As a blogger on this house, I area a handful of advice-seeking emails every week that come from individuals trying to transfer to France. I feel it’s nice that persons are doing their analysis and making an attempt to get as many views as doable earlier than making such an enormous life change and I’m blissful to assist.
A recurring theme in these emails is that individuals severely underestimate what a significant life change a transfer overseas will be. I wish to get into eight essential issues individuals overlook when deciding to maneuver to France.
8 Issues individuals MAJORLY underestimate when transferring to France
First, it is a enormous, nuanced matter and one weblog put up can’t do it justice. There are such a lot of variables that play into why somebody would think about a transfer to France and the steps they take to get there.
I feel it’s straightforward to give attention to the enjoyable and thrilling features of planning a transfer to France. Nevertheless it’s equally as essential to spend time researching the much less glamorous sides of a transfer.
What I speak about under is my perspective after having lived in France for a decade and being on this distinctive place of connecting with so lots of you on the market through the years, from all walks of life. I can’t sort out it from each angle, however let’s get began.
I’d wish to kick this off by saying you don’t must look too far on-line to seek out content material from individuals who love dwelling in France. I’m one among them and love telling you about French habits, superb locations like Le Mont St. Michel, and a lot extra. I do it usually and revel in sharing all the gorgeous components of France with you. I wouldn’t nonetheless be dwelling right here if France if that weren’t the case.
However I really feel that there’s much less content material on the market in regards to the tougher features of life overseas. There are fewer individuals stating real looking hurdles one would possibly face. It’s simply as essential to speak in regards to the powerful components of dwelling in France and I’d be doing you a disservice if I brushed all of that beneath the rug. Perhaps it doesn’t get as many clicks, but it surely’s essential.
Specializing in solely the nice components of life in France gained’t put together you for the more difficult features. I hope that what I speak about right here would possibly open your eyes to one thing you hadn’t thought-about or is no less than a reminder to proceed researching.
In the event you’re new right here, my objective right here on Oui In France isn’t to persuade you to maneuver to France or promote you a fairytale. That’s not the aim of my weblog. I don’t work for the tourism board, I’m not a journey agent, and I discover it refreshing to have the ability to converse freely in regards to the good and the unhealthy.
I’m not right here to blow smoke — excuse the expression — up France’s ass, so in case you’ve been across the weblog for some time now, you understand my perspective. However what I’m right here to do is to truthfully share my expertise over the previous decade within the hopes that it’ll assist you to indirectly… possibly that will help you put together and make your France trip a bit higher, encourage you indirectly to go after what you need, open your eyes to a perspective you hadn’t thought-about, present some camaraderie, and provide you with some suggestions and methods alongside the way in which if you’re contemplating a transfer overseas otherwise you already reside overseas.
Now all that stated, it boggles my thoughts when individuals write to inform me about how they’re planning their transfer to France however have by no means visited the nation. Or visited Paris as soon as for per week and are transferring. It tells me individuals fall in love with the concept of France however don’t have any first-hand expertise on what dwelling in France would possibly truly be like.
That’s the place analysis is available in and I hope this weblog put up provides you meals for thought. If researching your transfer to France feels straightforward, then you definately’re doing it flawed.
For the file, it’s regular to have doubts. That doesn’t imply transferring to France is the flawed selection. Simply be sure to’re placing within the work earlier than taking the leap. Studying in regards to the laborious components shouldn’t make you any much less excited — simply extra ready.
As I let you know on a regular basis, actual life in France could be very totally different from vacationing in France. Nothing about transferring to France needs to be taken frivolously.
What would you like out of life in France? What are you searching for or making an attempt to get away from? I’ve flat out instructed individuals on many events that they’ll discover what they need by transferring to a different American state as an alternative of uprooting their lives to France, the place they may be stunned to seek out extra purple tape and frustration than a transfer throughout the nation.

Credit score: Depositphotos.com/ischukigor
To be clear, none of that is to discourage you. Simply the alternative. It’s to encourage you to hunt out various opinions on what life will be like in France and spend as a lot time within the nation as you proceed to plan. Or on the very least, I would like it open your eyes to some subjects you possibly haven’t thought-about. I hope you may be taught from issues I’ve gone via and expertise.
Additionally, you should definitely not solely take a look at the optimistic posts and movies and assume that’s how life can be for everybody, on a regular basis. Undoubtedly don’t take them as gospel, particularly if the individual 1) solely lived in France for a yr 2) doesn’t converse French and three) is promoting you the dream through a course or membership.
It’s essential to recollect that we are going to all have very totally different experiences relying on so many components. That’s the great thing about it but in addition what makes it so troublesome to objectively reply a number of the mails I get.
A pair transferring to rural France at retirement age who’s financially steady and gained’t be working will want vastly totally different recommendation than somebody who desires to maneuver to Paris on their very own, combine, and construct a profession at age 25.
Anyway, these are simply my ideas.
Listed here are 8 issues I’ve discovered which are majorly ignored when individuals plan their transfer to France:
1. Studying French takes dedication and persistence.
One of many largest misconceptions about transferring to France and studying French is that you just’ll simply “decide up” the language by dwelling right here and it simply doesn’t work like that. If that logic had been true, then each foreigner in all places would converse the native language of the nation they’re dwelling in fluently. However that’s not the case in any respect. A newbie is not going to be fluent in a yr.
Dwelling in a French-speaking nation can definitely assist you to get a leg up on the language and even get you conversational. However studying French to a sophisticated stage takes much more than simply random chitchat and listening to it round you. It’s not osmosis relating to studying grammar, the right way to correctly write, and the nuances of the French language.
Put together to put in critical time studying the language and begin effectively earlier than you propose to maneuver, particularly if you wish to combine and take part in French life round you ASAP.
I’ve discovered that individuals (me included!) significantly underestimate the quantity of labor, dedication, and persistence that’s wanted to get to a comfortably fluent stage of French. I underestimated the frustration of all of it.
Even you probably have an intermediate stage on paper earlier than you progress like I did, it would take a few years earlier than you are feeling snug in day-to-day life. Your mileage could differ relying in your beginning stage, in case you converse French at work, in case you take classes, in case you’re outgoing and wish to apply, how laborious you might be on your self, and so many different components.
Not studying the language to an honest stage will severely restrict your skill to combine and totally get pleasure from French life. Begin now.

Picture credit score: Shutterstock.com / Phovoir
2. French healthcare just isn’t good.
I’ve talked about French pharmacies at size on my weblog (and even made a behind-the-scenes pharmacy video) and am a fan of so many features of the French healthcare system. You’ll see foreigners rave about it on-line and rightly so. It has so much going for it and is a system I feel we might be taught from within the U.S.
One of many most important issues I really like about French healthcare is that an accident or emergency surgical procedure gained’t bankrupt you. Healthcare is a human proper in France and never a privilege that’s hooked up to your employment. Nevertheless it’s removed from good and isn’t with out its issues.
For the file, care in France is usually wonderful and French docs are effectively skilled and simply as succesful as American docs. However relying on the place you reside, it may be laborious to get a fast appointment and even be accepted as a brand new affected person. (I do know this may be true within the U.S. as effectively, however I’m stating that it can be the case in France.)
I reside in an space that’s dubbed a “medical desert” for some specialties and I’m not in a rural space!
Folks have additionally characterised French docs as being a much less affected person pleasant, a bit chilly and standoffish, and fewer collaborative than they’re used to at residence. I’ve had a number of unhealthy experiences. French hospitals are additionally much less fashionable trying than what you’re used to.
Tradition shock when going to the physician in France >>
Additionally, as a result of it’s a public system, docs appear to be slightly extra hesitant to do assessments or order scans except it’s completely crucial. You’re sort of on the mercy of the physician. Sufferers don’t appear to advocate for themselves right here as a lot. The physician is in cost. Let me provide you with instance.
Our pre-teen nephew was having a nasty stomachache on and off and his dad introduced him to the emergency room. The ER doc did an examination however wrote it off as only a abdomen bug and didn’t do blood work or something past a bodily examination earlier than sending him residence with Doliprane.
My brother-in-law requested the physician if she might please do an ultrasound — that this wasn’t regular for his son to really feel this manner — or on the very least a blood check.
She declined and condescendingly instructed him it’s a public system, monsieur, and in the event that they did assessments on each child with a stomachache, they’d by no means have time or cash to do the rest. FYI, a blood check would have confirmed one thing was flawed and prices about 5 euros.
To make a protracted story brief, our nephew had appendicitis and ended up having an contaminated appendix because of the delay in care. He went on to have surgical procedure and spent per week within the hospital as a result of it wasn’t caught earlier.
Let me level out that after all this might occur wherever and I’m certain it does. I agree. Docs miss stuff on a regular basis. However the level is that it occurs in France too. French healthcare just isn’t good.
I’ve skilled situations the place docs in France refuse to do a selected check as a result of it’s a public system… in instances the place they wouldn’t have hesitated within the U.S. Malpractice instances aren’t actually a factor in France and docs don’t concern being sued for thousands and thousands. It’s a vastly distinction system and it’s essential to concentrate on these variations.
3. There are excessive politics in France, too.
Whereas the political scene in France doesn’t match the American one, there nonetheless is a political scene. You’ll discover individuals with far proper, nationalistic views. Marine Le Pen has gained assist in recent times and politicians’ ugly views make the information right here too.
In every election, there aren’t any fewer than 12 candidates. There’s a far left get together referred to as La France Insoumise (LFI) and a Parti Communiste Français (PCF). Folks’s political opinions are various.
That stated, one’s political opinions don’t appear to form individuals’s identities as a lot in France and also you gained’t see many bumper stickers on automobiles in assist of 1 candidate or one other. Or profane garden indicators or decorations. Anyway, I don’t wish to go too far down the rabbit gap on this one, so I’ll go away it there.
4. The tax burden.
You hear individuals say time and time once more that the French pay excessive taxes. From earnings tax, to self-employment cotisations, to CFE (Contribution Fonciere des Entreprises) tax in case you’re a enterprise proprietor, to property tax, inheritance tax, sure, it’s true. Taxes in France may be a little bit of a shock.
Concerning earnings tax, you pay a private progressive earnings tax on worldwide earnings and also you file collectively as a family. There’s no choice to file individually as a married couple. The extra youngsters you have got, typically the much less you pay.
In the event you’re employed in France, the social fees (goes to the social safety system, to not be confused with earnings taxes, that are separate) that come out of your pay on the backend may be a little bit of a shock.
In the event you’re a very excessive earner, you pay a supplemental tax (as a approach to assist curb the finances deficit). In the event you’re single and earn between 250-500k euros/yr, that additional tax is 3% in your complete earnings. Remember a wage like that might be very uncommon and French salaries are typically a lot decrease than comparable American ones.
Now all that stated, for paying into the system, you get so much in return. You will have healthcare, unemployment pay, housing help, and all types of parental advantages, for starters.
At the same time as a self-employed individual with no youngsters, regardless of paying a hefty chunk of taxes/social fees, I do suppose the standard of life in France is price it. Paying into the system for the higher good is an idea that I’m OK with.
Unsure if I’d be singing the identical tune although if I used to be in that prime earner class. Simply being sincere!
5. Inheritance issues.
Nobody desires to consider their demise, however in case you plan on dwelling (and probably dying) in France, positively look carefully at inheritance legal guidelines and succession/reward tax (droits de Succession et de Donation).
In the event you’re a French resident on the time of your demise (or reward), there will be some fairly hefty inheritance taxes due from the recipient — particularly you probably have a excessive web price. The charges differ primarily based on the connection to the deceased and the quantity.
To offer you an instance for a mother or father/little one relationship, you get a tax-free allowance as much as 100k however would pay a 30% inheritance tax on quantities starting from €552,324–€902,838. And please, for the love of all issues holy, be sure to have a will.
Please observe that I’m not a tax or inheritance skilled and everybody’s state of affairs is totally different, so do your analysis and rent the suitable professionals so that you’re conscious of what your choices and obligations are.
6. Tradition shock will be fairly an adjustment.
We hear the phrases “tradition shock” being thrown round on a regular basis. There are little issues that appear “bizarre” and are clearly totally different once we look at French tradition. They’re not that critical. However generally tradition shock in France is extra insidious and catches up with us once we aren’t anticipating it.
We all know to count on trivial issues like locations being closed on Sunday or shops closing sooner than we’re used to. We all know small speak is totally different in France and so are social norms. The forms will be maddening.
However there are much less apparent features of French tradition that you just’ll solely turn into aware of slightly at a time and aren’t belongings you’ll acknowledge after a few holidays and even being right here a yr. These ingrained features of French tradition could make it laborious to attach with individuals, set up your self, and really feel safe in your new identification as a foreigner in France. To not point out the language barrier. Or when the French hold switching to English.
Easy issues aren’t all the time so easy and once you’re already coping with so much (see #7), generally the tradition shock can put on on you, get you actually wound up, right into a melancholy, result in nervousness or a meltdown…. and it’s simply a part of the method. Don’t underestimate it. Or when it may strike.
What I’d do in a different way if I had been transferring to France in the present day >>
7. Life issues can be tougher to cope with.
I’ve talked about this one earlier than on the weblog and it bears repeating as a result of I really feel it’s that essential. After some time, you’ll notice that common life issues will be much more troublesome to deal with — each logistically and mentally/emotionally — once you reside overseas. That’s simply the truth of dwelling in France or wherever far-off.
The emotional features of divorce, well being crises, miscarriages, job loss, monetary issues, and grief, for starters, are laborious sufficient on their very own in our personal nation the place we converse the language and know the right way to get assist and deal with administrative processes.
However all of those very actual life challenges are exponentially extra emotionally taxing once you’re so removed from residence. I’m speaking distance smart, having to deal with all the pieces in French and in a spot the place you’re an outsider and don’t fairly know the tradition like a local. Or in case you simply haven’t handled a selected state of affairs earlier than in any nation.
In the event you reside overseas lengthy sufficient, one thing horrible will rock your world as a result of that’s life. It’s not simply one of many cons of dwelling in France, however once more, of being far-off.
I’ll be utterly sincere with you. After the final 18 months, I can confidently say that if I had been single in France, I wouldn’t nonetheless be right here. Fortunately, Tom is a tremendous assist system and we began a life right here collectively and revel in many features of life in France. I wish to be right here with him and that is the place we’ll keep. I’m pleased with that as a married individual.
But when I had been single, ooooh boy, understanding what I do know now about how a lot tougher life issues are to cope with once you’re not in your house nation (and the reminder of how essential household is), effectively I wouldn’t proceed dwelling right here. I couldn’t have gone via all of the grief alone.
I wouldn’t transfer to France alone (did that already when I taught English and life was easier then and was grateful for the expertise) and I wouldn’t pursue such an enormous life change as a retired individual. However that’s simply me.
At that stage of my life, I’d be in search of out extra ease and luxury and never frustration and challenges. However after all there are a lot of retired people who transfer overseas on a regular basis and adore it. I’m blissful I moved to France in my 20s.
Thank goodness Tom and I’ve one another! And please don’t misread what I’m saying right here. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t transfer overseas if that’s what you need. We’re all totally different and cope with life in our personal methods. I simply wish to be sure to’re doing it along with your eyes vast open.
Any approach you slice it, life is tough. Shifting to France will be very difficult — not simply the primary yr. I feel a variety of that stuff will get swept beneath the rug, hidden from view, as a result of persons are ashamed to share it or these on the receiving finish solely wish to hear about their liked one’s dream life and nothing lower than that.
I feel it’s straightforward to cover away the laborious, ugly stuff as a result of it’s not match for public consumption. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless there and if we’re human, we’re sure to undergo laborious occasions. They hit laborious irrespective of the place we reside. However the magnitude of “laborious” shouldn’t be underestimated. Have a assist system in place earlier than you want it.
8. Dwelling in France just isn’t a cure-all for all of life’s ills again residence.
France just isn’t a utopia. I attempt to hit that time residence laborious to counteract all of the BS on the market. It’s not a paradise the place all the pieces is rosy and nothing unhealthy ever occurs. I love dwelling in France for thus many causes, however I see it clearly for all that it’s (and isn’t).
France has racism. And crime. And unhealthy neighborhoods. And homeless individuals. I hear from individuals through e-mail who appear to suppose that if they might simply transfer to France, that each one the issues they’ve with their lives within the U.S. will disappear. And that France goes to be inherently higher in each single approach, for everybody, all the time and without end.
Perhaps that’s true for a choose few. However I feel it’s a naïve mindset. We regularly commerce in a single set of issues for a model new set, simply with totally different surroundings.
There may be one caveat although. In the event you’re coming to France for a yr along with your personal funds to primarily take a one-year trip, possibly it’ll really feel like a paradise. Holidays usually do. However dwelling right here long-term, and dealing, talking French, and integrating will fortunately pull again the façade. You’ll see that France is rather like wherever else. Life right here has its personal set of challenges. Simply with higher meals and wine. 😉
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I hope you loved this actual speak put up and perceive the place I’m coming from with it. I really feel like there’s a variety of content material on the market that exhibits dwelling in France as this dream life we should always all aspire to and envy. Folks’s pleasure overshadows a number of the different essential issues that have to be thought-about earlier than such an enormous life change.
Discuss to me within the feedback. What did you underestimate earlier than transferring to France?
P.S. In the event you received one thing out of this put up, would you thoughts sharing it? Right here’s why that helps. 😉
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