Thinking of moving to france

[bella32]

Hi.. My husband and I are thinking of moving to France but dont no where to start. We think we want to be in the south of France, we want to be near other British people, we would prefer to be in a village with shops and restaurants etc. Please help

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

OK, you're coming from Britain, so you don't have the visa hassles to worry about. But where to start kind of depends on what exactly you're planning on doing while living in France.

Will you be working? Or is this part of your retirement plans? If you're going to be working, you may have to tailor your location to the type of work you do because, as has been explained elsewhere on the forum here, finding a job in France can be a real "challenge" - especially for foreigners.

If you're not bothered by working (lucky you!) then do you speak French? The British in France, particularly those living in the south of France, are sorely resented by many of the locals - because they "refuse" to learn the language (or speak it so badly as to convince the locals they expect everyone around them to speak English), because they keep to themselves and don't "integrate" into the community, and because they pay too much for rural properties and thus drive house prices up so that young French couples just starting out can't afford to buy a home.

Now, many of these accusations are (obviously) things that the French contribute to in great measure (for example, in small towns, newcomers aren't readily accepted, so of course the Brits tend to stick together...), but they are worth considering when making your decision about moving to France.
Cheers,
Bev

[bella32]

Thanks for replying Bev,
We are in our 40's and my husband is a plasterer, he would be willing to do anything, he would proberbly only need to work part time, we hopefully wont need a mortgage. We cant speak french but are more than willing to learn, we were thinking of buying a motor home and just travel for a while until we found somewhere we wanted to be. Is there certain towns or villages that expats stay in and if there is what are they called, we need as much help as poss. Do you live in France

[Bevdeforges]

Yup, I live in France - have done so for just about 13 years now.

One thing you need to understand about France is that everything is pretty tightly regulated. It's fine for your husband to say he'll "do anything." But to get legal here for work purposes, he'll need to set himself up in his trade - as a commerçant or artisan - which means registering with the Chambre de metiers, or registering his business. That sets him up with the appropriate "caisses" - or social insurance agencies - so that you and any other family members will be covered for health, retirement, family allowance (even if you don't have kids, you pay for them), etc.

Expats (Brits and others) are to be found all over France. There are a few enclaves, but they are anything but self-sufficient. You really need to start working on the French language skills before you come over for the long term. Most government agencies won't cut you any slack for not speaking the language. All forms are in French and must be filled out in French, and there are lots of forms to fill out.

Come over for a few extended vacations - rent a camper and try things out for a few weeks at a time. It will give you a better idea of what the possibilities are.
Cheers,
Bev

[garylockwood]

Originally Posted by bella32

Thanks for replying Bev,
We are in our 40's and my husband is a plasterer, he would be willing to do anything, he would proberbly only need to work part time, we hopefully wont need a mortgage. We cant speak french but are more than willing to learn, we were thinking of buying a motor home and just travel for a while until we found somewhere we wanted to be. Is there certain towns or villages that expats stay in and if there is what are they called, we need as much help as poss. Do you live in France

Hi ya bella. You sound just like us. We are in our 40's and are pretty desperate to leave the UK at the moment and France is a firm favourite even though we don't do the lingo and do not know the system.I am a joiner and thought there would be lots of opportunities in France for us but it appears not to be the case without speaking French.We really fancy Brittany, especially Morbihan where farming is the big industry. There is peace 'n' quiet safety, tranquility, friendliness and space. Everywhere you look there is space.It is Beautiful. We are seriously considering uping sticks and going.From experience though, we have had some fantastic advice, information and support from some brilliant people on this site so do your homework, ask the questions and follow your dream. Good luck to you both.

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by bella32

Hi.. My husband and I are thinking of moving to France but dont no where to start. We think we want to be in the south of France, we want to be near other British people, we would prefer to be in a village with shops and restaurants etc. Please help

Hi!

It is a risk coming to France, without having a work contract.

One of the problems since last year, is the Health Insurance question.

Either you have an E106 ( which you will get it you were employed in GB for 2 years ) you are then in the French Health system.

But after 2 years, if you do not have an employed job, or have a firm where you pay contributions ( NB. In France the contributions for low income situiation is not proportional, but rather high ), then you will have to show up a private health insurance policy ( to be approved by the French Health Insurance, which can cost over Euro 3500 per person per year, and then normally you should have a top up.

As you see swithcing is not necessarily simple, even if you have a profession for which there are jobs - but since French employement regulations are such ( very penalishing for a small firm ), that French firms( artisans) are loathe to add staff, they can not get rid off easily.
So they will tend to prefer a make-shift solution, which can not suit you.

Yours,

giantpanda

[shawcoast]

What about this:
To get free health care in European Union countries and Switzerland, you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the old E111 form. The card is normally valid for 3-5 years and covers any state-provided medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip because of either illness or an accident. The EHIC also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness. But treatment may not be completely cost-free, you may have to make a contribution.

What kind of medical help are you likely to get then?

Also, what type of creepy crawlies do you in rural aries between Britanny and Normandy?

Can you bring your own car for 3-6 months and drive it in France without registering?

[Bevdeforges]

The health care issue is kind of complicated these days, as each country is in the process of adapting to the various European directives in this area. I don't believe that the EHIC card entitles you to "free" health care, but only to coverage by the existing national health care system.

In France that means 70% coverage for most routine visits and tests, with 100% coverage only for hospitalization. The other thing people overlook is that the French system is based on reimbursement - you pay the doctor and then get reimbursed by the state. There is more information on this website CLEISS - Temporary Stay in France which is the French agency charged with coordinating social security within Europe.

As for the creepy crawlies in Brittany and Normandy, it's just the usual kind - spiders, flies, mosquitoes and, out in the countryside, rats and mice, plus the occasional lizard in the summertime.

And on the car registration issue, the French government "all you need to know" website is here: Un ressortissant d'un pays étranger devant séjourner en France pour une période de plusieurs mois doit-il y faire immatriculer son véhicule ? - Service-public.fr
Basically they say that you must register your car in France once you declare your residence to be in France. If you sell up and move to France, you have to register your car right away. If you're over for a long holiday and still plan on returning home (or still have a home to return to), you're ok on your home registration. (But that tolerance tends to run out after a year or so.)
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by shawcoast

What about this:
To get free health care in European Union countries and Switzerland, you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the old E111 form. The card is normally valid for 3-5 years and covers any state-provided medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip because of either illness or an accident. The EHIC also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness. But treatment may not be completely cost-free, you may have to make a contribution.

What kind of medical help are you likely to get then?

Also, what type of creepy crawlies do you in rural aries between Britanny and Normandy?

Can you bring your own car for 3-6 months and drive it in France without registering?

Hi!

Sorry ,that card is only valid when you travel. And it does not get you free care, you still have to pay up front.

If you are a French fiscal resident, you will have to register in France, within 3 months.

Yours,

giantpanda