So, you’ve just received a job offer and are looking to make the big move to the country of baguettes and cheese…
First of all, well done!
But there are some things you need to know and organise before your move. MisterBilingue has compiled a checklist for you to make your move to France as smooth as possible.
If you live outside the EU/EEE/Switzerland, you will most likely need a visa in order to come to work in France. You should do this at least 3 months before your arrival, in your home country, at the French consulate or embassy. In some cases, your future employer might have to do the procedure to get a work permit for you before you are able to apply for a visa.
If you are from the EU, you don’t need a visa and you can have the same rights as French citizens as long as you have an EU passport.
We are not legal experts in immigration law, so our best advice is to check the French government's page for a much more detailed explanation. You can take a test to see exactly what process you need to do.
In France, health care costs are split between the state and the individual, typically 50/50 but it can be up to 100% paid for by the state. The difference between many countries and France is that when you go to the doctors, for example, you pay and then you will be reimbursed. This is different to many countries where you can go to the doctors completely for free without paying anything upfront.
Through the social security system, each month you will see an amount deducted from your payslip which means you are paying towards the public state health care system. However, the social security system does not cover ALL health costs. Because of this, you will also be offered something called the ‘mutuelle’ by your employer. It is mandatory for your employer to offer you this with at least 50% of this type of insurance being paid for by the company.
The ‘mutuelle’ is a health insurance fund which is in addition to your public one, and 50% or more is often paid for by your employer. You can opt out of the ‘mutuelle’ from your employer if you can prove that you are already insured by other means. For example, if you are insured on your family’s insurance, you already have your own private insurance, etc.
If you decide to accept your employers ‘mutuelle’, this will mean that in addition to the usual reductions to social security, you will also see an amount deducted from your salary because you are paying a percentage of this insurance and your employer is paying the rest. Remember, the employer must pay 50% minimum by law, but it is possible for them to pay 100%, in which case you, the employee, would pay nothing.
This means that when you go to the doctor, you will pay an amount for the service. This amount will be reimbursed by the ‘mutuelle’.
Social Security “is the guarantee given to everyone that in all circumstances they will have the necessary means to ensure their subsistence and that of their family in decent conditions”. Its mission is to protect people living in France against all the risks of life, by accompanying them at every stage of their existence. One branch of social security is the ‘assurance maladie’, meaning healthcare. Another branch is called the ‘Caisse nationale d’allocations familiales’, which can provide financial help to families and individuals for housing. You need a social security number to have access to all of the 5 branches of social security.
The social security number or ‘numéro de sécurité sociale’ is an essential and unique number that you must have in order to work in France, to access health care, to get unemployment benefits, etc. This step is important because employers always need your social security number and you also need it in order to get the ‘carte vitale’.
If you don’t already have a social security number, ask the organization that corresponds to your situation. For example, if you are an employee, self-employed or you exercise a liberal profession you must contact your primary health insurance fund (CPAM). In all cases, you will be asked for supporting documents: identity document and civil status document. If you don’t know your CPAM, you can find it on the Ameli.fr website by typing in your post code.
Our advice is to look on the Ameli website, an official website in France with all questions answered regarding the social security number and general public health insurance questions. They explain everything in depth with all the necessary links.
From getting paid, getting reimbursed for health insurance, to getting government grants, opening a French bank account will generally make your life easier in France and so is advisable. To open a French bank account you generally need:
Banks such as Société Générale and BNP Paribas are typical French banks. You could also consider foreign banks such as HSBC or Santander. However you can also consider an online bank such as N26 or Revolut. As long as you have a ‘RIB’ and ‘IBAN’, you should be fine.
It is not a legal requirement to have a French bank account, but many companies prefer it. It also can be helpful when paying phone bills or utility bills, where they often don’t accept foreign accounts.
This depends on where you are going to live. However, there are certain websites that are well known in France that can help you find an apartment or flat. For example:
You must be careful when looking for a flat because there are many scammers. Our advice is not to send money in advance without having seen the flat in person.
A common thing you may see is owners or agencies asking for a ‘garant’ (guarantor). This is very common in France. This is someone who typically earns more than you and promises to pay rent in the event that you do not. It is a form of protection for the landlord so that they know they will receive rent. This is to be taken seriously, as usually the ‘garant’ must sign a document stating that they will pay in the event that you cannot. A guarantor is often a family member, but it doesn’t have to be.
If you don’t have a ‘garant’, you can use an online ‘garant’ which is an online entity that acts as one for you. There is usually a fee for this service. You could check out the following ones which are popular in France:
There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but in France it is not unheard of to sign your contract on your first day of work, or just a week before you start. Obviously if you’re moving countries or even just cities, this can be quite stressful. However, it is not a sign of an untrustworthy company nor a scam, it is quite commonplace in France. If you’re worried, you can ask the company to send you the contract electronically so that you can sign it.
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