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Living overseas

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Considering a move to France

26 replies

Blessedbethefruitcakes · 03/01/2023 20:56

I'm considering moving abroad. I am British and would like to move to France but as I'm not an EU citizen I know it would not be easy. I have a job which I could easily do from France if I could get a work visa, as I can work online. I work as a tutor mainly teaching UK secondary aged students but would also be able to do TEFL online and in person.

Is this crazy? I'm just thinking that selling my house here in the UK would mean I could buy somewhere in a nice area or France with money left over as property prices even in some of the pricier areas I've looked at are cheaper. I'd have about £600-650k after selling my house so feel I'd have plenty of options. Then even if I earned less initially I'd be able to have a similar standard of living to here.

I suffer from depression which I managed but it is always worse from October-February when the weather is cold and it's so dark. I think living somewhere a bit warmer and sunnier like the more southern parts of France would really help.

I am worried that I'm just focusing on the positives of a move not the negatives. My French is ok but not great although I'm working on that and am confident I'll be able to improve. I am single but live near family and friends who I'd go back to visit and would also be welcome to visit me. If you live in France is there anything I'm missing? Did you find it hard to make friends?What would you say the major downsides are to France in comparison to the UK?

Thanks in advance 😀

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 03/01/2023 21:25

Your main issue is income.

You can't continue to work in the UK online, without a French registered arm of your organisation and the associated taxes, you won't be able to do that job. If you want to work for yourself you'll have to prove that the work is needed and that it brings in £22k per year ish. The exact figures will change but it is French NWM at full time.

You could emigrate as inactive, and use your savings to cover your proof of funds [around 12k per year], and after 5 years you will be allowed to work doing what you want. It is either the full NMW for the working visa, or nothing for those first 5 years on a Visitor's visa.

Or you could get a job here, but the issue here is that they would have to prove they have advertised for and not found a French person to do the job. I believe other European countries do have a Nomad type visa which would allow you to work in your current job so maybe investigate that. I believe there are agencies that have closed in London that used to provide this as it is now so hard to do.

Property prices are better, but it is reflective in my opinion of the area that you live in - and many houses need some quite significant work which is not cheap. We have rented our UK house for a long term rental in case we decide to come back. Our house was bought outright from savings and investments cashed in, and we got a house for half the price but twice the area and 10x the land as the UK. We are quite rural though, an hour from the nearest city.

You will need a year's full medical insurance to get the visa, not cheap. Ours was £2k each. A new car, the cost of cars is probably half to a third higher than the UK. Food is more expensive but you have more ability and prospect of growing supplementary food here.

Advantages of course are [here in the South of France] 2 additional hours of sunlight through the winter. There is no gas here so if you don't want oil you have to find other ways of heating, we have a wood burner and 2 plug in oil filled radiators. Different if you are in a large town or city of course. The heat of this summer meant alot of struggle to keep the garden watered, but you get into the groove. Although we do get rain, and Bordeaux is known as a wet city - the rain is nothing as miserable as in the Midlands of the UK. The warmth in the spring as it gets going is just heavenly.

There is no traffic so if you need 45 mins to get somewhere you don't need to add another 30 mins like you would in the UK, you just need the 45 mins. The cheapest wine you can get tastes better than expensive wine in the UK.

There are loads of UK Facebook groups, and local groups where you can exchange language skills, and mix with the locals. There is a boulangerie in most small [not tiny] villages.

So it all depends on what it is you are looking for. We came here because we both took early retirement [me at 53] and wanted to do something other than waste away in the UK - so we got a house with a decent sized garden to grow food and flowers and to just chill out. We go to local events, we have friends here and we've only been here 13 months. After our 5 years are up, we will be doing some sort of business activity here but we are taking the time out to just enjoy ourselves for a bit.

StamppotAndGravy · 03/01/2023 21:41

I think you'll stuggle to get a visa and adaption. To be brutally honest, when you move abroad, you take all your problems with you and they tend to get worse due to isolation and stress of moving, plus you won't be able to communicate with healthcare providers. It's all the same shit, just a different bucket.

As a PP suggested, a digital nomad visa is an easier option. Portugal certainly do them and they have nice weather. I think Thailand and and Vietnam do too, and maybe some of the other Mediterranean countries. Why not try 3-6 months to avoid British winter but keep your base in the uk? That will make taxes much easier and you get a bit of a try before you buy

daretodenim · 03/01/2023 22:18

I think Bali and some places in the Caribbean also have digital nomad visas. One advantage of being in a different time zone (if you get it the right way around!) is that you can time your work (after school U.K. time) for early morning local time meaning you've actually got the best of the day free. They're further away than France, but definitely a nicer climate!

serquegienn · 04/01/2023 11:01

I'm not up to date with visas but aren't you only allowed to stay for 3 months if you don't have residency, or up to a year if you apply for a long stay one? That would be my biggest concern if you sold your house in UK.

Personally I'd recommend renting somewhere for 3 months and keeping your house in UK. Ideally over winter so you experience the reality and not the sun-drenched, sunflower-filled seduction of French summers.

darjeelingrose · 11/01/2023 12:37

Have you considered Portugal, apparently that's much easier from an admin point of view. I think you have to really want to move to France, not just really want to leave the UK.

CantHaveTooMuchChocolate · 22/01/2023 13:03

There are, as pp have suggested nomad visas which would allow you try working somewhere first.

nomadgirl.co/countries-with-digital-nomad-visas/

Something else well worth considering is a “golden visa” somewhere like Spain or Portugal. The Spanish one would be easy for you as you’re moving anyway, just requiring an “investment” of 500k euros which can be property (plus a few other stipulations, health insurance, etc). This would give you access to the EU without visas, and full citizenship within 10 years (so you could then move to France, etc). I think the Portuguese version is cheaper still.

www.goldenvisas.com/spain

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 10:12

Hard to make friends, yes

Language is beautiful, if you like it, easy to learn, but you can't rely on English only to thrive, you need to be fluent

Have heard people say that health system is better

Cheaper

Also safer, as there are no knitting incidents like London

France has this vibe of sadness so you might cry more

TGV is excellent, you can be in Paris real fast

Some people are mean/rude. This can be a good and a bad thing cos if they are not keen on you, they certainly won't pretend

Schooling for kids far far cheaper, Ecole is like 300 Euro per year if kids manage to get in

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 10:12

Knives* not knitting

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 10:17

I would never do Portugal, Spain or Bali

You might struggle more in France when you arrive but it's a strong economy

You will need to learn how to be pushy and assertive as in France no doesn't really mean no (govt officials and such) but more like test me

It's ok to make a scene and fight in France for them to open up your bank account

I don't agree you take your problems with you. Different country means different rewards and problems.

maddy68 · 04/03/2023 10:33

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 10:17

I would never do Portugal, Spain or Bali

You might struggle more in France when you arrive but it's a strong economy

You will need to learn how to be pushy and assertive as in France no doesn't really mean no (govt officials and such) but more like test me

It's ok to make a scene and fight in France for them to open up your bank account

I don't agree you take your problems with you. Different country means different rewards and problems.

Gosh why ? I moved to spain a few years ago, I would never leave now.

The people are so kind and helpful

The beurocracy is dire and frustrating but you get there in the end.

The state healthcare is incredible so is the education

Everyone is smiling
The skies are blue even in the winter
Fiestas for everything

The language is difficult to learn. But basics are simple

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 11:50

maddy68 · 04/03/2023 10:33

Gosh why ? I moved to spain a few years ago, I would never leave now.

The people are so kind and helpful

The beurocracy is dire and frustrating but you get there in the end.

The state healthcare is incredible so is the education

Everyone is smiling
The skies are blue even in the winter
Fiestas for everything

The language is difficult to learn. But basics are simple

Spain has high unemployment rate and France has better economy and less corruption.

France places high value on culture, education and also they don't scoff at someone's job being an artist or a philosopher.

Plus Brits are better treated in France rather than in Spain where it's customary to play tricks on people who aren't your family.

Also places like Normandy are closer to home if one needs to visit family and such.

The skies might be blue and clear if one lives in Nice or grey if one lives in Paris, yet you also have access to snow and mountains if you relocate somewhere close to Lyon and Swiss Alps ♥️

puttingontheritz · 05/03/2023 09:33

cassiatwenty · 04/03/2023 10:12

Hard to make friends, yes

Language is beautiful, if you like it, easy to learn, but you can't rely on English only to thrive, you need to be fluent

Have heard people say that health system is better

Cheaper

Also safer, as there are no knitting incidents like London

France has this vibe of sadness so you might cry more

TGV is excellent, you can be in Paris real fast

Some people are mean/rude. This can be a good and a bad thing cos if they are not keen on you, they certainly won't pretend

Schooling for kids far far cheaper, Ecole is like 300 Euro per year if kids manage to get in

Have you never visited France or spoken to someone who has lived there? There is literally nothing that is correct in your whole post, it's really weird.

LeaveAndNeverLookBack · 05/03/2023 09:55

@cassiatwenty
You have some valid points.
Unless you are living in Paris, it is very hard to manage if you aren't fluent in French.
Having lived in one of the countries you mentioned that you would 'never do' I agree, the effort just isn't worth it, whereas it is worth it in France.

cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 00:37

@LeaveAndNeverLookBack I think it's well worth it, too. French language is very beautiful and not too hard while pronouncing some words might be a bit tricky

cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 00:47

OP, if Visa is your concerned, don't worry, I got you covered.

Google St-Etienne + DUEF, you can see how it works for you in St-Etienne (or other parts of France) by applying for (public) uni French course, govt approved. That way you can how it feels like for a year or a semester before selling your property.

Whew, digital nomadde visa 🤭, certainly respectful. Brava brava to those with brave and sensible recommendations such as nomading digitally

cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 00:51

Sorry for typos, typed on mobile

28January · 06/03/2023 09:30

Bali does not have a digital nomad visa, it is a myth that has been pushed for years and resurfaces incorrectly every so often in “how to come live in Bali” articles. Every so often it is talked about at government level but it has happened yet.

cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 09:53

@puttingontheritz Ah, a much needed comment from an immigrant who's certainly not jaded or bitter.

It's delightful you thinking your opinion was solicited or valued in any way, awww🤭

Feel free to think whatever you like. Sorry, I just laughed, it's just as though you speak as if your opinions are facts or that I asked for your input.

What's weird is some randomer tugging at my sleeve 🤣

But even though you have no experiences to offer to the OP you still chimed in.

Off you go, time for your daily chants with Alexa 🤖

cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 12:15

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cassiatwenty · 06/03/2023 13:08

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Greenfairydust · 06/03/2023 13:42

OP my advice would be to plan this carefully:

  • keep learning the language
  • spend some time there first as a holiday to explore potential locations and narrowing down where you would like to live
  • rather than doing the drastic move of selling your place in the UK rent it out first and spend maybe 3 months in France to see how you get on
  • check what you would need to do to be able to teach English in France
  • then move permanently once you are certain this is the place for you.

It is very easy to romanticise a big move but you also need to be practical about things.

I have dual nationality so could technically live in France but I have lived in England most of my life and although France is a beautiful country the bureaucracy would drive me nuts and I know I would struggle to get some decent work opportunities there, even being fluent in the language.

I would not want to live in Portugal or Spain. Again because I don't think job opportunities are that great and also I would be concerned about how hot these places get in the summer especially as climate change continue to worsen.

cassiatwenty · 02/04/2023 15:20

@Greenfairydust thank you for helping out the OP, it makes a lot of sense xxx

cassiatwenty · 02/04/2023 15:21

OP, do let us know how you get on, what you decided and such x

Blessedbethefruitcakes · 06/04/2023 19:00

Thank you everyone for your messages, especially @Greenfairydust I think you are right that I have somewhat romanticised the idea of moving to France! There is lots about the UK that is great, but I hate the weather and our current government so the idea of a move is very appealing! Although I know France has it's own issues.

I'm still thinking of moving to France sometime in the future and am taking some steps forward. I've decided to spend the next couple of years doing some nice holidays to France to get to know the different areas better. I'll then see how I feel and consider how realistic moving is.

I'm also making some changes to my job so that I am doing more tutoring work online (currently about 10% of my students are online). It's a bit of a no-brainer anyway as it reduces my travel costs and means I can spend a lot less time travelling to and from students. If I did then make a move to France in a few years I'd have a higher proportion of my income that was completely portable. At the moment I make more than £22k but a lot of this is UK based so I'd struggle to prove I could make the same straight away in France, although I'm pretty confident I could.

I'm also looking for some language classes locally so that I can improve my French. So all in all, I'm still keen on France but am taking some tentative steps forward and looking forward to spending some more time there on holiday.

Thank you everyone for all of your help. 😀

OP posts:
Greenfairydust · 07/04/2023 09:27

@Blessedbethefruitcakes

Hope everything goes well for you!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will get a new government at the next general election to reverse the decline. Hopefully that might even help with making access to working/living in the EU a bit easier again.

I would also maybe make enquiries as to what qualifications you would need to teach English in French schools or community/adult education centres.