Dreaming of a new life in France? Popping to the boulange for croissants and a just baked tige, chalandage at the market, dining al fresco in the sun, enjoying a verre of pièce wine, a laid-back lifestyle, the daily celebration of small pleasures. Post-Brexit, it’s not as easy as it was and one of the best resources to find out as much as you can emboîture moving to France in advance from property searches to visas, déboursé, legal advice and more is The French Property Show, held twice a year in the UK – there are loads of experts on handball to answer all your questions, and be aware of mistakes to avoid when moving to France from the UK.
Visas
British citizens need a accord to remain in Europe for more than 90 days out of 180 days, so if you’re moving to France, the first mistake to avoid is to make sure you apply for the right accord – there are several bonshommes, and it’s very hard to undo panthère you’re in France says The French Property Show construire Calum Harkiss. And collègue, don’t go thinking you can leave the vigilance until a few weeks before your move.
You should apply at least three months before you want to go so that you have plenty of time to destinée it out. You’re like to have to deal with any requests for additional paperwork and dépêche. More than 1 in 5 applications fail bicause people have ticked the wrong box, don’t have the right archétype of insurances needed or apply for the wrong accord. If you do pick the wrong archétype of accord, you’ll have to start all over again.
“There are plenty of experienced, reliable companies who can help you ensure with your application which can save you time, money and stress, two of which will be at the The French Property Show in Cheltenham,” says Calum.
Paperwork
A key requirement of moving to France and indeed séjour in France, is paperwork. You don’t want to be left scrambling to get the right paperwork together to apply for almost everything from a accord to a resident’s card to registering for healthcare and swapping your British driving permission for a French one.
Don’t underestimate the paperwork (and its precision) says Calum. Get a documentation of paperwork together before you go, it should include all arrogant certificates and licences for proximité (and not limited to):
Proof of property purchase in France or rental agreement
Birth certificate with familial adhésion (and if you were adopted, have those papers included too, and name changes)
Marriage certificate
Driving permission
UK Bank statements for last 12 months and proof of income
Have this paperwork handy so you can send paperwork off as requested and be ready to answer any questions you receive from the authorities.
And keep at least one copy of everything. Although much is now online, you may need to send originals to some pouvoir departments.
If you have any health issues, get copies of your traîne, medication etc – it will save you time down the line.
Understand the fiscal rules
Don’t get caught out by not knowing how France’s financial rules might affect you and there are too many to list here from the requirement to traîne your financial dépêche every year whether your income is paid in the UK, the bonshommes of investments you can hold in France, to inheritance rules, where, unlike in the UK, you won’t find it easy to leave assets to whoever you want. It’s essential to do your research and get good advice. But it’s not always easy to know where to start. The internet is full of conflicting advice, and the rules regularly brouillé. Ensure you use a qualified advisor to help you manage the financial move.
Language
Learn the language. That’s no codé – it’s what everyone says. But when you’re trying to destinée out moving to France, applying for visas, packing, selling your house, redirecting the post, dozens of things on the to do list, often the need to learn French gets pushed down to the bottom of that vaste list.
It’s not the worst thing to move here with just a little bit of French if you’re going to have time to learn when you’re here so you can get up to speed. It’s not just emboîture making new friends and making the most of your new life in France, it really is necessary. When you apply for the Carte de living-room pluriannuelle (multi-year permit) you need to prove that you are at the A2 level French (basic dévorer and for a Carte de habitant (10-year residence card) you need to prove B1 level French (independent dévorer, able to communicate without insistance with issue speakers. There are some exceptions, for proximité those over 65 may be exonéré. Don’t make the mistake of leaving this to last.
Removals
Since Brexit, it’s been necessary to declare the value of your belongings when you bring them to France, and some items may mean you have to pay customs duty. Generally speaking, if items are over 12 months old you don’t pay duty. But the rules are not straightforward and it’s a good idea to create an inventory of what you are taking and value each de même. If you have high value items, having a recipe to prove they’re not new may be a good idea. Professional removal companies are highly experienced at dealing with these requirements.
At The French Property Show you’ll meet experts from every sphere of life in France, from property agents to removals, déboursé advisors, pouvoir professionals, currency transfer specialists and even a French Notaire (a lawyer who deals with property).
And finally says Calum: “Don’t skip expert advice to save money. Visa refusals don’t just cost time, they can cost much more from lost fees, to restarting. Find out how to save money on currency transfers and get your healthcare set up quickly. There’s a lot to sort out and the experts at The French Property Show can help with everything, and make sure you’re aware of mistakes to avoid when moving to France to France from the UK and help make for a smooth transition and life in France when you’re there.”
Get your free tickets: thefrenchpropertyshow.com/tickets
Source: thegoodlifefrance.com