Another Aussie in France

[BlueBayou]

Ever since I could remember I have loved France and when I was old enough had to make a visit. Now all I can think about is to move there and immerse myself in the history culture and a gentle life.

I am considering making a temporary move in a few years time looking to a prermanent one with my partner and child and will be asking a few things from time to time all your questions and answers have not swayed me to do otherwise but hey the French Bureaucracy seems to be so dragged down...!!

I have chosen the Paca region - Nice, in which to research and hopefully settle and not because of the movie stars Exodus and glittering lights but of the many similarities I am sure I will find with my own homeland area.

Any hints will be helpful

BB:

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Well, it seems you have already encountered the biggest obstacle to living in France - the bureaucracy. If it's any consolation, even the French complain about it, though they complain bitterly whenever there are plans to cut it back or tame it in any way. (The French love of contradiction - yet another thing to "love" about France.)

Let us know what questions come up and we'll do our best to answer them. Immigration and visa regulations are changing all the time, so it will depend a bit on exactly when you decide to plan your exploratory trip and eventual move. See you round the forum!
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Hi!

Start reading here:

Etrangers en France - Service-public.fr

May be the French Consulate in Australia may have a English version.

Yours,

giantpanda

PS. All important is getting a job. But that will only be possible after the administrative hurdles, and by all means difficult, unless you find a foreign company.

[Ferbent]

Originally Posted by BlueBayou

I have chosen the Paca region - Nice, in which to research and hopefully settle and not because of the movie stars Exodus and glittering lights but of the many similarities I am sure I will find with my own homeland area.

Any hints will be helpful

BB:

What is your level of French like? I suggest you learn as much as can before getting here as the language is one of the biggest hurdles.

Everyone loves to complain about the bureaucracy but once you learn to always have your documents in quadruplicate, always carry an EDF bill with you, and if you accept that every bureaucrat will tell you something different when you are asking a question, everything will be fine