Why France?
More than a destination—a way of life that inspires the world.
Art de Vivre
World-renowned cuisine, wine culture, and a lifestyle that celebrates beauty, leisure, and the joy of living.
Best healthcare
Ranked among the world's best healthcare systems. Universal coverage with excellent hospitals and specialists.
Culture & history
Museums, architecture, fashion, philosophy. From the Louvre to the Riviera, culture is everywhere.
Connected to Europe
TGV high-speed rail, excellent airports, and central location. Paris to London in 2.5 hours.
Explore French regions
Click a region to discover costs, lifestyle, and opportunities.
Paris & ĂŽle-de-France
The capital region: global hub for business, culture, and fashion. High energy, high opportunity, high cost.
Find your visa path
France offers several visa options depending on your situation. Select one to explore.
The French bureaucracy challenge
France is famous for its paperwork. Here's what expats struggle with most—and our tips to navigate it.
Carte de SĂ©jour
The French residence permit process involves préfecture visits, endless documents, and months of waiting.
Préfecture appointments
Getting an appointment at the préfecture is notoriously difficult. Slots fill within seconds.
French language requirements
Many administrative processes require French. Officials and forms are rarely available in English.
OFII validation
After arriving, you must validate your visa with OFII (Immigration Office) within 3 months.
French bank accounts
Opening a bank account requires proof of address—but you need a bank account to rent an apartment.
Sécurité Sociale enrollment
Registering for French social security (Assurance Maladie) can take 3-6 months to process.
How Expath helps
We turn French bureaucracy into a clear, manageable process—so you can focus on your new life.
Personalized Guidance
We analyze your profession, income, and goals to find the perfect visa path. Whether you're a skilled worker, entrepreneur, or retiree—we map your French journey.
- Visa eligibility check
- Income planning
- Timeline creation
Document Support
French consulates are strict about documentation. We guide you through apostilles, certified translations (traductions assermentées), and exact formatting requirements.
- Document checklists
- Translation guidance
- Consulate prep
Post-Arrival Support
OFII validation, Carte de Séjour, Sécurité Sociale, Carte Vitale, CAF—we guide you through France's layered bureaucracy from day one.
- Préfecture navigation
- Healthcare enrollment
- Title renewals
Who we help
Whether you're starting a new job, retiring to Provence, or launching a business—we're here for you.
Your 6-step journey to France
Click each step to see what's involved. We guide you through every stage.
- Income verification
- Visa type matching
- Timeline estimation
- Custom checklist
- Consulate requirements
- Budget planning
- Apostille guidance
- Certified translations
- Dossier organization
- Application review
- Interview prep
- Follow-up strategy
- OFII online validation
- Préfecture scheduling
- Address registration
- Healthcare access
- Banking setup
- Renewal tracking
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about moving to France.