Living as an expat in France

Wine, cheese and fresh bread. Living in France sounds like a dream for many people. However your first weeks as an expat will not always feel dreamy. Luckily there are a few efforts you can do to make your expat adventure in France much easier and much more pleasant. In this article, you will discover our tips for working and living in France as an expat, whether it is just you or together with your family!

Deciding to move to France has probably a lot to do with your job or with a new professional challenge. Before you start off your adventure in a new work environment it could be a good idea to delve into certain habits and customs to make your arrival easier.

You certainly want to know what kind of contacts are used for workers in France, for example there is a CDD (contract durée déterminé) and a CDI (contrat durée indetérminé). Also concerning your pay check there could be a few differences compared to what you are used to, depending on the location of the headquarter of the company you will be working for. Sometimes there will be contributions for health insurance, retirement… kept of your pay check.

Next to these practical matters, the French work culture will be something to get used to. In general, there is a clear hierarchy in French companies, which is reflected in the terms ‘cadre’ and ‘non-cadre’. If you are part of ‘cadre’, get ready for bigger responsibilities, longer working hours but luckily also more advantages like a company laptop and phone or a higher wage.

Dealing with colleagues and co-workers in French companies can also be slightly different compared to what you already know: when arriving in the morning make sure to shake hands when greeting everyone in the room. When it comes to lunch hours; the French take their time to finish a complete meal. Take into account that many colleagues or other firms could be hard to reach between 1pm and 3 pm.

Things are getting real; you have accepted your new challenge in France and thus you are leaving (temporarily) with or without your family. ‘La douce France’ awaits, so it’s key to make you feel at home straight away. How to do so? Finding a convenient place to stay as an expat is the very first step of creating a home away from home.

Make sure to check whether your company will provide you or support you with a temporary place to stay. If not, you should consider renting or buying a property.

Renting a house in France

Will you not be living in France for a very long time, then you should always consider renting a house or an apartment. You could choose a place that you can furnish yourself, or one that is already rented out furnished, depending on how important you think the style of furnishment is.

The rental prices for a place in France depend a lot of the location. Renting in Paris for instance can be rather expensive. Renting from a private person or from a rental agency can make a big difference as well. If you want help drawing up the contract and all things practical? Then you should always consider contacting a professional mediator, especially if you do not speak the language yet.

Buying a place in France

Are you moving for an indefinite period to France as an expat, and is your family moving with you, then you could consider buying a property. The house prices are again depending on the location and the region. In Paris, for example, expect to pay much more for a rather small surface. 

In France, it is not very common to take out high mortgages with the bank. If you want to buy a property in France, it could be a good idea to get your information at your own bank, to finance a house or apartment. 

Furnishing your place in France

Furnishing your (temporary) place in France according to your own style and preferences can help you build a home in a foreign country. This is how you create that at home feeling, compared to an already furnished place where you can not really contribute to your own style and furnishment.

When choosing a place to furnish yourself, you are free in choosing furniture as well, but a disadvantage here could be higher costs. Buying furniture for a temporary place is not the most ideal situation. To avoid higher costs, you can always consider renting furniture for a short or longer term. 

Renting furniture as an expat

Renting furniture as an expat in France allows you to choose a house or an apartment that fits your budget and requirements, without having to take furnishments in account at that point.

In short, furniture renting has tons of advantages for fulfilling a temporary need.

  • It offers flexibility for both short and long term
  • Furniture packages are available in different styles. Also electrical devices are rentable. This way, you will not have to buy any of these essentials.
  • Thanks to furniture rental you can enjoy high-quality products in a sustainable way.
  • It allows you to focus on your new professional challenge in France, without spending time and money on furniture, decoration and electrical devices.

At In-Lease, we help expats in France feel at home with furniture packages and appliances for rent on the short and the long term. Our furniture is available in different styles and will be delivered in your new French home at the agreed date and time.

Is your temporary move to France getting closer? Are you counting down for your expat adventure? There are still a few things to arrange before leaving.

Healthcare
France has a favorable health care system for expats. Regardless of duration of your stay in France, you are entitled to have French general health care insurance. The condition? You must not benefit from health insurance in your home country at the same time. As an expat, you will receive a ‘carte vitale’ to show when visiting a doctor or a pharmacy, so you can get insurance withdrawal afterwards. An additional insurance in France can be useful to cover additional medical expenses for yourself or your family. Think of hospital visits in France for example. This additional insurance could be useful especially when you will be staying in France for a some time.
Banking
When living and working in France, you will need access to a bank account in order to pay invoices, rent and other expenses in time. Although many things could be arranged with your bank account in your home country, but on the long term this will be much more expensive. Opening a bank account in France is not too complicated. You will need proof of identification and an address in France.
Daily life
There are tons of habits that typify the French daily life. As an expat it could be useful to know what to expect during your stay. Make sure to delve into the French culture since traditions and etiquette are highly valuated; a handshake when greeting each other, or maybe two kisses, long lunches and late dinners.
Moving with kids
Are you moving to France to work there for a longer period? Then there is a chance that your family and children are moving with you. Also for them this expat life can be very challenging. Make sure to offer coaching and space for questions. Help them out with practical arrangements; a school, hobbies, language classes and more.

Hello France!

See? Living in France as an expat could be an amazing experience for you and the whole family! It certainly is worth the challenge, although it will ask for some adaptations as well. Make sure to find a place where you can feel at home and where your family does too. By furnishing your temporary place according to your own style and preferences, you can create that perfect ‘at home feeling’ abroad.

Back to start