Living in France

• on working in Francean asEU a third country national
• how to get a visa

Frontier workers

If you livework in France andFrance, wereeven regularlyif commutingyou to work infor anothera EUUK-based orcompany, EFTAthis country,may beforeaffect 1where Januaryyou 2021 youpay mayNational needInsurance-type acontributions. permitRead tothe showNational youinsurance areand asocial frontiersecurity worker. Youcontributions mustsection also apply for amore residency permit in France.   information.

If you livewere living in theFrance UKbefore or1 anotherJanuary EU2021

You ofhave EFTAthe countryright and commuted to work inunder Francethe beforeWithdrawal 1Agreement Januaryif 2021 you needhave a permit.Withdrawal YouAgreement mustResidence applyPermit for(WARP) thisor permithave fromapplied thefor Prefectureone. whereYou youmust workhave beforea 1WARP Julyin 2021.

Toorder apply,to youwork. needRead athe validFrench passport,government’s aadvice recenton facialBrexit photograph;and aworking certificatein ofFrance.

If employmentyou orlive proofin ofFrance self-employedand activitywere onregularly Frenchcommuting territory.to Seework more detail in theanother MinisterialEU Order.or WeEFTA willcountry updatebefore this1 pageJanuary once2021, moreread informationour onguidance thefor applicationfrontier process is available.workers.

Studying

Professional in France

You willmay beneed eligibleto forget broadlyyour theprofessional samequalification supportrecognised asif French nationals, as long as you werewant legallyto residentwork in Francea beforeprofession 1that Januaryis 2021.regulated You must apply for a residency permit in France.

Read our guidance on:

• continuingrecognition yourof studiesprofessional in the EUqualifications
• healthcarehow forto studentsget your qualification recognised in France

Moving to France to study

If you arewere planningliving to study in France,France make sure you meet all visa requirements before you1 travel.

January 2021

ContactIf the relevant higherregulator education provider in France toofficially checkrecognised whatyour feesprofessional youqualification maybefore have1 toJanuary pay.

University2021, tuitionor feesyou forstarted UKthe nationalsrecognition comingprocess toby Francethis todate, studymake fromsure 1you Januaryunderstand 2021the mayterms beof higheryour duedecision. toYou theshould Frenchget government’sadvice reformsfrom tothe publicrelevant university tuition fees.regulator.

Increased

Studying feesin will not apply to:

France

• UK

  If studentsyou alreadyplan enrolledto onstudy ain courseFrance, ofyou studymust whenmeet theall reformsvisa wererequirements announcedbefore (Septemberyou 2019)travel.

  Read for the durationCampus ofFrance thatguidance course

• UKto studentscheck startingwhat afees courseyou duringmay thehave transitionto period,pay. for the duration of that course

Check with your grant provider for any continued eligibility for student support (in French)French).

Read andguidance readon:

• continuing theyour Campusstudies Francein guidancethe onEU
• studying tuitionin feethe reformsEuropean Union.
• healthcare (infor English)
  students in France

For

If moreyou informationwere read living in France before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union. includes information if you were already living in France before 1 January 2021.

Money and taxTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with France toso ensurethat you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

ExistingYou doubleshould taxationget arrangementsprofessional foradvice UKon nationalspaying livingtax in FranceFrance. haveFind notan changed.English-speaking lawyer in France.

Read the guidance about:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• paying income tax in France
• EU byfactsheet theon Europeanbuying Uniongoods online from UK websites

Declaring your assets

You shouldmust getdeclare professionalany adviceassets on(in payingFrench) taxheld inoutside France.France, Findincluding anbank English-speakingaccounts, lawyersecurities, ininsurance, France.annuities and property. This declaration is separate to the annual tax return.

National Insurance

National Insurance-type contributions(NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in France. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in France.

Banking

WhetherIf UKyou banksplan canto providemove services to customersFrance livingand inwork, theeven EEAif isyou acontinue matterworking offor locala lawUK-based company, you and regulation.your Youremployer bankmay orneed financeto providerpay shouldsocial contactsecurity youcontributions ifin theyFrance. needThese tosocial makesecurity anycontributions changeswould toentitle youryou productto orcertain thebenefits, waysuch theyas providehealthcare, it.in IfFrance.

Read youguidance haveon anyNational concernsInsurance aboutfor whetherworkers youfrom mightthe beUK affected,working contactin yourthe providerEEA or seekSwitzerland.

You independentcan financialcheck advice.your UK National Insurance record.

Benefits

UK Benefits

Read theour Moneyguidance on entitlement to UK benefits and Pensionpensions Servicewhile guidanceyou onare banking,living insurancein andFrance

Check financialwhich servicesUK changesbenefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more informationthan on4 cross-border banking.weeks.

DeclarationFrench ofBenefits

French assetsunemployment benefit

AllFor residentsFrench mustunemployment declarebenefits, anyyou assetsshould:

• check heldif outsideyou’re France,eligible includingon bankthe accounts,French securities,government’s rights,website
• contact insurance,Pôle annuitiesEmploi and(in property.French) Thisto declarationclaim

French isdisability separatebenefit

Contact the Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées (MDPH) (in French) to find out which, if any, disability allowance is most appropriate for you.

French family allowance

To apply for child allowance, family income support, single-parent allowance or housing allowance, contact the annualCAF tax(Caisse return.d’Allocations Familiales) (in French). If you need help applying, request an appointment with the social worker at your local town hall (mairie).

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in France.

YouRead willState needPension toguidance tellif theyou UKhave governmentlived officesin thatAustralia, dealCanada withor yourNew benefits,Zealand pension and tax if you are movingclaiming or retiringwaiting abroad.to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in France, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Please contactContact the International Pension Centre tofor claimfurther information
• your French pension if you worked in France, by contacting your local pensions office (Caisse d’Assurance Retraite et Santé au Travail or CARSAT) – see CLEISS and Sécurité Sociale (in French)
• pensions from abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

YouRead can read the French government’s guidance on French social security including pensions.

Read the Money and Pension ServiceService’s MoneyHelper guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you needmust to respond as soon as possible - yourYour payments may be suspended if you don’t.do Ornot.

Alternatively, you can ask your local town hall (mairie) to fill in a French life certificate (certificat de vie) (in French) instead.

BenefitsMoney and banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA depends on local laws and regulation. Read ourthe Money and Pension Service’s MoneyHelper guidance on entitlementbanking, toinsurance UKand benefitsfinancial services for more information on cross-border banking.

Accommodation and pensionsbuying whileproperty

Read youour areguidance livingon:

• legal requirements and advice on buying a property in France

• buying a property abroad

Driving in France

You willcannot needrenew toor tellreplace theyour UKUK, governmentGibraltar, officesJersey, thatGuernsey dealor withIsle yourof benefits,Man pensionlicence andif taxyou iflive in France. Read the guidance on what you aremust movingdo orto retiringdrive abroad.legally in France:

Check

• what whichyou UKneed benefitsto drive in the EU
• driving licence rules in France if you canlive claimthere
• road whiletravel abroadin France

Exchanging andyour howUK, toGibraltar, claimJersey, them.

Guernsey or Isle of Man licence

ManyIf income-relatedyou benefitslive suchin asFrance, Pensionthe Creditrules andfor Housingexchanging Benefityour cannotlicence befor paida ifFrench you’reone abroadvary fordepending moreon thanwhen 4your weeks.

licence was first issued. You cando requestnot proofneed ofto thetake timea you’vedriving workedtest. inYou thecannot UKuse froman HMRC,International ifDriving youPermit are(IDP) askedinstead forof this.

Frenchexchanging unemploymentyour benefit

ForCheck Frenchwhen unemploymentyour benefits,licence was first issued. If you should:

• have a photocard licence, check ifthe you’reearliest eligibledriving entitlement date on the Frenchback government’sof website
• contactyour Pôlelicence Emploito (insee French)when toit claim

Frenchwas disabilityfirst benefit

Contactissued. theAll Maisonpaper Départementalelicences desthat Personnesdid Handicapéesnot (MDPH)come (inwith French)a aboutplastic disabilityphotocard allowancewere –issued therebefore are1 severalJanuary disability2021.

If allowancesyour soUK, it’sGibraltar, bestJersey, toGuernsey seekor adviceIsle fromof themMan driving licence was first issued before applying.

French1 familyJanuary allowance

ToYour applylicence is recognised in France for childas allowance,long familyas incomeit support,is single-parentvalid. allowanceCheck orthe housingexpiry allowance,date contacton the CAFfront (Caisseof d’Allocationsyour Familiales)plastic (inphotocard French)licence. ifIf you needhave helpnot applying,been requestissued anwith appointmenta withplastic thephotocard, socialyou workercan atcontinue to use your localpaper townlicence hallfor (mairie).

Drivingas inlong France

If youyour are resident inlicence France,has you can continueexpired, toor usehas yourless UK licence until 1than January6 2022, ifmonths’ validity remaining, you must exchange it hasfor nota expired.

ValidFrench UK licenceslicence. You do not need to beneed exchanged duringto thistake period,a untildriving atest. reciprocalWhen agreementyour application is reachedaccepted betweenyou thewill Unitedreceive Kingdomyour and‘attestation de France. Wedépôt aresécurisée’. workingYou withcan theuse Frenchthis governmentdocument to finalise thisto agreement and willdrive updatein thisFrance pageuntil whenyou informationreceive isyour available. new licence.

TheYou provisionscan allowingonly UKexchange nationalyour residentslicence inif Franceit tois continuedue usingto theirexpire UKwithin licence6 untilmonths. 1If Januaryyou 2022 do not extendhave a valid reason to UK nationals resident inrequest France whose licence has already expired.an Weexchange, areyour workingapplication closelywill withbe therejected.

If Frenchyou Governmentneed to findexchange ayour solutionlicence, forapply thoseonline with expired licences and willwith updatethe thisAgence pageNationale whendes informationTitres isSécurisés available.(ANTS) (in French).

If your UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021

Your licence is recognised for 1 year from the date of issue of your residency permit (carte de séjour). If you areintend visitingto stay in France andfor longer than 1 year, you havemust exchange your licence for a UK photocard licence ,French youlicence during this first year. You do not need to carrytake ana additionaldriving Internationaltest.

If Drivingyou Permitneed (IDP).  to exchange your licence, apply online at the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) (in French).

ForRead informationthe French government’s guidance on driving inlicences France,(in readFrench).

Confirming theyour guidancedriving on:

entitlements

• what

  To exchange your driving licence you need to driveprovide abroad

• proof of your driving rulesentitlements to the French authorities. A certificate or letter of entitlement sets out which categories of vehicles you are entitled to drive.

  If your licence was issued in FranceGreat Britain (England, Wales or Scotland), you should create a licence check code online

Driving

If your licence was issued in Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the UKIsle withof Man, contact the relevant issuing authority to request a Frenchletter licence

You canshould usesubmit your French licence insummary/letter or certificate of entitlement using the online ANTS platform (in French).

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK forBlue shortBadge visits,and orlive exchangein France, you must return it forto athe original UK licenceissuing withoutauthority. takingYou can apply for a test.new WeFrench willdisabled updateparking thesecard pages(in ifFrench) therewith areyour anylocal changesOffice tofor Disabled People (Maison Départementale pour les Personnes Handicapées).

Read the rules,EU asguidance soonon asthe informationEU isparking available.card for people with disabilities (in French).

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to France

Read our guidance on on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

Driving outside France with a French licence

ReadYou can use your French licence when visiting the EuropeanUK. Union’sKeep guidanceup-to-date onwith carthe registrationUK andHighway taxesCode.

If you go to live in France.the YouUK, mayyou becan exemptexchange fromyour someFrench oflicence thesefor taxes.a IfUK so,one without taking a test.

To drive in another country, in addition to your French licence, you willmay need certificatesan ofIDP. exemption.Apply for one with the Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (ANTS) (in French). More information on how to apply for an IDP is on the Interior Ministry website (in French).

Read the EU guidance on: 

• EU driving licences and insurance
• driving licence exchange and recognition in the EU

Voting

You cannot vote in elections in France or in European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter to vote

Births, deathsdeaths, marriages and gettingcivil marriedpartnerships

If your child is born in France, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth abroad.with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in France you can:

• read our guidance on on:
  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • read our guidance on whatbereavement to do after a British person dies in France

  Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

  Find out about notarial and documentary services in France

  You may also need:

  • an English-speaking lawyer in France
  • an English-speaking translator in France

  Accommodation and buying propertyPets

  ReadIf ouryou’re guidancemoving on:

  • what to considerFrance whenwith buyingyour apet, propertyread abroad
  • legalthe requirementsguidance and adviceensure onyou buyingcomply awith propertythe inregulations:
    • taking Franceyour pet abroad
    • howmoving to importEU personalcountries belongingswith toyour Francepet (in French)

    Pets

    IfTo youvisit haveother acountries pet passport issued by France or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your petpet, tocheck Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.

    Arules GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EUcountry oryou’re Northerntravelling Ireland.to. YouContact should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents andyour ensurepet you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.needs.

    Read guidance on:

    • bringing your pet to GBGreat Britain
    • travelling. withCheck that your petpet’s inrabies thevaccinations EU
    • travellingare up to Northerndate. IrelandVets within yourGreat pet

    CheckBritain thecannot rulesenter ofrabies thevaccination countrydetails you’rein non-UK issued pet passports

  • travelling to forIreland anywith additionalyour restrictionspet
  • travelling orwith requirementsyour beforepet youin travel.
    the EU

  Emergencies

  YouDial can dial the European emergency number 112 in France,France, or dial:

  • 17 for police
  • 18 for fire brigade
  • 15 for medical

  FindDial the fullEU list116 of000 emergencyhotline numberto report a missing child in Francethe EU country where you live or in another EU country.

  If you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction, the French government guidance on child custody and the French government guidance on child abduction; the EU guidance on child abduction and the EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

  If you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault,assault youin canFrance, findread the guidance on rapewhat to do and sexualwhere assaultto get support in Francecases of rape and sexual assault.

  If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, abroad, contact the British embassyEmbassy in Paris.

  Returning to the UK

  YouCheck shouldthe tellCOVID-19 travel guidance for entering the UK.

  Tell the French and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

  You should tell your local French tax office (in French) that you are changing address and the date you will leave.

  You’ll need to tell your local social security office (in French) and benefit office you’re leaving if you’ve been getting unemployment benefit (in French) or child and housing benefit (in French).

  If you get a UKFrench Statepension, Pension,contact youyour mustpension tellprovider.

  To themove Internationalyour Pensionpension Centre.to Ifthe youUK, get a French pension, contact yourthe pensionInternational provider.Pension Centre.

  Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax,bringing accessfamily tomembers, servicestax and bringingaccess familyto members.services.

  If

  Useful youinformation

  • help returnand toservices thein UKFrance
  • notarial permanently and meetdocumentary theservices ordinarilyin resident test,France
  • find you’llyour belocal ablecitizens’ toadvice accesscentre NHS(in careFrench)
  • find withoutyour charge.
    legal advice centre (in French)

  Disclaimer

  ThisSupport informationfor isBritish providednationals asabroad: a guide only.sets Definitiveout informationhow shouldto bestay obtainedsafe fromabroad, theand Frenchexplains authorities.how Thethe Foreign,FCDO Commonwealthcan &support Developmentyou Officeif (FCDO)you isget notinto liable for any inaccuracies in this information.difficulty.