Overview
Climate and Weather
Getting There
French Culture
Speaking the Language
Government
Religion
Visas, Residency and Documentation Required
Currency
Foreign Currency - how to secure a favourable exchange rate
Cost of Living
Banking
Taxation
Insurance
Business Culture
Credit and Loans
Healthcare and Medical Treatment in France
Emergency Services
Crime and the Legal System
Social Security in France
Finding Employment
Retiring to France
Education and Schools
Driving in France
Food and Drink
Leisure, Entertainment and Sports
Arranging a Telephone and/or Internet Connection
Taking Your Pets
Expat groups in France

Property in France

Property Types
Property Locations
Property Prices
Finding Your French Property
Purchasing French Property
French Mortgage Questions Answered
Property Purchase Tips
Renting Property in France
French Buy-To-Let Scheme
French Leaseback Basics
Introduction to French Leaseback
French Leaseback Properties
Reserving a French Leaseback Property
French Mortgages for Leaseback Properties
Leaseback Contract And Management Company
French Leaseback Rental Income
Leaseback Property Personal Use
Leaseback Property End of Contract
French Leaseback Costs
French Leaseback Property Scheme VAT Rebate

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Expat France - Destination Mini-Guides

Cities

Paris

THE PROVENCE POST www.provencepost.com If you live in, travel to or just love the South of France...

Expat Experiences of Life in France (submit yours here)

Alan Simonds

We were over here on holiday in 2005 and drove past the end of a lane which had a sign for a building plot for sale. We looked at the land which amounted to about 1.4 acres and had a stream running along two sides. We were totally smitten and decided to buy. We settled here in France in May 2006. The main reason for coming was for a better quality of live, escaping from the pressure of work and the traffic in South East England....

Read more...

We came to France 2 years ago just looking for a better life for the family- more time, less stress. We found that. Not all ex-pats come to another country with tons of cash, dream home or the perfect job waiting. Some of us moved to find a better way of life. We do get more time now with less outside stress. Our older girls are doing really well in school and are so much happier that we can give them more time...

I have read a lot of literature with regard to the pitfalls of trying to open a Bank account in France whilst still living in the UK. That is a 'non resident' bank account. I have to say everything I have read was unfounded! Upon making the first approach to Credit Agricole, I was obviously asked for colour copies of our passports along with a utility bill of where I live in the UK, not more than three months old, no problem here I thought...

If you are choosing a school for your kids, our advice would be to chat to the Mairie. The state schools are good here, my youngest (14) is in his second year and doing ok. No knowledge of the language when we moved over a year ago, but it doesn't take long for them to learn the rudiments. The kids & the teachers have all been a great help to him...

Read more experiences here or submit your own!

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