Nationals of EU countries plus Andorra, Canada, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, the Slovak Republic, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA can stay in France for up to 3 months without a visa. A long-stay visa must be obtained to be allowed to remain in France for work or study. Work and Resident Permits are necessary to live and work in France. These two permits are linked and have to be obtained from the Labor Department and the Préfecture (Police Department), respectively. The non-working spouse also needs a Resident Permit, the granting of which is based on the Work Permit and financial support of the working spouse. EU nationals do not need a work permit, but they still must register with the Préfecture and obtain a resident card, which is usually valid for 5 to 10 years.

1.  The work permit application is submitted by the hiring company in France. Following approval by the French Labor Department, the applicant's file is transferred to the French Embassy or Consulate in the employee's country of residence. A long-stay visa is then issued by that embassy or consulate.

2.  Then, the expatriate has a mandatory medical check-up upon arrival in France.

3.  If the previous steps are completed successfully, the residency permit is granted by the Préfecture (Police Department).


As a general rule, any official application in France must be backed up by official proofs of resources and residence in this country, including certain documents.

All mandatory documents must be in French and have to be translated from their original language prior to starting any procedure. A list of official translators is available in each Mairie (city hall). In addition, originals and photocopies must be readily available.

Please contact the French Embassy in your country to ensure you have the correct paperwork to enter and live in the country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.France. diplomatie.fr

Like New York and London , Paris is one of the world's major capitals with a high cost of living to match. As such, depending on your budget, you should prepare to live in accommodations that may be smaller than what you are used to.

EDF Electricité de France http://www.gazdeFrance. fr

GDF Gaz de France http://particuliers.edf.fr/

Générale des Eaux http://www.generale-des-eaux.com/

There are only 5 French television channels available so it is best to sign up for cable television. Televisions and videos run on the PAL standard. DVD players are organized by region codes: Europe is Region 2. Make sure you buy the right DVDs for the right DVD player or, alternatively, a multi-system player.

There are many packages available from dial up services to high speed DSL. Broadband is called ADSL in France. Beware when signing up for an internet connection that most companies require you to sign up for a years contract  - once you've signed these contracts are very difficult to get out of even if the company is not fulfilling it's end of the deal. Companies offering services are Wanadoo from France Telecom, Free, and Neuf (list not exhaustive).

Local postal service, called Correio, is reliable. Their courier service is called Sedex and will be less expensive than using international couriers such as DHL or UPS. Although you might want to use these for international deliveries.

The tenant must pay water and power and any other utility costs.

Expats tend to rent their homes.

When looking for rental accommodation in France bear in mind that short term leases are unusual when renting in France - leases tend to last for 2 or 3 years. If you need to terminate the rental agreement early 3 months notice is usually required, this is sometimes reduced to one month in exceptional circumstances or if the tenant has lost or changed employment.

Normally the amount of rent shouldn't be more than 30% of the tenants net salary - the landlord has the right to ask for proof of income and sometimes a guarantor is required .

In France it is the tenants legal responsibility to arrange fully comprehensive home insurance as any damage to the property during the agreement is the tenants responsibility. Proof in the way of an insurance certificate is required when the tenant signs the lease. The tenant must also pay the Tax de Habitation (similar to UK council tax), water and power and any other utility costs.

The official language is French. Endeavour to gain at the very least a basic knowledge of French and always try and use it, French people will appreciate that no matter how poor your French is.

The currency used in France is the Euro.

• Notes (euros): 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500
• Coins (euros): 1 and 2
• Coins (cents): 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50

The best way to exchange money is at a foreign exchange office or at any bank. It is important to carry some cash with you as some places do not accept credit cards. Automatic Teller Machines (Distributeur) are available at all major banks. When making an ATM withdrawal, pay attention to the bank that owns that particular ATM. A small fee up to 5 Euros is typically charged if you are not withdrawing from a bank within that particular network of your house bank.

Common forms of payment:

•  Cash
•  Debit card
•  Credit cards (Carte Bleue) (Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express)
•  Checks (with proof of identity)

In order to open a bank account, you have to have:

• proof of identity
• proof of address or justificatifs de domicile (copy of a lease and/or utilities bill)
• proof of income (work contract and/or salary slip.s

CIC / Banque Transatlantique http://www.transat.tm.fr Crédit Lyonnais http://www.creditlyonnais.fr American Express Bank http://www.amexbank.fr

Scheduled, automatic withdrawals from your bank account are a very common way to pay monthly bills, such as rent and utilities. Easy to set up by sending one's account information or RIB ( Relevé d'Identité Bancaire ) to your creditors. Checks are also readily accepted.

No vaccinations are required, but all travelers coming into France should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and varicella immunizations. And, it is important to bring any medical certificates/records from your home country.

Check any other specific vaccination requirements carefully with your local French consulate or embassy to confirm medical requirements.

If you come to France as a détaché , or on assignment with a company, the French branch of your company will pay for private insurance for you and your family. If your status is that of an expat, with a CDI or indefinite term contract in France , the hiring company will organize your registration within the French Social Security system. In either situation, you will be covered.

If you come to France on your own (i.e, independent of an employer) you will need private insurance.

A pharmacy, known in French as a pharmacie , displays a flashing green cross.

There are many international schools where English is the main language for learning (from preschool to University level). Please see below for a list of schools (not exhaustive).

Public transportation is excellent in Paris and its suburbs. Metros, buses, RER (a fast train that connects the Paris region to the heart of the capital) and SNCF trains are available. Metro and bus tickets can be purchased at Metro stations, bus stations and at cafés which carry the blue-green symbol that represents a mass-transit ticket. At Metro stations, you can buy your tickets at a window or from a machine. Fares vary depending on how many tickets you buy or what period of time. Taxis are also available but a quite expensive.

France main international airport is Charles DeGaule (CDG) just outside of Paris.

French buy from the local neighborhood market and food shops in their town. Each city hall or mairie France main international airport is Charles DeGaule (CDG) just outside of Paris.as a list of local market trading days and times. You can also buy groceries at large supermarkets, of which there are many chains in France, such as Auchan, Leclerc and Carrefour. Within Paris , other well-priced supermarket chains include: Atac, Champion, Franprix and Monoprix.

For electrical items, DARTY and BHV and most of the large supermarkets listed above have competitive prices. FNAC has high-quality goods (music, books too), but is more expensive. Castorama, BHV, Carrefour, Leclerc, Auchan specialize in hardware items. IKEA in home furnishings.

France is known as the fashion capital of the world. There is no specific dress code in France.

Although employing household staff is quite common in France, finding such help is another matter altogether. There are no official "Domestic Services" companies or reference networks available. Finding someone is simply a matter of word of mouth or setting out to find someone yourself.

The best way to find household cleaning staff is by way of an advertisement in your local neighborhood newspaper or on the community notice boards at supermarkets. Your ad will have to be in French.

Payment is done at an hourly rate, and depending on which area you live in and can range in price.

Babysitters are usually found through agencies or personal referrals.

Spouses are not allowed to work without an official hiring contract, as the Labor Department thoroughly screens all work permits granted to foreigners. The ANPE (National Employment Agency) works to ensure that priority is given to French nationals to fill in available positions in France. In their intent to hire a foreign national, employers must attest to that person's particular qualifications.

Average temperatures range from a usual low of 3 degrees Celsius (about 37 degrees Fahrenheit) in January and February to a high of about 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) in July and August.