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The complete guide

Moving to France from the UK: the honest, complete guide

Everything a British citizen actually needs to do to move to France in 2026 — visas, residency, healthcare, tax, property, driving, pets and money — in the order you need them, not the order that's easiest to write. Free to read, and we'll turn it into a plan that's yours.

By Will & Jenny · Last reviewed 20 August 2026 · Your map to the whole move

There is no single form, office or day that "does" a move to France. It's a sequence — decide, sort your right to be here, find a home, make the move, settle in, then live — and each step has its own paperwork, deadlines and traps. This page is the map. Every link goes to a full, honest guide; the tools turn the map into your dated plan.

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Stage 1Deciding & planning

Before you commit: whether it's right for you, what it costs, and the shape of the whole thing.

Is France for you? The honest overviewCost, admin and whether it genuinely fits. What a move actually involvesThe move, start to finish. Retiring to FranceThe honest guide for UK pensioners. Where to liveCompare departments on what matters to you.

Stage 2Your right to be here — visas & residency

The paperwork that lets you stay, from the long-stay visa through your carte de séjour.

The French long-stay visaWhich Britons need one, and which route. Which visa do you need? (tool)Find the route that fits your move. The carte de séjour, explainedResidency for Britons. ANEF: the residence-permit portalWhere the process actually happens.

Stage 3Finding a home

Buying or renting, and getting the place connected and covered.

Buying property in FranceThe complete guide for British buyers. Renting in FranceA British tenant's guide. Moving money to FranceHow not to lose thousands on the rate. Utilities & insuranceGetting connected and covered.

Stage 4Making the move

The logistics — documents, pets, the car, and the deadlines that start ticking on arrival.

The moving-to-France checklistEverything, in the right order. Your French deadlines (tool)Every date that bites, tracked. Bringing your petsThe post-Brexit rules, done right. Bringing your carImport and re-registration, step by step.

Stage 5Settling in — healthcare, money & admin

The first weeks on the ground: getting into the systems that run French life.

French healthcare for BritonsHow it actually works — S1, PUMA, CPAM. Opening a French bank accountWhat actually works for Britons. Your first French tax returnThe treaty, the boxes, the dates. Exchanging your UK driving licenceWhether you need to, and when.

Stage 6Living here — and staying

The admin that never stops, and the far end: renewals, pensions and citizenship.

Renewing your carte de séjourIn the right window, calmly. UK pensions & tax in FranceHow it's taxed, and the S1. French succession & inheritanceWhy your UK will may not do what you think. Becoming FrenchNaturalisation after the 2026 rules.

The questions everyone asks first

Do I need a visa to move to France from the UK?
If you weren't legally resident in France before 1 January 2021, yes — as a British citizen you're now a third-country national and need a long-stay visa (VLS-TS) for any stay over 90 days. Occasional pre-Brexit visits or owning a second home don't exempt you. Read the full visa guide →
Which French visa do I need?
Most Britons moving long-term use the long-stay visa (VLS-TS) — as a visitor (no work), or a route tied to work, remote work or family. The right one depends on your income, whether you'll work, and your family situation. Find your route with the visa tool →
Can I work remotely from France for a UK employer?
It's possible, but not automatic: it affects which visa you need and where you pay tax and social contributions, so it needs setting up correctly from the start. Read the working-in-France guide →
Can I get French healthcare as a British resident?
Yes — legal residents access French state healthcare through the S1 (UK state pensioners), through work, or through PUMA after a qualifying period. You register with CPAM and get a carte Vitale. Read the healthcare guide →
What happens to my UK pension if I live in France?
Your UK state pension is still paid and is generally taxed in France under the UK–France treaty; some government pensions stay taxable in the UK. State pensioners' S1 also covers French healthcare. Read the pensions guide →
When do I have to exchange my UK driving licence?
Not always immediately — but if an exchange is required for your situation, you generally must apply within your first year. Check whether yours needs doing at all first. Read the licence-exchange guide →
Can I bring my pets to France after Brexit?
Yes, with a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate (which replaced the pet passport). Timing the rabies jab and the certificate is the part people get wrong. Read the pets guide →
What do I need to do before I move?
Roughly: confirm your visa route, sort somewhere to live, plan healthcare, gather and apostille documents, arrange the move and money, and map the deadlines that start on arrival. Build your dated plan →

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