10 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Moving to France

When I moved to France, I thought I was pretty well prepared. I had done a lot of research and spent more hours than I care to admit reading about visas, banking, healthcare and all the other practicalities of moving abroad. I had also helped my daughter relocate to London, so this wasn’t my first experience with an international move.

One thing I intentionally did not do was rent an apartment before I arrived. I knew I wanted to start in Nice, but I also knew that loving a place from afar and loving actually living there can be two very different things. I booked an aparthotel and gave myself time to experience the city, open a French bank account and get the lay of the land. I was prepared to move on to another city, or even another country, if Nice didn’t feel like the place for me.

After spending a few weeks here, Nice began to feel like where my journey was supposed to be going. Once I knew that, I needed to find the right neighborhood. I wanted to feel safe, and because I wasn’t planning to have a car, walkability was extremely important to me. I wanted to be close to the sea, but I also wanted cafés, patisseries, grocery stores, pharmacies and everything I needed for everyday life within a quick walk.

So I walked the neighborhoods and tried to imagine an ordinary day rather than a week on holiday. Where would I buy groceries? Would I feel comfortable walking home? Could I get everywhere I needed to go? Would I enjoy stepping outside my front door every morning?

That experience taught me one of my first lessons about relocating: don’t just choose an apartment. Choose the life outside the apartment.

There have been many more lessons since then. Some I could have researched beforehand; others I simply had to experience. If you’re thinking about making the move yourself, here are ten things I wish I’d known—or understood a little better—before moving to France.

1. Bring more paperwork than you think you’ll need

France has a reputation for paperwork, and I can confirm that the reputation has been earned. They absolutely love paper.

Before you move, gather anything you might conceivably need: birth certificates, marriage or divorce documents, financial records, insurance documents, tax information, diplomas and everything connected to your visa or residency. Keep organized digital copies as well as any originals you may need.

What surprised me was how connected everything could be. You may need one document to accomplish something and then proof that you’ve accomplished that thing to complete the next step. Don’t assume that because one organization accepted a document, another will accept exactly the same thing.

It can feel overwhelming when you’re new to the system, so take it one requirement at a time. You don’t need to understand the entire French administrative system on the day you arrive.

2. Give yourself time to find where you belong

Staying in an aparthotel when I first arrived turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. It gave me time to experience Nice as someone who might actually live here before making a long-term commitment.

Since living in Nice, I’ve met several people who purchased apartments here while still living abroad, often after visiting previously. Some are completely happy with their decision and found exactly what they hoped for. Others have told me that after actually living here, they realized a different neighborhood would have suited them better and wished they had waited before buying.

Visiting somewhere and living there are two very different things.

When you’re on holiday, you experience a city differently. When you live there, the questions become much more ordinary. Where is the supermarket? Is there a pharmacy nearby? Is the neighborhood noisy at night? How easy is public transportation? Where will you walk your dog? Do you feel comfortable coming home alone?

There isn’t one right way to do it. Plenty of people rent or buy before moving and are very happy with their choice. But if you have the flexibility, spending some time in a city before committing to a home can help you understand what really matters to you.

You may confirm that the neighborhood you loved while visiting is exactly where you belong—or discover somewhere you never would have considered from abroad.

3. Renting in France is a process of its own

Once you’ve chosen where you want to live, be prepared for a rental process that may be very different from what you’re accustomed to.

French landlords and agencies can ask for a substantial rental dossier, including identification, proof of income, tax documents and other financial information. Preparing as much as possible before you begin seriously looking will make the process easier. This includes tax returns, bank statements and more.

Then there’s the guarantor. This can be particularly challenging for international renters who don’t have someone in France who can fill that role. Even if you can comfortably afford the rent, you may still encounter guarantor requirements. I remember a very interesting discussion with someone in an immoblier when I started my rental search. They explained to me that I did not earn French revenue so I needed a guarantor. I naively said, I have money in a French bank account and they said, “It does not matter. Having money in a French bank account is not French revenue.” I finally understood. They want strong verification that you have the resources to pay your rent and you will pay it on time every time.

One resource worth knowing about is Garantme, which can act as a rental guarantor for eligible tenants. There are other guarantor solutions as well, so research the options available to you before you find an apartment you love.

When the right place appears, you’ll be much happier if your dossier and guarantor arrangements are already in order. Rentals often move very quickly so be prepared. There were two other individuals behind me hoping to rent my apartment when I viewed it. I had my dossier in order and I got the apartment!

4. Your French address becomes surprisingly important

Once I had my apartment, I discovered how often I would need to prove that I actually lived there.

Your French address comes into play with banks, utilities, government administration and all sorts of everyday matters. Different organizations may also have different requirements for what they accept as proof of address.

Keep your lease and utility documents organized and easy to access. If you’re initially staying in temporary accommodation, as I was, ask what each organization will accept rather than assuming your temporary address will work for everything.

It sounds like a small detail before you move. Once you’re here, you’ll understand why everyone keeps asking for your justificatif de domicile.

5. France will teach you patience

I’m American, I’ve spent much of my career in business, and I’m accustomed to trying to solve problems quickly. If something needs doing, my instinct is to figure out who can fix it, get an answer and move on.

France has taught me some patience.

Things rarely happen on the timeline you expect. An office may be closed, the person you need may be unavailable, or an administrative process that seems as though it should take a day may take considerably longer.

And then there’s August.

I had heard that France slows down in August, but understanding that intellectually and trying to accomplish something important while seemingly everyone you need is on holiday are two very different things.

Build extra time into anything important and avoid leaving administrative matters until the last minute. Occasionally something that should be a quick errand simply isn’t going to be a quick errand—and getting frustrated won’t make it happen any faster. Just breathe and know that you are in France.

6. Learn French, but don’t wait until you’re fluent to start living

My French is still very much a work in progress. There are plenty of moments when I wish I spoke it fluently, but I’ve learned not to let imperfect French keep me from participating in my life here. Most people are very understanding if you try to speak French – and if you always say Bonjour!

Learn the basics and use them. A bonjour before asking a question matters- a lot. So do s’il vous plaît, merci and simply making an effort rather than assuming everyone will speak English.

At the same time, go to the café. Join the gym. Attend local events. Talk to your neighbors. Take French lessons. Use translation tools when you need them. I was in the tax offie today and no one spoke English. I came prepared with my request already typed up in my translation app. I started with my meager French, Bonjour! Je m’apelle Deanna Hodges. Je ne parle pas encore tres bien francais, mais j’apprends. Since my pronunciation isn’t great yet the gentleman at the counter had mercy on me and started speaking English. He could tell that I was sincere and so he was extremely helpful after that. I got what I needed and was able to check that item off my to do list.

You will make mistakes. I certainly do. Every conversation makes the next one a little easier, and those everyday interactions are part of becoming connected to the place where you live.

7. Expat groups are helpful, but verify the important things

Online expat communities can be enormously useful. I’ve found recommendations, discovered local services and learned things from other expats that I might never have found on my own.

But someone’s personal experience and an official rule are not always the same thing.

Ask a visa question in an online group and you may receive five different answers, all given with complete confidence. Those people may have different nationalities, visas or family circumstances, or they may have gone through the process when the rules were different.

Use these communities—they can be a wonderful source of information and support. Just verify anything involving immigration, taxes, healthcare, legal requirements or other decisions with serious consequences through an official source or appropriate professional.

“Someone on Facebook said…” probably isn’t the argument you want to make at a French government office and you definitely don’t want to waste time chasing things that are not accurate.

8. If you’re bringing pets, start the process early

I couldn’t imagine moving to France without my dogs, so when I moved from the US, two very important little passengers were coming with me. I quickly discovered that moving myself to France and moving my dogs to France were essentially two separate relocation projects.

If you’re bringing a pet from the US, connect as early as possible with a USDA-accredited veterinarian experienced with international pet travel. Your veterinarian will help with the required examinations and paperwork, work with the USDA on the necessary endorsed health certificate, and—very importantly—understand the timelines. Certain requirements and documents have specific timing around your departure.

Requirements can include microchips, rabies vaccinations and health documentation, and the order and timing matter. Verify the current requirements for the country you’re entering rather than relying on an old blog post or someone else’s move.

Both of my dogs traveled in the cabin with me, which was very important to me. If that’s important to you too, check the airline’s rules before booking your ticket. Airlines have different limits for pet and carrier size and weight, approved carriers and the number of animals allowed in the cabin. Confirm your pet’s arrangements with the airline rather than assuming your own reservation automatically includes them.

Also, don’t assume every country has the same rules. We learned this when my daughter moved to London with her dog. We couldn’t simply fly her dog in the cabin from the US into the UK- this is not allowed. We searched for alternatives and ended up flying them into Paris and arranged a car service from Paris to London through the tunnel. It required additional planning and expense, but it allowed her dog to remain with her instead of traveling as cargo.

Look at the entire journey before booking anything: your destination country’s requirements, any countries you’ll travel through and your airline’s rules. Once you arrive, it’s also a good idea to find a local veterinarian before you actually need one and get your pet registered. Pet passports are a good idea in my opinion if you are going to travel around with your pets.

9. Give yourself time to build a life, not just complete a move

You can physically move to France in a day. Building a life here takes much longer.

At first, almost everything requires thought. Where do I take this package? How do I make this appointment? Which bus goes there? Where do I buy something I used to pick up without thinking? What exactly does this letter say?

Then, almost without noticing, things begin to change. You find your grocery store. You have a favorite café or bakery. You know which pharmacy you prefer. You recognize people in your neighborhood. You stop checking the map every time you leave home.

The things that once felt foreign become ordinary.

If you’re at the beginning of this process and occasionally wonder whether everyone else somehow knows something you don’t, they don’t. Many people have traveled this road before you, figuring things out one step at a time, and many more will come after you facing the same challenges.

My own move to France, along with helping my daughter relocate to London, is ultimately what inspired me to create Yonduur. I wanted to take what I had learned firsthand and use it to make moving abroad a little easier for others—to give people more clarity, better resources and support as they create their own lives abroad.

10. Creating the life you want, where you want it, is priceless

For all the paperwork, planning and moments when I’ve had absolutely no idea what I was doing, there is another side to moving abroad that is much harder to explain until you’ve experienced it.

It’s the moment when you realize you’re no longer visiting. You’re home.

For me, it’s walking out my front door, passing the cafés and patisseries in my neighborhood and knowing the sea is just a few minutes away. These aren’t things I’m trying to squeeze into a holiday anymore. They’re part of my ordinary day.

Moving abroad doesn’t make life perfect. You still have bills, errands, chores, difficult days and responsibilities. The difference for me is that I’m living my ordinary life in a place I consciously chose that has given me a completely different pace of life and lifestyle.

Your place may be France, Italy, Spain, Malta or somewhere completely different. What matters is giving yourself permission to ask what you want your everyday life to look like—and where you want to live it.

The process of getting there isn’t always easy, but you’re not the first person to navigate it and you won’t be the last. Just know there are many people willing to help when they can- get out and meet them.

Creating the life you want, where you want it, is priceless.

About the Author

Deanna Hodges is an American entrepreneur and international business professional living in Nice, France. After helping her daughter relocate to London and later navigating her own move to France with her two dogs, she experienced firsthand just how many moving pieces are involved in building a life abroad. Those experiences inspired her to create Yonduur, an international relocation platform designed to simplify and connect the many pieces of moving abroad in one trusted place.

Yonduur — Global living, simplified.