Have you ever thought about moving to France? I have (
obviously). Well if you have and you do, you might need a little help (
trust me, you'll need a whole lotta help), and Schepens Removals is a company that can provide that help (
provided that your based in the UK... but even if you're not UK based, the following tips, can help you on your way)...
1) If you are planning on working in France, try to land the job before making the move. View vacancies and submit applications online, either via the government job search site or through private agencies. And you should be prepared to go to France if offered an
entretien d’embauche (
that's a job interview to you and me). You can also send speculative applications to potential employers. France’s high unemployment inevitably means keen competition for jobs (
especially for English language jobs... trust me on this one), so patience is a virtue and good language skills are desirable.
2) Do you have school age children? If you are planning on enrolling your child at a school in your commune, initial enquiries should be made at your
mairie (town hall), where you will be advised on who to contact and how to complete the various formalities. Children should be enrolled before June to start school in September. Home-schooling is legal, but you must speak to the mairie if you intend to take this route. France also has private schools and some international schools.
3) In order to get state health care if you are not a dependant of someone who is in the French system, and are not planning on working in France (
or haven't found a job yet) you will probably need a form S1. You should apply for an S1 well in advance of your move. If you’re retired, and live in the UK, contact the DWP Overseas Healthcare Team (0191 218 1999); if you’re going to continue working in the UK, contact HMRC.
4) A Carte Vitale is a card that contains a microchip which confirms your identity and social security number in France. When you pay for consultations, treatment or prescriptions, you will be asked for your Carte Vitale. Your reimbursements will then be refunded automatically into your bank account (
pretty cool, isn't it?). If you don’t have a Carte Vitale, or the health provider doesn’t have a card reader, you’ll be given a document called a
feuille de soins. This must be presented to your
caisse d’assurance (insurance company), along with proof of entitlement, to claim reimbursement.
5) Most French utility companies offer alternative payment methods and schedules. Paying by
prélèvement (direct debit) is the norm in France, but there are other options. You may also have a choice between monthly or quarterly billing. It’s worth spending a little time finding out what your options are, before agreeing to the method your supplier initially proposes.
6) If you're planning on bringing your car to France, you will need to re-register it. Essentially, this is just a matter of assembling the required paperwork, paying the registration fee, and you will be given a
carte gris (grey card) and French license plates.
7) French car insurance covers the car, not the driver, and normally includes breakdown cover; consequently, France has no RAC/AA equivalent. Continuous insurance is a legal requirement, even for cars kept off the road; before cancelling your policy, your insurers will require evidence that the car has been sold or scrapped, or that you have arranged insurance elsewhere. A valid insurance sticker must be displayed on the windscreen.
8) Banking options in France include high street banks, the post office bank,
La Poste (aka my nemesis), internet banks, and
Crédit Agricole’s English-speaking, ‘Britline’, which offers services online, over the telephone and by post. To open a
résident account you must reside permanently in France, (
i.e. be a French taxpayer); otherwise, you should apply for a
non-résident account. In either case, be prepared to provide supporting documentation such as birth certificate, passport, proof of address, financial statements and references, etc. Free banking is not a widely-known concept in France. Most French banks charge a monthly fee with additional charges for the issue and renewal of bank cards, internet banking, and other services. They normally offer a range of account packages, with tariffs to reflect the different levels of service.
9) France’s biggest national extravaganza is what we refer to as, Bastille Day, but the French call it
le quatorze juillet. Festivities start on the evening July 13th, with spectacular firework displays all over France and partying that is likely to continue all night and into the next day. The 14th is a national holiday, with most shops closed. Many towns arrange
fêtes (parties), parades and all manner of street entertainments. If you’re in France at this time, it’s well worth finding out what’s happening near you and going along. France’s 14th July celebrations are not to be missed.
10) Learn the language. I cannot express this enough. Whether you find yourself in a place in the country like Le Petit Village or a bustling city like Paris, being able to speak and understand French, as well as being able to read it, is an absolute necessity. Arm yourself with an English-French dictionary, podcasts (
many can be downloaded for free), flash cards, even a copy of French Vogue... whatever you need to get yourself parlez-vousing the Français.
Schepens Removals are one of the leading removal firms in the UK. They specialise in removals to France.
So there you go. You've got your tips, you've got your removal company, I'll expect to see you in Le Petit Village any day now...
bisou
