[peterrussell]

Hi
We live in Australia but would like some information about where to get health cover if we move to France
We need to have proof of cover in the visa application
Could anyone help on how to go about this
Thanks

 

[Bevdeforges]

It depends a bit what sort of visa you're looking to get. If it's a limited duration visitor's visa (as for a student or a "fiancé" visa) check with the consulate to see if they want you to have repatriation coverage. (I.e. where you'll be sent back to your home country in case of serious illness or accident.) If this is the case, you'll need a form of long-term travel health insurance.

If you're going to retire or otherwise stay there indefinitely without working, then you'll need full coverage expat health insurance. Most of the big international insurers offer this sort of coverage - Bupa, AXA, Allianz, etc.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[Guest]

Be careful of Axa - I have their international health plan which is reasonable and comes with a zero deductible but their service is awful - it took them 4 months to process a very small claim for a checkup I had - and their system is very difficult, if you don't mind spending a bit go with BUPA, i'm switching over to BUPA as well - they have direct billing with BUPA certified doctors / hospitals and otherwise they seem much more professional than AXA.

 

[peterrussell]

Be careful of Axa - I have their international health plan which is reasonable and comes with a zero deductible but their service is awful - it took them 4 months to process a very small claim for a checkup I had - and their system is very difficult, if you don't mind spending a bit go with BUPA, i'm switching over to BUPA as well - they have direct billing with BUPA certified doctors / hospitals and otherwise they seem much more professional than AXA.

Thanks for the advice much appreciated

 

[peterrussell]

It depends a bit what sort of visa you're looking to get. If it's a limited duration visitor's visa (as for a student or a "fiancé" visa) check with the consulate to see if they want you to have repatriation coverage. (I.e. where you'll be sent back to your home country in case of serious illness or accident.) If this is the case, you'll need a form of long-term travel health insurance.

If you're going to retire or otherwise stay there indefinitely without working, then you'll need full coverage expat health insurance. Most of the big international insurers offer this sort of coverage - Bupa, AXA, Allianz, etc.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks Bev we are looking to stay indefinitely so will try Bupa and Allianz
Bev whilst I have your attention my wife and I are looking to go over in September to buy a bed and breakfast we are looking in two regions Rennes and Lyon (even outskirts of these two cites) we picked them as of there locations and the fact that large universities are located there so we think they might get patronage from parents visiting their children all your round.
We would like to contact realtors in the two areas that we can meet up with and get them to help us look for suitable properties.
Would need them to speak English
Can you recommend any web sites to make contact with realtors?
Also have you heard of global visas an organization that helps/assists you getting visas,whilst I know that the French government don't deal direct with any organizations and it must be the individual applicants,have you any knowledge of such organizations or any thoughts?
Thanks as always on your valuable insights
Peter

 

[Bevdeforges]

Remember that French universities are not like American ones. They don't have self comtained campuses and most students attend a school close to home so they can live at home rent free. I don't believe I have ever heard of French parents going to visit their kids at university. Normally they expect the kids to come home during the vacations.

As far as real estate agents go, you may just have to try your luck. Probably best to approach the agency in person. Estate agents don't tend to respond to e-mail, especially in English.
Cheers,
Bev

 

[peterrussell]

Remember that French universities are not like American ones. They don't have self comtained campuses and most students attend a school close to home so they can live at home rent free. I don't believe I have ever heard of French patents going to visit their kids at university. Normally they expect the kids to come home during the vacations.

As far as real estate agents go, you may just have to try your luck. Probably best to approach the agency in person. Estate agents don't tend to respond to e-mail, especially in English.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks, we will have to do all that when we are there
Peter

 

[rynd2it]

Thanks, we will have to do all that when we are there
Peter

Here's a couple of websites in English with English speaking staff in France:

The Best Properties In Brittany
French Property, Property in France, Property for Sale in France, French Estate Agents
French-Property.com - Houses and property for sale in France

Personal contact is the best way although all the agents above responded to English emails.

There are websites for private advertisers (all in French) such a IMMOBILIER - Annonces immobilières | De Particulier à Particulier - PAP Petites annonces immobilières | 1er site immobilier français | Portail immo

Note that agents in France do not have access to a wide property database so to find everything in your area you will have to visit every agent. They are very secretive about details especially location unless you sign a form with them saying they have shown it to you. Take careful notes of which agent shows you which property (even emailing you it) - if two agents show you the same property and you buy it, you pay full fees to both agents!

Also note the time taken from offer to occupation can easily be three months or more.

Happy house hunting

 

[Guest]

Oh no - I have a bad experience with Globalvisas - avoid them please, they screwed me once and if you google them they have pretty bad reviews online as well. If you need help then contact a FRENCH attorney based in France, I have one if you need the contact I can pass it on to you. Do not use any of these visa companies that claim to do visas all over the world, they are really bad and will take you for a ride, get your visa rejected and get you in more trouble - so please be very very careful.

Also sorry to give advice again - a lot of foreigners come to France and jump into the B&B business here - thinking its easy to run and manage, believe me most of them quit and run away soon or get stuck for a long time because these B&B properties are extremely hard to sell once you buy them - only property in Paris is easy to sell or close to big commercial centers, but in most rural areas of France property is very hard to sell once you buy it. A good option for you might be to LEASE a running B&B business for a year and see how the experience goes - that will help you a lot in understanding it as well. Many french people lease a business and try it out before investing and committing to one of their own.

 

[peterrussell]

Oh no - I have a bad experience with Globalvisas - avoid them please, they screwed me once and if you google them they have pretty bad reviews online as well. If you need help then contact a FRENCH attorney based in France, I have one if you need the contact I can pass it on to you. Do not use any of these visa companies that claim to do visas all over the world, they are really bad and will take you for a ride, get your visa rejected and get you in more trouble - so please be very very careful.

Also sorry to give advice again - a lot of foreigners come to France and jump into the B&B business here - thinking its easy to run and manage, believe me most of them quit and run away soon or get stuck for a long time because these B&B properties are extremely hard to sell once you buy them - only property in Paris is easy to sell or close to big commercial centers, but in most rural areas of France property is very hard to sell once you buy it. A good option for you might be to LEASE a running B&B business for a year and see how the experience goes - that will help you a lot in understanding it as well. Many french people lease a business and try it out before investing and committing to one of their own.

Thank you so much for your advice on global visas I already suspected as much and you are so kind to share your information to us.
The idea of leasing is very interesting where could I get more information on that?
Why do they get so disillusioned with the b & b business?
By the way we were looking at two areas Rennes and Lyon what's your thoughts is Paris a good option?
I would be very happy to get the number from you on the French attorney,thanks
This forum is great and that's why I joined honest opinions from experienced people

 

[peterrussell]

Here's a couple of websites in English with English speaking staff in France:

The Best Properties In Brittany
French Property, Property in France, Property for Sale in France, French Estate Agents
French-Property.com - Houses and property for sale in France

Personal contact is the best way although all the agents above responded to English emails.

There are websites for private advertisers (all in French) such a IMMOBILIER - Annonces immobilières | De Particulier à Particulier - PAP Petites annonces immobilières | 1er site immobilier français | Portail immo

Note that agents in France do not have access to a wide property database so to find everything in your area you will have to visit every agent. They are very secretive about details especially location unless you sign a form with them saying they have shown it to you. Take careful notes of which agent shows you which property (even emailing you it) - if two agents show you the same property and you buy it, you pay full fees to both agents!

Also note the time taken from offer to occupation can easily be three months or more.

Happy house hunting

Again like the other respondent to me I am so grateful for your information and everyone's insight

 

[rynd2it]

Why do they get so disillusioned with the b & b business?

From many quotes on this forum and elsewhere it appears to be very difficult to make a living running a B & B (or Chambres d'Hotes as they are known). Many are run as supplemental income to other jobs.

I suggest that you look at the website:
http://en.gites-de-france.com/?gclid=CP_n9-Wz_68CFRQrfAodmE7eEA
for sample types of accomodation, rates, periods etc. You could even contact one or two and ask their opinions.

Bon chance

 

[peterrussell]

From many quotes on this forum and elsewhere it appears to be very difficult to make a living running a B & B (or Chambres d'Hotes as they are known). Many are run as supplemental income to other jobs.

I suggest that you look at the website:
http://en.gites-de-france.com/?gclid=CP_n9-Wz_68CFRQrfAodmE7eEA
for sample types of accomodation, rates, periods etc. You could even contact one or two and ask their opinions.

Bon chance

Will do!
Thanks so much

 

[Guest]

Check your private messages, I sent you the contact information for the Attorney.