Working and Living in France

 Working and Living in France

Often people desire to move to other countries in search of greener pastures, education, or an entirely new life. Different countries, however, have different cultures, rules, and norms therefore relocating from one country to another means a change in lifestyle. It is important to prepare mentally, psychologically, and physically for the new culture and way of life to avoid culture shock and instability that might come from unpreparedness. There are websites that prepare people for their new expatriate life giving them an idea about the people, geography of France, and laws of the country.

The capital of France is Paris and the national currency is Euros. France is approximate twice the size of Britain but the population is almost the same therefore France is not as populated as Britain. France being an extremely big country enjoys different weather patterns in the different towns and cities. The North which is near Britain experiences extreme weather conditions such as cold winters and rains. The South enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate.

To begin with, it is important to start searching for a new place to live. The most ideal place is near the place of work as advised by the (International Citizen Group, 2022). The expatriate should do research on residential places near the workplace considering the availability of social amenities such as schools, availability of public transport, climate, the language used by the locals, and security. French is not an English-speaking country however English is taught in the majority of schools. In America, international schools are the most favourable for expatriate children. Therefore, it is advisable to look for international schools for expatriate children. According to (Smith, 2022).   People tend to be comfortable with people they share a common background. Expatriates are therefore likely to feel comfortable where there are a large group of other expatriates residing. According to (Smith, 2022) most expatriates in France tend to settle in rural villages that are easily accessible from the urban towns. It is also important to consider the cost of living in the place of residence. In America for example Latin American countries have a lower cost of living than western Europe.

It is important to also familiarise yourself with the rules and laws of the area and country of residence. In some places, the process of acquiring work permits is so tedious while in others like North American countries it is easy. According to (Expatica, 2020) if the person going to live in France has a highly demanded unique skill they don’t need a work permit.  People coming from the EU/EEA or Switzerland also don’t need a work permit to start working in France.  After one and a half years a temporary worker in France can apply to have their family there; a legally married spouse and children. There is an employee on assignment permit which is given to a person who was working outside France and then got a transfer to France under the same company. The spouse can also live on this permit but can only work in France after 6months. A seasonal work permit is given to a person working in France for more than 3months and goes for up to 3years. Finally, as the law of the land expatriate in America are required to declare all assets held outside France 

References

The Expatriates Life: Expat Resources for International Citizens

Work in France: French work visas and permits | Expatica

Living in France, Guide for Expats Residing, Moving & Working in France (iexpats.com)