Move to France: Expert Assistance from French Immigration Lawyer
France offers a range of immigration options to suit various circumstances; from entrepreneurs to seasonal workers; digital nomads to skilled employees. Whether you are looking to immigrate to France on your own, with family or are planning on posting workers on assignments, Total Law’s expert immigration lawyers can help.
Our team can help you understand your options and eligibility for moving to France, helping you take the next steps. If you make a French visa or settlement application, our highly-qualified and multi-lingual global team can take the stress out of your application process – checking documents and submitting for you. Contact our French immigration lawyers at +33 187653350 or send a message online.
Moving to France
Moving to France starts with choosing the right immigration route for your plans—whether you want to work, study, join family or retire. Your nationality, intended length of stay and whether you need permission to work will determine which visa or residence requirements apply.
This guide explains the main routes, how to apply and what to arrange before and after arrival, from supporting documents and healthcare cover to registering or validating your permission to stay.
For full support in establishing your eligibility, checking your documents, applying or relocating to France – our expert immigration lawyers are here to help. Our friendly and supportive experts speak fluent English and French. Give them a call today on +33 187653350 or +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Page Contents
- Moving to France
- Who Can Immigrate To France?
- France Visa Types
- Moving to France for Work
- Moving to France for Study
- Moving to France to Join Family
- Moving In France To Marry
- Immigrating In France To Retire
- Eligibility Requirements For Moving In France
- Moving to France Checklist
- Benefits of Moving to France
- Registering as a Resident in France
- Living in France
- Obtaining French Citizenship
- Our Corporate Immigration Services
- Why Need a France Immigration Lawyer?
- How Total Law Can Help You?
- Frequently Asked Questions
"I'm very happy with the standard of training received on the OISC Level 1 course, i passed my exam. Thank you!"
Liam Calvert
Posted 6 years ago
"My application was approved and a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders this year "
Akeel Lakar
Posted 6 years ago
"We used this service for the spouse visa extension application to assure that all the information was valid and correct."
Nabil Anwar
Posted 6 years ago
Who Can Immigrate To France?
EU Citizens
If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you don’t need to apply for a visa to move to France. You only need to show your national identity card or passport at the border to gain entry. However, you must register with the local authority and get a carte de séjour (residence permit).
Once you get your residence permit, you can live, work, study, raise a family and do business in France without restrictions.
Non-EU Citizens
Anyone not from the EU/EEA/Switzerland who wants to stay longer than 90 days in France will apply for a visa. While short-stays up to 90 days in any 180 days may be permitted either on a Schengen visa or visa-free depending on your nationality, these do not typically permit work or support long-term residence. You must therefore, find a visa consistent with your reason for immigrating to France. This might be to join a spouse, start a business or because you received a job offer from a French company, for example.
France Visa Types
The right French visa depends on what you intend to do. A long-stay visa may either serve as your initial residence permit, known as a VLS-TS, or require you to apply for a residence card after arrival. We look into options suited to:
- Employment – Standard employee visas, Talent routes, the EU Blue Card and company transfers.
- Freelancing and business – Self-employed permission and Talent business routes.
- Digital nomads and retirees – We distinguish between working as a freelancer and staying as a non-working visitor.
- Education – Student visas and post-study options.
- Family – Joining French citizens, European citizens or other residents.
- Temporary stays: Seasonal work, working holidays, Schengen visits and airport transit.
Moving to France For Work
Employee Visas: Working for an Employer in France
The standard French work visa suits people who have secured employment in France. Your employer normally obtains work authorisation before you submit your visa application. The visa category depends on your contract:
Talent Routes: Skilled Workers, Researchers and Specialists
France’s Talent scheme, previously commonly called Passeport Talent, covers:
- qualifying skilled employees
- researchers
- artists
- internationally recognised professionals
- and certain business applicants.
Each category has its own qualification, activity and financial requirements. Features include:
- Residence cards lasting up to four years, depending on the category and planned activity.
- A researcher route based on an eligible qualification and hosting agreement.
- Accompanying-family arrangements, with adult Talent–family permission allowing work.
For example, the qualified-employee category generally requires an eligible French postgraduate qualification, a contract exceeding three months and at least €39,582.00 annual pay. A foreign qualification alone does not satisfy that particular category.
EU Blue Card: Highly Qualified Employment
The Talent–EU Blue Card is designed for highly qualified employees with a sufficiently paid job in France. Under the current rules, applicants generally need:
- An employment contract lasting at least six months.
- At least three years of higher education or qualifying equivalent professional experience.
- Gross annual pay of at least €59,373.00
It provides multi-year residence and facilitated family arrangements. It can also support later mobility within participating EU countries, subject to the destination country’s requirements.
Eligibility
Before applying for a work permit, you must submit these documents to prove your eligibility:
- Work visa application form.
- Valid passport.
- Two passport photographs.
- Proof of funds, e.g. bank statements.
- Employment contract authorised by the DIRECCTE.
- Criminal record certificate from your country and every other country you have spent at least 3 months in the past 5 years.
- Receipt of application fee payment.
- OFII (the French Office for Immigration and Integration)form for residence permits longer than 3 months.
- Tax clearance.
- Certificate of business registration.
- Business plan.
- Evidence of your professional status.
It is important to note that to perform well in the French job market, you’ll need some basic knowledge of the French language.
How to Apply
To apply for a work visa, follow these steps:
- Get your documents ready.
- Complete the visa application form.
- Pay the application fee of €99 and include the receipt with your other supporting documents.
- Set up an appointment with the French Embassy or Consulate and go with your supporting documents.
- Attend your interview.
Moving to France for Study
France boasts of many institutions of learning. Some of the most popular ones include the University of Paris-Saclay, University of Paris, Nantes University, University Montpellier, University of Bordeaux and University of Rennes. Some of these schools partner with NGOs to give scholarships to outstanding international students. This is how to move to France with no money.
Eligibility
To apply for a study visa, submit these documents to prove your eligibility:
- Signed and completed French study visa application form.
- Two recent digital passport photographs.
- Valid passport.
- Copies of former visas.
- Bank statement showing you have enough money to cater to your stay.
- Evidence that you have enrolled in a French institution.
- Evidence you have somewhere to stay.
- Criminal record certificate from your country.
- Evidence that you have paid the visa fee.
- Medical insurance policy certificate.
- Cover letter outlining your study project.
- Certificate of previously attended institutions.
To apply for the study visa, take the following steps:
- Gather your documents.
- Complete the application form.
- Pay the visa application fee of €50–€99, depending on your country.
- Schedule and attend an interview with the French Embassy with your supporting documents.
- Pick up your visa.
- Apply for a residence permit at the OFII within 2 months of entering France.
If you want to study in France, you have to know that some courses are taught in French. Hence, you’ll need to prove you can understand French before you are admitted into a French school. Some schools teach some courses entirely in English. You may apply for these schools instead.
Moving to France for Family Reunification
If you are already in France with a valid visa, your family members can apply to join you in France. The duration of their visa will be tied to yours.
There are different categories of family reunification visas. The type your family member will apply for depends on your status in France. Your status in France also determines the family member that you can sponsor.
Below are the categories:
Family Visa for the Family Members of French Citizens
As a citizen, your family members that can join you are:
- Your spouse.
- Your child below 21.
- Your older sibling or older sibling of your spouse.
- Your parents or grandparents.
- Your spouse’s parents or grandparents.
Family Visa for the Family Members of EU Citizens
The family members that can apply to join you are:
- Your spouse.
- Your child or dependent under 21.
- Your siblings.
- Your spouse’s siblings.
Family Visa for family members of non-EU Citizens
Here are the family members that can join you in France if you are a non-EU member:
- Your spouse.
- Your child that is younger than 21.
There are 2 primary criteria that you or your family member must meet to get this visa. First, you have to prove that there is a genuine relationship between you. You do this by submitting a marriage or birth certificate.
Secondly, you must show you can financially fend for them in France.
Here are the documents you have to present to the Embassy:
- Visa application form.
- Two passport photographs.
- Valid passport.
- Copies of former visas.
- Criminal record certificate.
- Marriage or birth certificate to prove a relationship with the French resident or citizen.
- Receipt of application fee payment.
To apply for the family reunification visa, take the following steps:
- Complete and sign the visa application form.
- Gather your supporting documents.
- Pay the application fee of €99.
- Schedule and attend an interview with the French Embassy
Moving In France To Marry
There is no visa for marriage in France. To marry in France, you must have been in France on another type of visa. You can apply for a French tourist visa and then get married in France.
Note that at least one person in the union must reside in France for the marriage to be held.
The primary requirement you are required to meet is the certificate of celibacy. You must prove to the local authorities in charge of weddings that you are not in any marriage or that your previous spouse has passed.
The weddings must be conducted in a local town hall to be legally recognised. Religious weddings alone do not have legal backing in France.
Moving to France to Retire
To obtain a retirement visa in France, you must first be a resident holding a long-stay visa. Retirees will need to apply for Carte de Sejour for Retirees after living in France for at least 4 years. You can apply for this visa at the sub-prefecture or prefecture near you.
This visa is valid for 1 year and is renewable. The condition for applying for this visa is that you will not do any work or earn any money from work in France. You can, however, still receive your pension.
If you want to retire in France, you must show you have a pension that pays you between €1500 to €2500 monthly. The exact amount you need depends on your family size.
Retirees must also show they have medical Insurance and a clear criminal record.
Eligibility Requirements for Moving to France
If you’d like to move to France, here are the general eligibility requirements you must meet:
- Signed and completed visa application form from the French government website.
- Two recent passport photographs that meet the EU visa photograph standard.
- Valid passport. It must not be older than 10 years and must still be valid 3 months after your visa expires.
- Medical Insurance valid throughout the EU and valued at a minimum of €30,000.
- Copies of former visas issued to you.
- Cover letter outlining your reason for going to France.
- Flight itinerary.
- Evidence of accommodation in France. This could be a hotel or Airbnb booking, rental agreement or property deed.
- Birth and marriage certificates if you have a family.
- Proof of financial means. You must show you have €65 daily if your accommodation is sorted. Otherwise, you’ll have to show €120.
- Employment contract, if it applies.
- Admission letter or evidence of enrollment from a French school, if it applies.
- Pension statement from your bank, if it applies.
- Invitation letter, if it applies.
- Medical attestation from a doctor in France, if it applies.
- Corporate bank statement, if it applies.
- Evidence of tax returns, if it applies.
Moving to France Checklist
Below is a typical checklist you may wish to consider when moving to France. Making sure that all or most of these are ticked off can be key to ensuring that your move goes smoothly.
- Conduct thorough research on France, where to live, its economy and your options for moving there.
- Ensure you have worked through your hypothetical monthly outgoings and your overall budget for the move.
- Apply and obtain a relevant visa/permit for you and your family.
- Apply and obtain a job in France (if necessary).
- Secure accommodation in France.
- Organise essential utilities such as broadband, electricity and gas. Set up a forwarding address if needed.
- Apply for a French registration card (if necessary).
- Arrange travel and logistics for your belongings and pets, if necessary.
- Obtain health insurance.
- Make plans to open a French bank account.
- Organise school enrollment for your children.
- Obtain an international driving license.
- Ensure you have all your official documentation to hand for the move.
Benefits of Moving to France
France offers practical advantages for people relocating for work, study or retirement:
Education: Public schooling is tuition-free. Public universities offer subsidised tuition, although fees vary and non-EU students may pay higher rates unless exempt.
Healthcare: Eligible workers and residents can access the public health insurance system. You must register and meet the relevant conditions; private cover may be needed while you establish eligibility.
European travel: A valid French residence permit generally allows short visits to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It does not automatically allow you to move to or work in those countries.
When choosing where to settle, compare housing costs, transport links and access to schools or healthcare. Your choice of location—and ability to communicate in French—will have a greater effect on everyday life than general claims about food, scenery or culture.
Registering as a Resident in France
Living in France
Cost of Living and Housing
France has a relatively average overall cost of living compared to its European neighbours, with it ranking 29th overall in Numbeo’s 2026 cost of living index. This places it higher than countries such as Italy, Estonia and Cyprus, but lower than the UK, Belgium, Germany and Austria.
As with many countries, the cost of living is much higher in larger cities such as Paris and Marseille than in smaller towns or in rural areas. On average, however, the estimated monthly costs for a single person (not including rent) in France would be around €932.10.
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom flat in a typical city will be around €772.67, while a similar flat outside of the city will cost around €604.45. The average monthly salary in France is around €2,455.37 after tax, which places it around the same bracket as comparable countries such as the UK and Belgium.
Education
France offers free, compulsory education for students between the ages of 3 and 16 and is typically divided into nursery, primary, middle and higher stages. Expat families can send their children to French state schools free of charge, although they also have the option of sending children to fee-paying private schools or international schools if desired. Enrolment in schools typically operates on a catchment area system.
French universities are well-regarded and offer a high quality of education for French residents and international students. University education is typically free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens or permanent residents, with students who don’t fit this category normally paying around €3,000 to €4,000 per year for public universities.
Transportation
France is ideally situated in the heart of Europe and offers rail links to countries such as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and more. The internal French rail network is also extensive, with most major cities being linked by rail and a significant network radiating out of the capital, Paris.
Tickets can typically be purchased for both domestic and international services throughout Europe using a single portal such as the SNCF Connect website, making it relatively easy to book transport for different journey types.
Many major cities also have their own rapid transit networks, whether in the form of underground networks or above-ground trams.
Paris Charles de Gaulle is one of the busiest airports in Europe in terms of air traffic and offers routes to most major international destinations. Smaller, more local airports throughout France also offer alternative routes to European and other destinations.
Tax
If you are a tax resident in France, all of your worldwide income will typically be taxed; non-tax residents will only have their French income taxed. However, tax treaties with certain countries can prevent double taxation.
You are considered a tax resident in France if you mostly live in France, most of your professional activity is in France or your primary economic interests are in France.
The tax year typically runs from 1 January to 31 December. Income tax rates normally start at around 11% for income under €30,000 and up to 45% for income over around €180,000.
Income tax is normally calculated per household rather than individuals.
Obtaining Citizenship in France
There are many routes to obtaining French citizenship, and here they are below:
French Citizenship by Descent
If you have at least one parent who is a French citizen at the time of your birth, then you can claim citizenship by descent. Note, your French parent must recognise you as their child for this to be possible.
French Citizenship by Marriage
To acquire citizenship by marriage, you must have been the spouse of a French citizen for at least 4 years.
You must have also lived in France for at least 3 years since you married the French citizen and have lived in France for 1 uninterrupted year.
French Citizenship by Naturalisation
You can acquire citizenship if you have lived in France for at least 5 years.
French Citizenship by Birth or Adoption
You can claim French citizenship by adoption if you were born to or adopted in France by a French parent.
Eligibility Criteria for French Citizenship
You have to use the documents below to prove you are eligible to get French citizenship:
- Apart from citizenship by birth or adoption, you can only claim citizenship if you are at least 18.
- Birth certificate of parents.
- Proof of residence in France.
- Proof of proficiency in French.
- Certificate of higher education in France.
- Adoption/birth certificates
- Evidence of identity like the passport.
- Two passport photographs.
- Evidence of residence in France like rental contract, property deed, utility bills.
- Criminal record certificate from your country and any other country you have spent at least 3 months in the past 5 years.
Application Process to Obtain French Citizenship
To obtain French citizenship, do the following:
- Prepare your documents
- Submit the documents to the Embassy or French government near you.
- Schedule your interview with the Embassy.
- Take the French proficiency class.
- After approval, attend your citizenship ceremony and swear to be loyal to the French government.
- Get a French passport.
Our Corporate Immigration Services for Businesses in France
Our corporate immigration lawyers at Total Law are experts in French immigration law, having successfully assisted numerous businesses with varying needs.
Our services include;
- Specialization in Corporate Immigration: Total Law specializes in corporate immigration matters and provides comprehensive support to French businesses and branches of international corporations.
- Immigration Matters Of All Recruitment of Overseas Talent: Our team can assist your business with all the immigration matters regarding the of recruiting of overseas talent.
- Visa and Permit Services: We facilitate the acquisition of short-stay and long-stay visas, as well as residency permits, streamlining the legal process for corporate clients.
- Family Reunification: We navigate family reunification applications for employees joining French businesses, facilitating smooth transitions for their loved ones.
- Appeal Process Support: In the event of a visa refusal, our team provides expert assistance in navigating the appeal process, advocating for our clients’ interests effectively.
- Tailored Legal Assistance: Businesses can reach out to us via phone (+33 187653350) or online for personalized legal advice and assistance tailored to their specific needs.
Why You Need a French Immigration Lawyer?
The most common reasons for receiving a visa refusal are not understanding the relevant eligibility criteria (and therefore applying for the wrong visa type) and providing insufficient or inaccurate supporting documentation. Working with a team of immigration lawyers allows for the best possible chance of fully understanding all aspects of the process, and so maximises the chance of success.
For businesses looking to obtain a France visa or residence permit for overseas professionals, the risk of not receiving the appropriate visa can cost a great deal of time and money – all impacting on the company’s bottom line.
It is critical, then, that application procedures are managed as effectively as possible to expedite professional talent to France as required. If you’re not successful in importing the most successful foreigners in your industry to France, your competition will be, so it’s best not to risk delay or decline.
How Can Our France Immigration Lawyers Help You?
Immigrating to France is worth it. However, the application process can be complex, and the complexity varies depending on the kind of French visa you wish to apply for. This, and the much paperwork required, are often discouraging factors for people who want to migrate.
However, the complexity of the visa application process should not put you off because our French immigration lawyers are capable of helping you get that proper visa. At Total Law, we boast of expert and experienced immigration lawyers who have helped apply for French visas for many people.
If you are at a loss as to which French visa to apply for, we can help you decide which visa is best suited for you. Our ability to assess your eligibility prevents you from wasting time and resources pursuing visas you may not be eligible for.
If you need more information about the services we offer and how we can make your France immigration dreams come true, call us at +33 187653350 or send a message online.
Advice Package
Get clear, expert advice on your visa options, eligibility and application before you commit to applying.
Application Package
Let our immigration lawyers prepare, check and manage your application so you can apply with confidence.
Fast Track Package
Need to apply quickly? Get priority handling by our immigration lawyers from preparation to submission.
Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can work in France as a foreigner. However, you must get the proper visa for you to do so.
You can bring your pet with you when moving to France. The government of France permits immigrants to come with a maximum of 5 pets per person. You must also carry out health checks once they get into France.
If you have a residence permit in France, you can open an account with any bank in France. When going for this, you’ll need to present the following documents:
- Residence permit.
- Passport.
- Address in France.
- Evidence of employment or enrolment in a French school.
The French immigration system offers a wide variety of visas for travel – including short stay visas, long stay visas, a myriad of business and work visa options and residence permit choices.
Every visa class holds its own eligibility criteria and all visa applications are examined on an individual basis. This means that the chances of a successful outcome to a visa application is dependent on the person/s applying and their given information.
As such, there is no one-size-fits-all fee package for clients of lawyers specialising in French visa applications. All projects are managed end-to-end on a bespoke basis. Call us for a tailored quote based on your needs, on +44 (0) 333 305 9375.
Clear, professional guidance.
Get clear, professional guidance for your immigration case.
Call Now Call To Discuss