There are many people who wait all day to be seen only to be told they could have called, emailed or printed off a form online & sent it in the post. Save yourself some bother!
 
#17 ·
It probably wouldn't hurt to add a link to the CAF : https://www.caf.fr/wps/portal

Lots of foreigners(mostly students) don't realize that they can get government assistance for lodging if they haven't generated a lot of revenue in the previous 2 years. Certainly useful for future students, or parents who have children that are moving out. I know this saved me when I started school in France!
 
#18 ·
Just wanted to give a SHOUT-OUT to Bevdeforges for all the links & the great help in general. She's a wealth of up-to-date, correct information and I'm happy to say that she's helped me with my settling into France.

Had some complications with my visa & I was worried about my pregnancy but thanks to her, I'm right on track now - settled in with visa, medical benefits, & registered with OFII. I'm now 6 months pregnant and all my bases are covered and the stress relieved.

France can get very complicated so please don't hesitate to take her advice!! She's the expert!!

Thanks Bev :)
 
#21 ·
I'm retiring to France next year. Still a lot of questions about the process and what to look out for. I'm going along to an information-sharing evening run by Aquitaine Invest on the 22/11 in central London. Not sure what to expect but hopefully it will answer some questions for me on which part of SW France I should be looking at and some of the pitfalls etc. Anyone else going? Very grateful for any advice.
 
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