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🇫🇷 Moving to France: what you actually need to know

France is home to one of Europe's strongest startup ecosystems (French Tech), world-class universities, and a quality of life that consistently attracts international talent. The Talent Passport is France's flagship skilled-worker route: a 4-year permit covering a wide range of profiles. French bureaucracy is real and language is more of a requirement for daily life than in Germany or the Netherlands. Paris is expensive; the rest of France is considerably more affordable.

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Visa routes

Your main options for moving to France

Talent Passport (Passeport Talent)

4-year residence permit for highly qualified workers, startup founders, artists, researchers, and certain investors. 11 categories including employee of an innovative company, founder of a startup labelled by Bpifrance or Business France, and highly qualified employee earning above 1.5x the average salary (approximately €55,000/year).

Long-stay Visa (VLS-TS) for employees

For workers with a French job offer. The employer typically initiates the work permit (autorisation de travail) through the Ministry of Labour. Processing: 4–8 weeks. Validated as a first residence permit upon arrival: no separate card required in year 1.

Passeport Talent. Entrepreneur / Company Founder

For founders of companies in France (or companies with operations in France). Requires a viable business plan and endorsement from a French public authority (Business France, BPI, or a local authority).

Student Visa (VLS-TS Etudiant)

For study at a recognised French institution (établissement d'enseignement supérieur). French institutions handle most of the process through Campus France. Allows 20 hours of work per week.

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Cost of living

What it actually costs to live in France

Paris

€2,500–4,500/month

Rent for a 1-bed: €1,500–2,500. Paris has a housing shortage and high competition. Priority system for social housing (HLM) has decades-long waits.

Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse

€1,600–2,600/month

Major regional cities with strong economies. Tech hubs (Lyon, Toulouse) with lower cost of living than Paris.

Nantes, Rennes, Montpellier, Lille

€1,200–2,000/month

University cities with active expat and student communities. Good quality of life, lower rents.

Key steps

What to do and in what order

OFII appointment after arrival

Within 3 months of arriving on a long-stay visa, you must complete an OFII (Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration) medical and orientation appointment. This validates your residence permit. You receive a stamp in your passport or a vignette.

Apply for your Carte de Séjour

After the first year (once your VLS-TS expires), you must apply for a Carte de Séjour at your local prefecture. Book your appointment early: prefecture wait times in Paris and Lyon can reach 3–6 months.

Open a French bank account

French banks are famously difficult for non-residents. BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and Crédit Agricole are the main options. Alternatively, N26 (German) or Wise can be used as a bridge. La Banque Postale is accessible via some post offices. You need a French address and NIR/social security number for a full account.

Apply for your Carte Vitale (health insurance card) at your local CPAM office with your Carte de Séjour, proof of address, and employment or income documents. The Carte Vitale covers 70–80% of standard medical costs, with top-up insurance (mutuelle) covering the rest.

Get your French social security number (NIR)

Automatically assigned when you register for Assurance Maladie. Required for employment, health, and pension contributions.

Common mistake

Opening a French bank account without a Carte de Séjour or proof of long-term residence is genuinely difficult. Budget 2–4 weeks using Wise or a foreign account for day-to-day spending while the bank account and health insurance applications process.

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