I'm going to live abroad

Verified 22 June 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you are planning to go abroad to study, work or live there, steps must be taken before you leave. Once there, you will have to follow the rules of the country you are going to live in.

The rules differ according to the country (country of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, other country).

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You go to live in the EEA or Switzerland

You do not need a residence permit or a work permit.

However, depending on the reason you are leaving (as a worker, student, inactive or family member), you will need to respect residency requirements in the host country.

You're going to live in another country

You must take the necessary steps to obtain a an installation visa and, if necessary, a residence and work permit for you and your family.

If you are going on holiday in the country in which you are going to move, and depending on the conditions of your installation (duration, holidays close or not to the installation,...), it may be necessary to first obtain a short-stay visa.

Birth - Adoption

You can inquire about the obligations regarding births abroad and adoption of a child foreigner.

Marriage

You can inquire about the terms and conditions for the marriage of a Frenchman abroad and on the registration of a Civil partnerships abroad.

It is advisable to protect your personal data and secure your digital devices (phone, tablet, laptop).

To do this, you can consult the travel advice on the website diplomatie.gouv.fr and the Cnil check-list.

You already have a job abroad

Your employment contract can take several forms:

Looking for a job

You can inquire about the job offers offered abroad.

You can also consult the jobs offered by the french institutions and international organizations

Schooling

You can inquire about the possibility of enrolling your child in a local school in your host country:

If you want your child to attend a French school, you must check that this type of school exists in this country:

FYI  

it is also possible to use distance learning.

Health insurance

Your social protection depends on your work and family situation.

You must inform the body in charge of your health insurance and your health supplement of your move.

If you are an employee, your employer can take care of this formality.

Unemployment insurance

  • If you are receiving unemployment benefits or the specific solidarity allowance (SSA), you must inform Pôle emploi before you leave.
Who shall I contact

  • Pôle emploi for jobseekers - 3949

    By telephone 

    39,49

    • To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day - Free service + call price
    • To be put in contact with an advisor to register, to inform you, to modify an appointment: service accessible at the times set by each Pôle emploi agency - Free service + call price

    From the foreigner: + 33 1 77 86 39 49

    By E-mail

    Access via the contact form

Who shall I contact
Who shall I contact

Family benefits

You must inform the organization that pays you family benefits (Caf or MSA) your situation and your departure abroad.

Warning  

if you receive benefits incorrectly, you'll have to pay them back.

Retirement pension

  • If you are receiving the Solidarity Allowance for the Elderly (Aspa), you must inform your pension fund of your change of situation. You must also inquire about the conditions of the payment of the Aspa abroad (by transfer, at the bank counter...).

Tax

You can inquire about your rights and obligations, with respect to which will be considered your tax domicile by the french tax authorities.

Customs

You need to check the customs rules which apply to transfers of money and goods between France and your host country.

Bank

You have to take care of the banking formalities related to your move.

If necessary, you will need to request the closing your bank account.

Insurance

You must take care of the formalities related to your insurance contracts (home, car,...).

You may need to subscribe to a specific insurance for assistance and repatriation.

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You're a tenant

You must give your notice (leave) to your landlord to terminate the lease.

FYI  

you can have your mail sent back abroad using the service offered by La Poste.

You own it

You can sell your home, the to lease or pass it on to a family member.

FYI  

you can have your mail sent back abroad using the service offered by La Poste.

If you move, with your furniture, out of the Schengen area, you must present to customs a certificate of change of residence. You can get it in town hall. However, some municipalities give you access to this document online or by using the following document:

Declaration of transfer of residence outside France

This certificate helps to justify to customs that your furniture is for personal and non-commercial use.

You should inquire about the specific entry conditions for your pet in your new host country.

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You go to live in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

You must inquire about the conditions before you can driving in the host country.

FYI  

if you have a vehicle and you leave it in France, you will have to continue to insure it in civil liability.

You're going to live elsewhere abroad

You must inquire about the conditions before you can driving in the host country.

FYI  

if you have a vehicle and you leave it in France, you will have to continue to insure it in civil liability

Consular Registration

You can register in the register of French nationals established outside France at the consulate on which you depend.

Please note

although optional, consular registration is highly recommended.

Participation in French elections

You can to vote in a polling center open abroad on condition that register on the consular voters list.

Otherwise, you can give power of attorney to a registered voter in France.

Complete military census formalities

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You just turned 16

You must have you registered with the consulate, unless you are registered with the register of French nationals established outside France (in this case, the census is automatic).

You have already been registered in France

If you have already been registered in France and you are not at least 25 years old, you must inform the military authorities of your change of address.