Moving to France from the US - The Ultimate Guide

When I moved to France as an American in 2018, I did not foresee that I’d settle here for the majority of my 20s. In fact, I had the luxury of moving with minimal planning in place. The idea was to au pair in Paris for a year, and then “see what happens.”

Of course, as so often happens, life gets in the way of even the most free-spirited intentions. So here I am – five years, three visas, several récépissés, and many existential crises later – with lots of advice for my fellow Americans moving to France.

Most of this article is objective and sourced, however, I have interjected my own opinions and thoughts where it makes sense to do so, such as when discussing an aspect of moving to France or living in France with which I have personal experience.

Without further ado – let’s dive in!

How to move to France as an American in 2024

Unlike citizens from countries in the European Union, Americans cannot simply purchase a plane ticket, come to France, and stay indefinitely. This is sometimes a challenging concept for my compatriots, who are used to getting what they want when they want. I don’t say this to be pretentious, just as a personal observation. Until I left the US and traveled and then eventually went through the process of settling in a foreign country, I didn’t appreciate how immeasurably fortunate we are to come from a country with such a powerful visa. And yet, even US passports have their limitations.

When an American comes to France, they do so on a visitor visa called the Schengen Visa which is valid for 90 days

This visitor visa has historically been issued automatically. But, a new EU security regulation will require Americans to register their travel plans via an online portal. This regulation, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)¹, will go into effect in June 2023.

Update: There has been a delay in implementation here and the new scheduled effect date is now sometime in the second half of 2025.

After the 90-day visitor period is up, Americans must exit not only France but the entire Schengen Area². If an American tourist overstays, they risk consequences at the border. These consequences may include fines and limitations on your right to return to France and the EU in the future. Essentially, if you want to come to and live in France as an American, you’re going to need a long-stay visa.

How to apply for a French long-stay visa

How you apply for a long-stay visa to France will vary depending on the type of visa you decide to apply for. However, there are a few core elements to every visa application. In general, to apply for a French long-stay visa from the US, you will need to:

Identify the best visa for you
Submit the initial application on the official French website³
Make an appointment with your closest Visa Application Center⁴
Pay the fees associated with your application
Attend your visa interview at the VFS location
Track your application
Receive your approved visa.

Jobs that require a long-stay visa to come to France

The following is a list of options that will allow you to come to France so long as you obtain the appropriate visa.

Au pair in France

Au pair is a great option available to young people aged 18-30 who are curious about French culture and enjoy children. An au pair falls into a special category of cultural worker whose working hours and conditions are extremely protected by the French government – even more so than the average worker. Although this option may seem “lighter” in comparison to others such as teaching via TAPIF or enrolling in a Master’s program, being an au pair in France comes with some unique advantages. To name just a couple, au pairs tend to have more free time during the day and receive paid-for trips to accompany the family on vacation around France.

The French government offers an official “young au pair⁵” visa and American applications have a very high likelihood of being accepted.

Intensive French language course

This option is great if you want to really prioritize learning French. It is also a popular choice for people who know that they’re going to be in France long-term and want to lay a strong language foundation in their new home.

One of the most intimidating aspects of moving to a new country is the language barrier, and overcoming it takes a lot of time. When I lived in Paris, I enrolled in a French class specifically designed for au pairs. It met three times a week from 9:00 – 11:00 in the morning, and by the end of the year, I could comfortably introduce myself and say a sentence or two. But, I lacked the capacity to assert myself in conversations or even follow them in most social settings. So, when I moved to Strasbourg I enrolled in Alliance Francaise, an internationally-known language school.

It wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it. For one, it allowed me to renew my student visa for an additional year. For another, it forced me to spend 20 hours a week for three months in an all-French environment. Alliance Francaise utilizes an immersion model, meaning that the teachers speak to their class 100% in French. A lack of understanding on the part of the pupil is not grounds to switch languages. Instead, the instructor will find different, increasingly simplified ways of saying things in French until the student understands.

Special note for my readers who may be considering a move to Strasbourg, France

Although I had a great time at Alliance Francaise, it is not the only language school option available here.

French language courses in Strasbourg

Alliance Francaise in Strasbourg⁶
Institute Stralang⁷
The International French Language School (CIEL) of Strasbourg⁸
Université Populaire⁹

Planning a visit to the capital of the Bas Rhin region? Check out my article on what to do in Strasbourg.

Study in France

Education is a common entry point for many foreigners to France. Those interested in finding the best program for them should start with Campus France¹⁰, the official French website for helping international students apply to French universities.

Alternatively, if you are enrolled in an undergraduate institution in the US, you can research your options to study abroad in France.

Note: even if your school does not offer programs to a specific city of interest, it’s worth emailing to ask if it’s possible to organize your own exchange. This will also foster your autonomy and problem-solving skills, which are essential traits to cultivate for anyone seeking to live in France.

For example, one of my good friends in Strasbourg who has lived here for over ten years got her first taste of the city during her year-long exchange program. Also, if I can wax nostalgic for a moment, my own abroad experience was incredible, but I only went abroad for a semester. I wonder all the time what would have happened if I’d planned to go for a year and always encourage people to go for as long as possible!

Returning to school also comes with simple visa requirements: once you’re enrolled, your visa is valid for one year and renewable for every subsequent year of your studies. Additionally, those who earn a Master’s degree are also eligible for an additional one-year visa called “L’autorisation provisoire de sejour,” or APS¹¹ for short.

Teaching in France with TAPIF¹²

Many Americans who complete a Bachelor’s degree in the US apply to this collaborative education program through the US and French governments. The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) involves submitting an application on the official website, which opens annually on October 15th and closes at the end of the year. (However, it is not unusual for there to be one or even two extensions.) Decisions are usually sent by mid-to-late April.

The requirements to apply to be a TAPIF Fellow are as follows:

Have at least a B1 level of French
Submission of a college transcript, ideally with French coursework and strong grades
Two letters of recommendation, at least one of whom should be a prior French teacher
A personal statement explaining why this fellowship is a good fit for you and your skills / interests
Non-refundable application fee ($90 USD)

Note: TAPIF is one of the most common ways Americans come to France after completing their undergraduate degree. If you play your cards right, I think this one could be an excellent leaping-off point for full-fledged life in France. Here is an archive of women whom I’ve interviewed for my 52 Weeks of Fearless Feature series who were able to come to France after being accepted by TAPIF.

Also: Jalen and Maria, an American couple living in France who successfully did exactly this have an excellent YouTube channel¹³ that I highly recommend steeping yourself in if you’re considering TAPIF and want to make the most of it.

Fulbright Scholarships in France¹⁴

The Fulbright in France is a competitive and prestigious academic award granting a select number of researchers and educators the funds to travel and live overseas for a year. Prospective applicants should be aware of (though by no means deterred by) the fact that France receives a higher-than-average volume of applications, making its acceptance rate quite low. Therefore, it will be important to identify this route as one of interest as early as possible and to develop the academic resume necessary to withstand the selection committee’s scrutiny.

Open a small business

Current President Emmanuel Macron has invested heavily in France becoming one of the EU’s major hubs for start-ups and small businesses. For foreigners like American small business owners, this means that it’s possible to move to France and exercise your business activity (or even launch a new business) via the entrepreneur/profession libérale visa¹⁵.

Although this option may seem quite daunting, many English speakers based in France offer consulting packages tailored towards helping expats open their small businesses and successfully surf the administrative wave of paperwork this option entails. It is also possible to accomplish this by yourself if you’re determined and willing to put in some virtual elbow grease, even if you don’t speak great French.

Marriage to a French person

If you’ve been lucky enough to snag a Frenchie who not only loves you but is willing to tie the knot, congratulations! These French men can feel challenging to pin down in an official capacity 😉

On a serious note – marrying a French person is relatively easy administratively speaking. Upon successful application, you will receive a resident card valid for two years. After two years, you can renew and receive a 10-year card. From the beginning, the resident card grants full access to the job market with no restrictions – you can apply for full-time positions, part-time positions, etc. However, a word of caution: having the right to apply for jobs in France is just one of many significant barriers that foreigners face when navigating the job market.

You will likely find the French to be obsessed with your “formation,” which refers to your professional background

In the US, it’s not uncommon to major in something like English and ends up a Director of Marketing, or to study Biology as an undergrad and somehow end up a political strategist. In France, this is far less common because their academic system is much more rigorously organized than ours.

Students in France decide what they will study when they’re 18. That degree or program has a very strong bearing on the jobs they’ll be eligible to apply for.

The bottom line: If you intend to change career fields when moving to France, be prepared to spend a lot of time on the job market. And, I recommend being open to becoming an entrepreneur.

Not quite ready for marriage? Read about what you absolutely need to know about moving for love, based on my personal experience.

Retiring in France

Retiring in France is the dream for many who wish to exit the rat race of American work culture. In order to retire in France, you will need to complete an application for the appropriate long-stay visa.¹⁶ A crucial part of your application will be your ability to prove that you can financially support yourself in France, which you can prove via bank statements, tax returns, and pension statements.

Moving to France after getting your visa situation sorted

After you’ve identified the best visa for your situation, applied, and been approved, it’s time to really drill down into planning mode.

Research accommodation in your target area

Finding accommodation in France is notoriously challenging due to the chicken-or-the-egg requirement that exists between banks and landlords. That is, landlords want you to provide your banking information as part of your dossier, but French banks need you to provide an address in order to create a new account.

The best way forward here is to be proactive. Join expat Facebook groups, familiarize yourself with the online French marketplace Leboncoin¹⁷, and book an Airbnb for at least two weeks – (ideally a month) – prior to arriving.

If booking an Airbnb isn’t an option for you, or you already have connections in the city where you’re moving, you can try to finagle your way onto a friend or friend-of-a-friend’s couch. Wherever you initially end up, you’ll likely use that address to open your bank account. Then, once you’ve moved into your permanent home, you simply change your banking address.

Note: one major point for being an au pair is that it makes this issue irrelevant. Your au pair family home will be the address you associate with all your official paperwork in France. Even better, the parents will likely be experts at navigating the paperwork associated with your move – don’t hesitate to utilize them as a resource!

Downsize your belongings

How challenging this is will be in direct proportion to how established you are in your life in the US. When I moved to Paris to au pair in 2018, I was in my early 20s and had been living with my parents for a few months prior.

This made packing a breeze compared to those who take the leap to move abroad after having established some semblance of adult life via an apartment with a lease, a pet, etc. Me? I came with exactly one oversized backpack and one checked bag.

I think the most important thing to remember here is that France is not the moon; you will be able to buy almost anything you truly need here.

Best small load moving companies to and from France

If you’ve downsized and are ready to ship your luggage overseas, you’ll have no shortage of options for moving companies. As a starting point, one of the best moving companies for long-distance transportation of luggage is Send My Bag. With over 15 years of experience, and excellent customer service, their service is (deservedly) well-reviewed.

Get down and dirty with your finances

When I came to France, I didn’t even know how to make a budget. But I did have the wherewithal to take stock of how much money I had going in and sort of make a mental budget of sorts to prepare for life in France.

It’s totally okay (and normal!) if you don’t know where to begin here. But you will regret it if you don’t at least make a first attempt, or, worse, put your head in the sand and just live financially by the seat of your pants.

In my experience, as a 24-year-old it was enough to decide what I wanted to be saving each month after accounting for necessary living expenses. Then, I’d use whatever was left over as spending money. Now, as a 28-year-old, there are spreadsheets and multiple categories involved, and lots of color coding.

Essentially, how down and dirty you get here will depend a lot on the circumstances under which you’re arriving. But, everyone should take a good hard look at what’s going on financially before a big move, regardless of their age or the value of their financial assets, especially if there is a partner in the picture.

I adamantly believe that even in partnerships, people should seek to be able to stand on their own financially. You will simply never regret having the foresight to anticipate and plan for the unplanned.

Related must-read: Do Expats Pay Taxes in France?

Open an online bank account to facilitate money transfers in different currencies

While I do advise maintaining a US bank account if you move to France, I also highly recommend opening an account with an online money transfer provider, such as Wise (formerly TransferWise) They make it simple to send money between accounts and in different currencies. Also, in my experience:

their conversion rates are way more reasonable than standard US banking solutions
the transfers arrive quickly
opening an account comes with a debit card that lets you withdraw cash from many ATMs throughout the world for low-to-zero fees.

Open or maintain an American credit card that will allow you to continue building credit even while abroad

One of the most inadvertent financial wins I set myself up for before moving abroad was to open a Capital One Venture Card before leaving the US. If there’s any chance that you may return to the US, you will want to continue building credit while you live outside of the country. The reason for this is that so much of how financial risk is assessed by banks and financial lenders in the US is based on one’s credit score. Having a bad or inexistent credit score due to having been out of the country for an extended period of time won’t matter to lenders.

Maintaining a US credit card while living abroad is very doable so long as you follow the cardinal rule of owning a credit card: Always pay it off in full at the end of the month. This requires some discipline and organization, particularly when using it abroad. Whatever you pay for in Euros will be converted to USD and charged from the US bank account that’s linked to the card. This makes it essential to convert and send the appropriate amount of money in time for the payment to post. There are no international fees associated with the currency conversion when using this card.

Within traveler circles, the Capital One Venture is known as a great, sturdy credit card

This card is great for beginners and folks who aren’t rolling in money but who do want to take advantage of the perks that are out there in the credit card points game. Personally, I recommend this card for its combination of good value:

75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening) for an affordable annual fee ($95)
No foreign transaction fees
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Up to a $100 credit
2 miles for every dollar spent with the card
5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and
their customer service support is excellent.

In full transparency, I totally whiffed on the 75K bonus by not timing my purchases correctly

I carry this regret with me to this day because 75K miles can be enough to purchase a round-trip flight to the US and a night or two in a hotel if you play your cards right. That said, I have had a few wins in the points department over the years, such as when I:

Booked two nights in a hotel right next to the Gare de Lyon in Paris during the Christmas season so that my partner and I could have a little weekend en amoureux before flying back to the US.
Booked a night in an excellent hotel for one night in Reims city center during the tail end of the Christmas markets
Booked round-trip airline tickets from Paris to Chicago so that I could attend my friend’s wedding.

To be clear, when I say that I had “a few wins in the points department” I mean that everything on the bulleted list was paid for with points. These accumulated thanks to using the card on purchases that I was already going to make, such as groceries or gas.

As a Millennial expat, I fully subscribe to the idea of making my money work for me

While this is a concept that is very American, I think it’s important to remember that as expats, we never know where we’ll end up. Even if you think you’ll never be back in the US, you spurn the rat race, capitalism, etc… financial self-education is never wasted education.

Note: I am not a financial advisor or licensed in any way to give professional recommendations. The above section should be taken only as a recommendation based on my own experiences. Always make sure to conduct your own research¹⁸ and choose a travel credit card that best suits your needs.

Open a brokerage account

SO IMPORTANT: Even if you have zero dollars to invest right now, you will be grateful to have an account already open if you find yourself in a position to begin investing while still living abroad. Moreover, having an account already open may save a lot of time and headaches down the road.

Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers are two reliable banks that Americans can open and continue to operate from abroad. That said, due to FATCA¹⁹ regulations, I would recommend opening an account with your American address prior to leaving. If you will not be retaining a US residence when you move, open it with an immediate family member or trusted friend’s address.

Note: I am not a financial advisor or lawyer and can only provide recommendations based on personal experience. If you have questions about this section, conduct your own research and consult with a professional who can take into account your situation to provide you with the appropriate recommendation.

Connect with an expat tax expert as needed

US citizens (and even Green Card holders) are subject to the US citizenship taxation schema. This means that we have the dubious obligation to continue to file US taxes even when we are no longer residing in the US if we meet the IRS’ minimum filing thresholds.²⁰

Fun fact: the US is one of only three countries (the other two being Eritrea and North Korea) in the entire world to impose this type of taxation schema. Other countries (like France) use a residence-based schema, meaning that you only file a return and pay if you actively live there. What this means for an American moving to France is that if you reside here for the majority or all of the tax year and earn any money, from any source, you will need to file a French tax return and possibly a US one, too.

As if this situation isn’t exasperating enough, filing US taxes from abroad is completely different from filing them from the US

I personally attended almost half a dozen webinars, filled a pocket notebook with notes, and joined multiple Facebook groups devoted to discussing and answering expat tax questions, and still ended up going with a tax service specialized in US expat situations²¹ to ensure that everything was filed correctly.

One last note: Even if you have a relationship with an accountant based in the US, it’s unlikely they’ll be familiar with forms that only apply if you’re living outside the US. This could result in expensive errors on your return – in both time and money.

Collect the addresses of friends with whom you’d like to stay in touch

Let’s end this section on a more lighthearted note, shall we?

Leaving a place you’ve grown up in and/or spent years living in is really, really hard. At the moment, it will feel genuine when you hug all of your friends and family goodbye and promise to stay in touch – but doing so can get challenging. In anticipation of that, I recommend asking friends for their physical addresses so that you can send old-fashioned postcards (and maybe even a letter or two) to people back home. I’ll admit that I’m not great at doing this regularly, but I always feel really light and happy when I do manage to send one out, and can confirm that it’s really special to receive them, too.

Arriving in France

You’ve done it, and it’s finally happening. Months of research, financial planning, downsizing, and heart-to-hearts with friends and family have all led to the moment when you’re standing in the baggage claim area of Charles de Gaulle Airport waiting for your checked bag to roll around the carousel. After you’ve seized it and pulled it off, gathered your bearings, and arrived at your final destination, it’s time to set about organizing your new life in France. The following is an overview of where to start.

Opening a bank account in France

Congratulations! You’ve arrived in France. Time to do adult things, like ensure there’s somewhere to put any Euros that you may end up with from babysitting, having a part-time student job, or somewhere to have your salary paid into (etc) depending on your situation.

To open a bank account, you’ll need to provide proof of your identity, your address, and your residence status. The best way to open an account at an official French bank is by going in person to the nearest branch.

A few common French banks²² for US expats

CIC
BNP Paribas
Société Générale
Crédit Agricole
Crédit Mutuel

Get a French SIM card

French cell phone plans are extremely affordable compared to American ones – especially in the first year. Typical starting prices range from 15.99-17.99 EUR per month and only slightly increase when opting for a plan that allows for international calling to and from the US and Canada. After the first year, the price does jump quite a bit (usually around 50% more per month). But, even this is a paltry amount compared to US cell phone plans. Additionally, phone plans are often offered in conjunction with an Internet plan.

Common French phone providers include

SFR
Orange
Free
La Poste Mobile

Of course, your American phone does need to be unlocked in order to swap out the SIM cards.

If your American phone isn’t unlocked, however, never fear.

You can purchase great secondhand phones for a fraction of the price from a French company called Backmarket.²³ I bought my current phone from them in 2020, and it’s still going strong three years later. The company also attained unicorn start-up status in 2021, so you can trust in the quality of the available products.²⁴

Apply for your Carte Vitale

The Carte Vitale is your French healthcare card that stores all of your medical information. Although the French healthcare system is exceptionally financially accessible by American standards, a Carte Vitale will streamline your medical care in the country and ensure that you are reimbursed properly for your medical visits. Eligibility and application requirements do vary by circumstance²⁵, so you’ll want to review the ones that correspond to your situation carefully.

Exchange your driver’s license – if you’re eligible

Depending on the visa you have when you come to France, this section may or may not be pertinent to you. However, understanding which visa category you fall into is extremely important because it impacts your ability to drive.

No matter what, when an American arrives in France, their driver’s license is valid for one year. However, as soon as you arrive, it’s best to confirm your status so that you understand if you are eligible to exchange your license. Eligibility begins with the state in which your license was issued. Each of the 50 states has its own agreement with France. As of this writing, only 18 have agreements that allow for the exchange to go through.²⁶

What if your license comes from a state that is not on the list? Sorry to be crass but… you’re SOL (shit outta luck).

Once you’ve established that you need to exchange your license, you have exactly one year from the date of issuance written on your residence card to do so. There is a Facebook group specifically for Americans seeking to exchange their license, and it is extremely supportive and helpful.²⁷

Moving to France as an American – FAQ

How much does it cost to move to France?

This answer depends on what you’ll be doing when you get to France. As noted above, carefully renew your finances, take honest stock of your spending habits, and weigh that information against what your French life will most likely look like. From there, you can begin to factor in costs such as airfare, transporting any pets who may be accompanying you, and other support costs to get a sense of the financial investment you’ll be making to have a successful move.

Does France have a digital nomad visa?

No. However, the entrepreneur/profession libérale visa will allow you to move to France to practice your business activity here. This visa is commonly used to enable freelancers to come and set up a business here.

How to move to France without a job?

The best way to come to France without a job, but to set yourself up for success, is to do so on a student visa. The student status in France comes with tons of practical financial perks, such as discounted fees associated with banking and discounts on public transport.

An important caveat here: That’s not to say by any stretch that being a student in France is easy, especially right now. In fact, many cities have become unlivable for certain student populations with inflation wreaking havoc on housing, food, and energy prices. However, if you are seeking to come to France without a job, and to do so legally, applying and being accepted to a French program will hopefully get you approved for a student visa.

Can I bring my cat or dog to France?

Generally, yes. Moving to France with a cat or a dog, or any pet, requires that your pet fulfill the EU requirements²⁸ prior to arriving in France. These requirements were established in 2013 and are fairly straightforward, if a bit time-consuming, to fulfill.

What’s the best way to make friends with expats in France?

Moving to France is incredibly exciting, but, as anyone who has done it knows, can also be incredibly lonely. Joining Facebook groups is a great place to start learning about upcoming events to attend. From there, you can start dipping your toe into the social scene. There are usually dozens associated with any given French city. Simply type some variation of “expats in paris” or “expat women in lyon” (for example) and see what comes up.

Are French people friendly?

French people can be friendly. I would not say they are, as a baseline, what Americans would consider friendly. They place a lot of emphasis on following social scripts, such as starting every conversation with “Bonjour.”

When I came to France in 2018, it was to au pair in Paris. I was in my early 20s and had no inclination to plan beyond the next exciting chapter. In the end, I

applied to an internship in the Student Affairs office at an American School in Greece (no response)
made it to a final-round interview to be a content writer for a travel company based in Bangkok (then got ghosted), and
opened an application to apply for New Zealand’s Working Holiday Visa… that I never finished.

Instead, I moved from Paris to Strasbourg for my then-boyfriend, who is now my fiancé. I faced some of the ever-present existential fears of life such as “What do I really want to do” and “How can I do what I want to do and still make money.” At the time, I blamed France and my partner for a lot of the frustration and fear that these thoughts create, but I now think I would have experienced similar angst no matter where I was. Today, I work in marketing and have my own French-registered small business in freelance writing and digital marketing. In the beginning, though, it was a lot of hours babysitting, online English tutoring, and odd jobs.

My story isn’t one of moving to France so much as coming to France

I came to France on a lark, only to end up staying. My hope is that this guide about how to move to France can serve both those who are moving and those who are coming. I know I would have appreciated some sort of roadmap to life in this unique, wonderful, and, yes, often exasperating country. As you’ll eventually come to see, that last point is part of its charm.

References

2 Comments

While I’m not yet ready to seriously move, your article has been the most helpful to date. I wish I was in my 20s, but am instead in my late 40s. (In my head I’m in my 20s, though), so life options may be different. However, your insight, personal comments, and amazing links at the bottom are an amazing starting point. I’ll be following your blog and living vicariously through you until I can get there! Thank you!

Burgundie Miceli

September 29, 2023


1. Author
  
  Hi Burgundie, thank you for reading! I’m really glad you found it helpful. You certainly bring more life experience to the moving abroad perspective, but I think you’ll just be all that more appreciative of the undertaking when you go through with it 🙂 Take care in the meantime, and perhaps a bientôt.
  
  Claire
  
  November 29, 2023

Moving to France from the US – The Ultimate Guide